Anyone but Obama

[babylonsister]

http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=anyone_but_obama

Anyone but Obama

The social conservatives at this weekend’s Values Voter Summit may want a “true conservative,” but there’s one thing they want more than that.

Jamelle Bouie | October 10, 2011


Christian conservatives—at least, as represented by the 3,000 or so attendees of this year’s Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C.—are determined to make Barack Obama a one-term president. “My motto for next year is ‘anyone but Obama,’” says Ellen Elmore, an attendee from Missouri. Who that anyone is, however, still matters, she says. “We want a real conservative—we don’t want another John McCain.”

snip//


Cain’s speech Friday afternoon was a barnstormer. His loudest applause, a standing ovation, came when he noted his upbringing under Jim Crow, but he told the crowd that he’s never been upset with the treatment of blacks in America. “I have achieved all of my American dreams and then some, because of the great nation, United States of America,” Cain said. “What’s there to be angry about?” he asked.

Post-speech, audience reactions were effusive. “The guy was fabulous,” said one attendee, “Does the term ‘home run’ ring a bell?”

Of course, even with his popularity among some Republicans, Cain is a long shot for the GOP nomination—his organization in early primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina is thin, to say nothing of his nonexistent presence in later states that might prove crucial. Among the people I spoke to, most understood this: “I don’t give him a chance, but it would be interesting,” said Edward Staves. “At least, no one would call him a racist.”

This, more than anything else, gets to why Herman Cain has risen to the top of the GOP field. Yes, conservatives are unhappy with Romney and disappointed with Perry. Yes, Cain has charisma to spare (as you can tell from watching his speeches). But that doesn’t explain his rapid rise to the top. Insofar as anything does, it’s this: To many conservatives, Cain offers absolution from racial guilt and a unique chance to turn the tables on liberals who accuse the right of racism. When Herman Cain says that he isn’t angry about the treatment of blacks during Jim Crow, he’s offering racial grace on the cheap—a chance to feel good about race without actually doing much. This is what differentiates Cain from everyone else in the GOP field, and to many Republicans—including the ones at the Values Voter Summit—it’s all he needs for their support.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Romney will be crammed down their throats at the end......

And they will be made to swallow,
and as this Missouri woman states,
they will lick their lips and love it,
as long as the Democrat is defeated.

You got to give it to Republicans.....
they are willing to do whatever it takes,
and smile while doing it, and they will sacrifice
to reap the rewards their unity brings.

[opihimoimoi]

2. This ploy is projection...its gonna end up as ANY BODY BUT A REPUBLICAN

As a group, they suck....

[vi5]

3. Just so I'm sure I understand this....

The people in power within the Republican party know and understand that when all is said and done this clamoring, yelling, screaming, shouting core base of their party will vote for them and whoever else they put up because their primary objective is "anything but the other guy if the other guy is a democrat".

Yet despite knowing that no matter what they do or say, that these same people will still end up coming out and voting for the nominees of party, they STILL give them what they want and do what they want, and listen to them and pay them respect in their words and actions rather than simply taking them for granted and telling them to just shut up and get in line.

What. A. Concept.

[treestar]

13. They don't have to be told to shut up and get in line

because they have the sense to do so. They don't get anything of what they want. Do you realize how conservative they are? Note they are saying McCain was too liberal!

[vi5]

15. Right.....

They don't have the Republican candidates falling all over themselves to say what these people want to hear? Really? Are you watching the same debates and speeches I am? What's the bold stance any of them have taken. Perry not wanting to kill illegal immigrants? Oh yeah, he's really telling them to shut the hell up and get in line with that stance.

They don't get anything of what they want? Really? Because last I checked taxes were continuing to be cut, abortion was still being restricted to an ever increasing degree, guns continue to be easier and easier to get and to carry, and the climate against Muslims continues to be terrible. Just off the top of my head.

And compared to this batch of fools, McCain was liberal. So yeah, the fact that this current crop consists of these extremist idiots is proof that they get exactly what they want.

[treestar]

20. You would not be at all satisfied with the left version of

your second paragraph. Heck that is what Obama has managed to get done, or less, in equivalent terms.

Abortion is still generally legal. It's like you don't get just what these people want. They want abortion completely illegal - you may be watching the debates but you need a lot more than that to find out what the Tea Partiers want.

The tax cuts are nothing to them in terms of what they want.

Guns? Please! They are no where near what they want.

The climate against Muslims? Muslims are still allowed to live here and practice their religion! The only restrictions are they have to take off the burka to get their driver's licenses! We can't even profile them at airports!

You don't know your righties. You really think they are happy about what you mentioned in the second paragraph? Read some of their media. Go read Freeperland.

[vi5]

21. Uh.....

So success as a Democratic leader is now "Not as bad as the Republicans want things to be?"

