Save Obama's Presidency By Challenging Him In The Democratic Presidential Primaries
09 December 2010By Rabbi Michael Lerner
People who used to say, "Give President Obama more
time," when the president was criticized for
capitulating to the right, or who argued that Obama
must have a plan to turn things around, are now
largely depressed and angry. To many liberals and
progressives, the president's unwillingness to veto
any measure that includes continued tax relief for
billionaires is the last straw, building on a record
of spinelessness that includes his escalation of the
war in Afghanistan, abandonment of a public option for
health-care reform, refusal to prosecute those who
tortured in Iraq or lied us into that war, and
unwillingness to tax carbon emissions.
With his base deeply disillusioned, many progressives
are starting believe that Obama has little chance of
winning reelection unless he enthusiastically embraces
a populist agenda and worldview - soon. Yet there is
little chance that will happen without a massive
public revolt by his constituency that goes beyond
rallies, snide remarks from television personalities
or indignant op-eds.
Those of us who worry that a full-scale Republican
return to power in 2012 would be a disaster not just
for those hurting from the Republican-policy-inspired
economic meltdown but also the environment, social
justice and world peace believe it is critical to get
Obama to actually become the candidate that most
Americans believed they elected in 2008. Despite the
outcome of last month's election, it is unlikely that
the level of his base's alienation will register with
the president until late in the 2012 election cycle -
far too late for society today and our future
tomorrow.
But there is a real way to save the Obama presidency:
by challenging him in the 2012 presidential primaries
with a candidate who would unequivocally commit to a
well-defined progressive agenda and contrast it with
the Obama administration's policies. Such a candidacy
would be pooh-poohed by the media, but if it gathered
enough popular support - as is likely given the level
of alienation among many who were the backbone of
Obama's 2008 success - this campaign would pressure
Obama toward much more progressive positions and make
him a more viable 2012 candidate. Far from weakening
his chances for reelection, this kind of progressive
primary challenge could save Obama if he moves in the
desired direction. And if he holds firm to his current
track, he's a goner anyway.
The basic platform for such a candidate is clear:
Unequivocally call for an immediate end to the
presence of U.S. troops, advisers and private
U.S.-based security firms in Afghanistan, Iraq and
Pakistan, and replace the "war on terror" with a
Global Marshall Plan that roots homeland security in a
strategy of generosity and concern for the well-being
of everyone on the planet. Domestically, call for a
massive jobs program; a freeze on mortgage
foreclosures; a national bank that would offer
interest-free loans to those seeking to develop new
businesses or expand existing small businesses;
immediate implementation of the parts of the Obama
health-care plan that would benefit ordinary citizens
and build support for a health plan for all citizens;
dramatically lower prices for drugs that treat
critical diseases such as AIDS and cancer; massive
funding of research for Alzheimers disease, cancer,
and for the use of complementary and alternative
approaches to health care; massive funding for mass
transit; a strong tax on carbon emissions; an end to
Don't Ask Don't Tell and legalization of gay and
lesbian marriages; legalization of non addictive
entheogens; and immediate prosecution of those
government employees involved in torture or cover-ups
to justify the invasion of Iraq. This candidate should
push for the media to provide free and equal time to
all major candidates for national office as well as
for constitutional amendments overturning Citizens'
United, banning private money in national elections
and requiring only public financing in elections and,
separately, for corporations to prove every five years
to a jury of ordinary citizens that they have a
satisfactory history of environmental responsibility
(much like the Environmental and Social Responsibility
amendment that has been advocated for by the Network
of Spiritual Progressives).
This policy platform must be matched with a
willingness to talk unequivocally about the spiritual
and ethical need for a new bottom line - one of love,
kindness and generosity. We need a progressive push
for a new New Deal, which in the 21st century could be
the Caring Society: "Caring for Each Other and the
Earth."
Public officials who would make excellent candidates
should they run on this platform include Sens. Russ
Feingold and Bernie Sanders; Reps. Joe Sestak, Maxine
Waters, Raul Grijalva, Alan Grayson, Barbara Lee,
Dennis Kucinich, Lois Kapps, \ and Lynn Woolsey.
Others include Jim McGovern, Marcy Kaptur, Jim
McDermott or Emanuel Cleaver. We should also consider
popular figures outside of government. How about
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? Why not Howard Dean, Bill
Moyers, Rachel Madow or the Rev. James Forbes? All
suggestions need to be part of this critical
conversation--what are YOURS? . What's clear is that
we need such a candidate, and the finances to back her
or him, very soon.
Michael Lerner, a rabbi, is editor of the magazine
Tikkun and chairs the interfaith Network of Spiritual
Progressives. His e-mail address is RabbiLerner@Tikkun.org.
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