MyDD :: Dismissing Obama's movement

Dismissing Obama's movement

by jrb1968, Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 12:13:23 AM EST

From Jerome Armstrong's diary, 'Hillary's race to lose':

In Obama latest, he sent me an email titled, "What a movement looks like?" His campaign probably didn't notice the slip, but it's an obvious truth--that adding that "?" in the title. Maybe, he thinks, he's in one... maybe not... who can tell?

Except it didn't say "What a movement looks like?"

If a different e-mail went out, I didn't get it. But it leads me to believe that Armstrong's anecdote of the Obama camp's foul-up is imagined. Reading the e-mail itself refutes the main point of his post: "completely [dismissing] the notion that there's a movement behind Obama."

In the e-mail, Obama relays some information on a recent day of action in which his field campaign organized more than 1,000 events in all fifty states, got more than 10,000 volunteers to go door to door in their neighborhoods to contact more than 500,000 people. Armstrong says Obama's campaign has hyped a movement that doesn't exist. But given some recent reports of volunteer intiative and enthusiasm in my state of New Jersey and elsewhere, I'd say that if they're not a movement, they're doing OK.

Even in a campaign of hype, it's hard to fake this kind of excitement. Armstrong admits that maybe Obama does have a movement, albeit on that has "nothing to do with the fighting partisan netroots; so there's no way I would grasp it, much less feel a part of it..." I don't have a horse in this race either, and I agree that it is, in fact, Hillary's race to lose. But I am continually impressed with the intensity of Obama's door-to-door volunteers. His netroots campaign could be another story.

Still, there's no denying Obama's campaign has tapped something that is pumping people up and getting them to hit pavement for him. Call it a movement, call it whatever you want, but it's something we're not seeing from the other campaigns.

Tags: Barack Obama, Jerome Armstrong (all tags)

Permalink :: 29 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (none / 0)

Thank you for posting what may be a discrepancy.
If Jerome made a mistake, perhaps he'll apologize.

Hillary/Obama08

by annefrank on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 12:27:03 AM EST

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (none / 0)

Hillary/Obama08

by annefrank on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 12:27:16 AM EST

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (3.00 / 1)

I also don't "have a horse in this race" but I'm keen to the energy Obama seems to inspire. The main thing about him I've noticed is he talks to people like you yourself would talk to someone. He says things you can relate to. Not just the problems you need fixed but that there are others out there like you. So let's work it out together etc.. blahze...

Plus a lot of the ills from the sixties still exist,and it's long past time for us as a country to still be defined by that shit.
I agree it's Hillary's race to lose.
Not because she's the best candidate,but because there's still a lot of "Jeromes" out there subscribing to what they know. Partisan politics.

I only hope it's really time for a change in our political culture. As long as it's beneficial to as many of us as possible.
And I don't give a damn who brings it.

by g1967 on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 12:53:38 AM EST

New Obama (3.00 / 1)

Cherry Obama, Lean Obama, iObama, Obama-lite, President O. Obama Genuine Draft EcObama. H2Obama.

Not a movement, a marketing experiment. Hip Centrism. The Apple add was arch. The video cheesecake. What's next for the movement?

by Rt hon McAdder esq KBE on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 01:07:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Obama (2.50 / 2)

Obama's campaign is basically an 'American idol' style cheesefest. All fluff, buzz, where's the beef?

by lambiel on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 01:15:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Movements are about people. Not one person. (3.00 / 2)

Nice youtube video from Barack.

by NuevoLiberal on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 01:24:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Obama (none / 0)

And where is Hilary Clinton beef?The fact that she was`the first lady,if thats the case Laura Bush might as well run for President.So quit hating on Obama.The man is trying to do something postive and you pepole are `still throwing him under the bus.

by edward on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 10:15:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama under a bus? bwahahaha. (none / 0)

The guy is a made man now. No, we are watching him so that he doesn't throw us under the bus. The blogosphere was the last redoubt of anti-war opinion that you could find back in 2002. The last bastion of liberal and progressive opinion.

by Rt hon McAdder esq KBE on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 12:50:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (none / 0)

Ha!