The fact is that the more they get, the more they keep shifting what they want ever rightward, and our Democratic leaders keep moving along with them by buying into their narrative. Just because they want more than what we've already managed to give up of our Democratic viewpoints and wants and needs doesn't mean we haven't already given up too much or that they haven't gotten what they wanted. Just saying "Well they want more than that!" doesn't mean we're not failing on every one of those issues. Be it giving in on abortion restrictions and funding which are worse now than they were 5-10 years ago, continuing to treat tax cuts as though they work and are a good thing, etc.

And the fact is my original point still stands: They know that their base is going to vote for them no matter what because whoever their candidate is, it's not "the other guy". But still at the very least the tell them what they want to hear, speak to them with respect, worry about pissing them off, and push for what they want (successfully or not). Our side, faced with a similar prospect (a base that will just vote for them anyway out of fear for the other guy) does everything in their power to prove to people that they don't really answer to "those people" and that they're will to do or say anything to prove that they can and will piss off their base.

If you think that's o.k. then great. I happen to think it's stupid both politically and strategically.

[treestar]

22. So as to your second paragraph, why do you really care?

You're going to worry about whether they speak to you and tell you what you want to hear? Or else?

Tea Partiers are at least not that dumb. They want to hear way more than they get from the likes of the candidates running now. Even Sarah Palin only hinted they were "pro-America parts of the county" or whatever. When have they ever come out and said there should be no abortion? I mean, those running for office?

And even if they said that, how dumb does one have to be to see that it is not going to mean it's going to happen?

This is a dumb, dumb consideration on making political choices.

[vi5]

23. What are you talking about with this 2nd paragraph thing?

All I said in that second paragraph is that if you look at the landscape today, acess to abortion and funding for abortion are less than they was 5-10 years ago. Taxes are lower than they were 5-10 years ago. Can you honestly say that either of those points aren't demonstrably true? And to answer your question, I care about those things because they are bad for the country. So to imply that just because abortion is totally illegal (yet), or that because there are still SOME taxes that we've won and they've lost is just absurd on it's face.

And of course they want way more than they get from the likes of the candidates running. That's how you progress a cause and acheive goals and that's how you negotiate ANYTHING that is up for negotiation. You ask for and seek way more than you know you'll get. And as we've seen on most issues, you end up getting more than you would have if you otherwise started from a point of "Hmmm....I'll accept much less than that."

The fact is that whether it is in what they say or what they (try) to do and get done, the Republicans work to please their base and don't take them for granted. Democrats not only dont do that, they actively try and run away from them and pretend they don't need them.

If you think that's a great strategy then fine. You won't have to account for it's success or failure because you can just blame everything on all the people who are even slightly left of center, and who might want even slightly more than that and think that maybe we should be doing something other than chasing the Republican carrot on a stick

[KoKo]

4. But...there are many Democrats who voted for him worrying, these days.

What's the answer? Vote him in again and "Hope" for the "Hope and Change" to finally kick in? :shrug:

[babylonsister]

6. I know who I'm voting for. Do you? nt

[KoKo]

8. I'm waiting until I see how it all plays out. It seems a "free for all" at this point.

[KoKo]

10. BTW...just voted today in state Election to throw TeaParty out of my School District!

I'm anxiously awaiting the results. Also for our Dem Mayor against the Repug.

But, in the General in 2012...it's open to me. But, local, I'm a Dem supporter as long as they are "real Dems."

I'm so hopeful about tonight's election. If the Tea Party and Religious Fundies Win...that's going to be a bad thing going forward because my state is the state that the Dem Convention is going to be held in next year.

Just so you know, Babylon's Sister.

[KoKo]

11. Update...so far it looks like my county is throwing out the Tea Party

who ripped up our school district and put a Retired General in charge. He's still there but the School Board who voted for him...Dems with a Dino who voted with Repugs gave us that POS!

Hopefully some changes will be made going forward. At least for now...it looks like we managed to wrest it from the beast!

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[babylonsister]

7. No kidding! Hey, your own sweet self!

:hug:

[RandomKoolzip]

9. Just like Alan Keyes! Wonderful.

[babylonsister]

12. This wasn't posted to forward anyone's agenda, so I don't

know where you dug up Keyes from, or why. I thought it was educational to read why a whacky black man might be acceptable to the rethugs. He gives them legitimacy somehow, but when he opens his mouth for any length of time (just likes Keyes, come to think of it), all bets will be off.

[RandomKoolzip]

16. I wasn't posting with an agenda either.

I was just delighting in how short-sighted the GOP would be in placing a Keyes-style ringer on the ballot just to deflect charges of racism - and how wonderful it would be to see them lose hard because of it.

[treestar]

14. Geez I'm upset about the treatment of blacks in America

That is self centered. He succeeded, so he can afford to be cavalier about it.

[dennis4868]

17. People here at DU have said the same thing...

they blame Obama for repub obstructionism.

[creon]

25. yes

There is an element at DU who blame PBO for the bad conduct of the GOP.

I am not, however surprised to read that sort of thing; logical thinking is a choice that people make.

[So Shall Us]

18. Most of them are sheep

So they'll behave like sheep. Simple.

[lunatica]

19. Satan comes disguised as a women sometimes

[creon]

24. Romney

I think that Romeny is the best that the GOP can do.