Now I am confused about DU (a different answer to cali's OP) [View all]

[sadoldgirl]

Last edited Sat Jul 19, 2014, 07:46 PM - Edit history (3)

The question cali posed was about the validity of criticizing PBO. For me this goes farther than just that.
I read for about 2 years the DU OPs, and then joined in spite of my dislike of name calling and personalizing comments. Perhaps I do not belong here; and I questioned this in my first comments on this forum. I am not just a Democrat, I am a socialist democrat (notice the small d). Yes, I have always voted for the candidates of the Democratic Party, but for the clear reason that doing otherwise would nullify my vote and give the Republicans one vote less to worry about.
The answers to cali's OP stunned me. Perhaps to me the important part of the DU name was UNDERGROUND, where ideas and policies could be discussed without necessarily agreeing with the party line. The answer like "don't criticize Obama, because he gets enough of that from the conservative side" is nonsensical for me. a) the conservatives don't use criticism against him, they condemn or obstruct his policies. b)There is something like constructive criticism, which should come from his own party. "No man can do it alone" is not even an answer to the question.
"Don't confuse campaign speeches with policies" is very disturbing. In other words one should vote for a candidate realizing he is lying his way into office? And, please, don't tell me "to face reality", because that means you have given up on change; yet that was exactly Obama's slogan. I hoped and wished for it. Okay, the Congress blocks him on many items, but he still has the "Bully pulpit". When I heard him say at an international press conference in India:"Outsourcing is great! Outsourcing is the future", I was in total shock. After all I voted for him as the POTUS, not for the whole world. That, for instance should not be criticized by a Democratic Party, which used to stand for workers, middle class people, and yes, the poor???
The next trade agreement which he wants to put on Fast Track in Congress, without deliberation , which was written mostly by international corporations is not up for criticism? Remember FDR's "Make me do it". That I think is needed. Am I just supposed to vote for a party without checking whether its representatives adhere to the platform and its rethoric?
Indeed, Obama has "evolved" as far as social issues are concerned, but for me the ACA is only a sell out to the large insurance companies at least without the public option. Well, if we in this forum cannot even voice those kinds of criticism among ourselves without being called indirectly traitors or just stupidly naive, then I might as well leave it. I don't want to insult anyone here, but one should check perhaps the platform of the Republican Party under Eisenhower to see whether the Democrats really still stand for their old values.
Sorry, for the long rant.