Getting Smarter About Politics

[Betty Karlson]

23. I watched it all right. Dont feel sad for me yet.

Yes, my hopes were indeed dashed. I care very much about equal rights. For the president to select someone who has spoken again and again against the rights that had been taken away in California, as I said: it was very tone-deaf at best.

I did not expect a president snapping fingers. I merely expected a president who would lift a finger now and then for the things I care about. Jesus Christ is my Saviour, Obama was merely expected to act as a president can.

Overcoming the big recession was a momentous accomplishment. Obama deserves credit for that. That doesn't mean he wasn't callous at times.

Did the recession compell him to pander to homophobes on January 20th, 2009?
Did the recession compell Holder to take war crimes prosecution off the table?
Did the recession compell Democrats to take the public option out of consideration?
Did the recession compell the administration to crush Occupy Wall Street, even though their protests were within the law?

In recent days, we have seen how much pressure a president can use for the things he cares about. Look at how much political credit Obama put on the line for the TPP. Imagine he had done that for the public option - which, by the way, would have rendered the whole health care system even more affordable than it already is.

And you are right in one remark: the president was not alone in being callous. Other Democrats were dashing the hopes of the base too. That is what turned voters away.