My contempt for the self-serving politicians who wrap themselves in the flag while wiping their feet on the Constitution is bi-partisan. thus I wrote the following after the presidential election in 2012. — wfw
The election is over and Barack Obama’s followers are patting themselves on the back for a job well done while remaining wilfully indifferent to the fact that he poses a clear and present threat to our civil liberties.
The Democratic Party’s 2008 platform touted single-payer healthcare and focused on restoring “our constitutional traditions.” The Obama campaign supported constitutional protections and judicial oversight on any surveillance program involving Americans. He promised to review the Bush Administration’s warrantless wiretapping program. He rejected the practice of illegally wiretapping American citizens, wherever they live.
He rejected the use of national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime. He rejected the tracking of citizens who do nothing more than protest a misguided war. He rejected the use of torture and the notion of “inherent” presidential power.
He promised to revisit the Patriot Act and overturn unconstitutional executive decisions issued during the past eight years. He vowed not use signing statements to nullify or undermine duly enacted law…
As soon as Obama assumed the presidency he tossed his promises into the trash, and embraced and enhanced the Bush-Cheney surveillance state. Obama’s Army reacted by excusing or simply ignoring his malfeasance during his first term, and they rewarded his betrayal by voting for him again this past Election Day.
It’s important to note that the 2012 Democratic Party platform made no mention of “our constitutional traditions.” That’s because Barack Obama has taken civil liberties off the table — just like single-payer healthcare — and Obama’s supporters simply don’t care.”
Admittedly, they self-righteously claimed that they would “hold his feet to the fire” and “push him in the right direction” once he gets re-elected; but the fact is they did nothing to push him in the right direction during his first term — and they’re not likely to now.
Reality dictates that Barack Obama is a self-serving, right-wing Democrat. He has his second term and he no longer needs liberal’s support, and he has nothing to gain from supporting progressive causes — so how can they possibly influence him. Even worse is the fact that Obama’s supporters will continue to make excuses for him — and in the process — they will effectively neuter the progressive movement.
To paraphrase Chris Hedges, they fight for nothing — and stand for nothing. ####
Addendum: After the 2008 presidential election the Obama administration, and the Democratic Party were in a position to crush the Republican Party. They could have rejected the Bush-Cheney surveillance state. They could have established a single-payer health care system. The could have held the Wall Street criminals , who wrecked our economy accountable — but they chose not to — and their feckless allowed the GOP to regain control of the House and Senate in 2014, and set in motion the events that led to the election of the traitor, Donald Trump in 2016. Thank a lot, Obama! — wfw
For What It's Worth 