Democratic Primaries

Sympthsical

(11,131 posts)

26. Obama campaigned as a liberal and governed as a moderate.

Tue Feb 25, 2020, 08:48 PM

Feb 2020

I was a very early supporter of Obama in 2008 based on his liberalism compared to Clinton.

And Clinton didn’t win. It does no good to claim so. We have the system we have, everyone knew the rules ahead of time, and Clinton lost according to those rules.

I’d say the last moderate Democrat to campaign as a moderate who won was Bill Clinton in ‘96. I was too young to vote, but I remember him bragging about stopping gay marriage, and that chapped my ass right up.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

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Atlantic Article: Moderates and the idea that only they can win [View all] Bettie Feb 2020 OP

Ouch ibegurpard Feb 2020 #1

That's why I was hesitant to post it Bettie Feb 2020 #3

A moderate won 2 out of the last 3 Presidential elections. Progressive candidates didn't Squinch Feb 2020 #2

Obama wasn't really perceived as a moderate democrattotheend Feb 2020 #4

Yes he was. Squinch Feb 2020 #5

Not in 2008 he wasn't democrattotheend Feb 2020 #12

Suuuure he was. That's why Bernie wanted to primary him, right? Squinch Feb 2020 #20

That was in 2012 democrattotheend Feb 2020 #25

Uh huh. Same guy. Same policies. And Bernie thought he was so lacking in progressive Squinch Feb 2020 #29

Have you read either of Obama's first two books? Ace Rothstein Feb 2020 #40

But apparently not far left enough that he didn't have to fight being primaried by Bernie. Squinch Feb 2020 #41

As I said, he didn't govern that way. Ace Rothstein Feb 2020 #42

HRC ran to the left of BHO in 2008. What I fear are confused pundits & the influence they wield. lapucelle Feb 2020 #32

Hope and Change Bettie Feb 2020 #8

So he was, as the other poster said, in the middle of the Democratic ideological field, but he Squinch Feb 2020 #14

These days, Bernie and Elizabeth are saying, "YES. WE CAN." Laelth Feb 2020 #28

AOC, Rashida Tlaib, and Lauren Underwood have something in common. guillaumeb Feb 2020 #6

Shhh....they dont' exist Bettie Feb 2020 #7

And I have mentioned this in numerous posts here. guillaumeb Feb 2020 #11

Yes. The meme of 3 progressive seats vs. 23 moderate seats. Squinch Feb 2020 #15

Funny how THAT little point was forgotten. oldsoftie Feb 2020 #19

But it's just a meme, doncha know? Squinch Feb 2020 #21

That's 3. Moderates flipped a couple of dozen Repubican seats. Squinch Feb 2020 #9

"Progressive candidates didn't win even among Democrats in the primaries." guillaumeb Feb 2020 #13

Yes. What's your point? That those on the far left, if only freed of the fetters of the Democratic Squinch Feb 2020 #17

The term "far left" is imprecise. guillaumeb Feb 2020 #24

Heaven forfend! I have been imprecise! I have referred to progressives, the acknowledged far left Squinch Feb 2020 #27

And how do you describe yourself? guillaumeb Feb 2020 #36

You tell me. Is there? And what is your point? Squinch Feb 2020 #37

That labels such as moderate, and far left, are meaningless. guillaumeb Feb 2020 #38

So? Squinch Feb 2020 #39

Obama campaigned as a liberal and governed as a moderate. Sympthsical Feb 2020 #26

Welcome to DU. Laelth Feb 2020 #31

IF we're honest about it Bettie Feb 2020 #33

K&R. n/t ms liberty Feb 2020 #10

THIS BS again? Look who won in '18 & who lost, then get back to me about WINNING. oldsoftie Feb 2020 #16

Well, you'll blame him being liberal Bettie Feb 2020 #18

Well, i would if his voters stay away from the polls like they did in '16 oldsoftie Feb 2020 #23

His memory is selective as all fuck... Blue_Tires Feb 2020 #22

Barack Obama was a moderate lapfog_1 Feb 2020 #30

yes he was ibegurpard Feb 2020 #43

A liberal can win in a very favorable situation Awsi Dooger Feb 2020 #34

The moderate Democrats are the only democrats who have won the presidency, ever. Progressive dog Feb 2020 #35

Obama and Clinton ibegurpard Feb 2020 #44

Sure they did, they were reasonable people Progressive dog Feb 2020 #45