If there’s one expression which explains the hysterical reaction of Democrats and their allies among left-wing bloggers and the liberal punditry to the growing grassroots protests against President Obama’s plans to increase the size of the government and limit our freedom, it’s the opening line of a recent Michelle Malkin column, “The activist Left can’t stand competition.” It’s as if they believe they have a monopoly on protest and patriotic dissent.
When Obama won last fall, with increased Democratic majorities in both Houses of Congress, they thought that the demoralized would just roll over and play dead. They did not expect nor do they get that Republicans and allied independents would express their frustration — and fears– about Democratic proposals as they have, by taking to the streets. Only left-wingers, er, progressives, do that. That’s how it’s been since the 1960s. Hence, their need to discredit, denigrate and demonize what they do not understand.
But, they should understand these gatherings, indeed, the Obama team should understand their frustration better than most, given how their candidate was at pains, during the campaign, to plea for fiscal prudence in the wake of Bush Administration profligacy, promising a line-by-line review of the federal budget and a “net spending cut.” It is the concern about the growing size of the federal government which, as Michael Barone writes today, which has become “the battle-line issue“:
And the tea party and health care protesters, in their often unsophisticated way, are raising an issue that seems to have become central to our politics: Should we vastly increase the size and scope of the federal government?
By suggesting in the campaign that he too was concerned about the growing size of the federal government, Obama helped convince wavering independents and even some Republicans upset about then-President George W. Bush’s failure to hold the line on domestic spending, to pull the lever for the Democrat.
Perhaps, the Obama team thought they could get away with this masquerade, that once elected, they could remove their masks, knowing that small government types aren’t likely to protest as do their statist, er, progressive, counterparts. They forget that it was people protesting an intrusive national government which led to the birth of this nation.
We’re just following in the footsteps of those who tossed tea into Boston Harbor.
We already have, with all the Porkulus and bailouts… and look at the results. Trillion-dollar deficits stretching into the future as far as the eye can see. The government bribing people to destroy things. Criminals who should be in jail, walking away with projects and bonuses. Official unemployment at 9.4%; real unemployment and under-employment probably at 20%. Double-digit inflation not here yet, but in the works.
Polls show he’s losing them; let’s hope it keeps up.
GPW,
You seem to be under the illusion that these demonstrations are going to have some positive effect. You are forgetting a crucial fact about all the lefty demonstrations – at least those of the last quarter century.
In fact – two things to keep in mind about them.
1 – they were several orders of magnitude larger than anything you guys have managed so far
2- they accomplished nothing. Barely a ripple of the policy landscape.
Ah, demonstrations….been there, done that. Moved on.
Maybe thats why we finally won last time…
Fiscal prudence? Is that what these are about?
Its hard to tell, and frankly I don’t think that is what many are protesting.
It seems to run the gamut from illegals, death panels, gun control, to saving Medicare.
Quite frankly its hard to tell. Your message keeps getting muddled by the very protestors who represent you.
You need to do a better job of keeping them in line!
“Obama helped convince wavering independents”
“Polls show he’s losing them; let’s hope it keeps up.”
Really?
I just checked RealCLear’s poll of polls and it shows his approval rating at 53.3/40.6.
If you normalize that to 100%, its a breakdown of 56.7% of those who express an opinon are approving of his performance.
Given that he only received 53% of the vote, it seems that his performance, roughly speaking is approved of by everyone who voted for him ,and a few percent of the folks who voted for McCain.
Not too bad, given that his numbers will probably rebound once the sausge making is done, and the reality of the recovery takes hold.
#4 Damn! You must be dizzy. Sit down before you fall down.
Just so you know–the reason Obama is having all these problems is because we’re all racist. We can’t handle the thought of a black president. Who knew?
It’s not because Obama is a black, it’s because he’s a red.
#7 – Actually, V, he’s half-honkey, all donkey.
Regards,
Peter H.