I don't think there will be a real apology. If there is, it won't look like one.

Watch!

"I don't believe in this can't do, won't do, won't even try style of politics. Yes We Can!" ~ Barack Obama

by ObamaEdwards2008 on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 01:20:32 AM EST

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (3.00 / 1)

Yeah, I think it's narcissism they've tapped into. There is no objective reason to be this excited about a guy who votes in sync with the candidate his supporters most deplore, presents no original ideas and has no real experience for the job.

It's so pathetic the way these jokers yammer on about his years of experience as a state senator and then complain about Hillary speaking about being First Lady.

i don't see any depth to the movement either. I see a lot of largely uninformed people congratulating themselves for supporting Obama. They seem to think it makes them special the same way the Christian thinks they're special.

I like Obama okay - he's certainly a tad bit more progressive than Biden. But his supporters are the most vituperative on the internet and the most blatantly dishonest, as far as I can tell. They creep me out. And their willingness to state that they'll not vote if their candidate doesn't get the nod is just staggering to me. If we don't take orders from them, they'll help turn our nation back over to the Republicans. If that's who Obama's got going door to door, he's probably doomed to failure.

by basement angel on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 01:25:36 AM EST

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (3.00 / 1)

No I think it is just a lot of us our young, and strongly want change... It isn't really the policy, although that is important, it is the attitude of the politics. I think the younger generation is much more scientific about policy, we want studies, scholars, and articles, and a black and white best choice. We are tired of the pattern of for every point a D has a R needs a different one. I mean have you ever thought why 1/3 of the country, on both sides, agrees on just about every issue?

"I'm LeBron, baby. I can play on this level. I got some game." Barack Obama

by gb1437a on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 03:50:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (none / 0)

" I think the younger generation is much more scientific about policy,"

Uh...or maybe just still young and inexperienced about it. The thing is, if Obama is "scientific" about policy and wants to put forth the best idea no matter who it comes from, then why are all his policies basically a split difference between the two parties. Isn't there one idea that could come from the left that ended up being "the best idea"?

It is kind of amusing though this idea of getting past partisanship to govern and the meme of "leaving behind the old arguments" from the 60s. Because this is exactly the kind of talk that was used by Arthur Schlesinger to describe the upcoming generation around JFK's time, who were tired of the old arguments from the 30s!

by adamterando on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 08:13:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (none / 0)

They creep me out. And their willingness to state that they'll not vote if their candidate doesn't get the nod is just staggering to me.

It shouldn't be after all if he is bringing new people into the process doesn't that make perfect sense?

by sterra on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 06:19:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (none / 0)

I think you've identified the difference between a celebrity-driven campaign and a campaign driven by values and principles.

One is about a single candidate, the other can be about many candidates.

by billybob on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 09:25:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (none / 0)

For your information basement angel,I do not considered myself uninformed.The reason I like Barack Obama is because of his message.By being able to work with others.You people are going to have to realize its just not about the left or right it is about all of America.And besides do you really think Miss Hilary can bring this nation together,I do not think so!!!!!

by edward on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 10:36:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (none / 0)

I bet if David Broder were 13 years old, this is what he'd sound like.

Help build a stronger and more progressive Democratic Party from the grassroots on up

by Peter from WI on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 12:23:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (none / 0)

No it's about the poor, the opressed the disenfranchised. It's all about justice and equality. If America is coll with that then i'm cool with America.

by Rt hon McAdder esq KBE on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 12:52:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (3.00 / 1)

That should say "the Christian right" thinks they're special. I got no beef with Christians in general and apologize for that typo.

by basement angel on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 01:26:35 AM EST

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (3.00 / 1)

Good Christians tend to show it by their acts. Much like Good people in general.

by Rt hon McAdder esq KBE on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 01:57:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (1.50 / 2)

most of you people are pricks...just thought I'd restate that.

by dlh77489 on Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 01:55:18 AM EST

Re: Dismissing Obama's movement (none / 0)

LOL - aw c'mon