Liberal Critics of President Obama Did Not Follow FDR’s Advice
President Obama receives criticism from the left wing of the Democratic Party with respect to several national security and civil liberties issues. The first is is the closing of Guantanamo. Guantanamo remains open, largely due to Congressional insistance rather than any direct action on Obama’s part. He asked Congress to close it and Congress said no, and that was the end of the fight. The second issue is the use of unmanned drones to kill suspected terrorists abroad, including terrorists who are American citizens.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said to a group of progressive reformers “I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it.” The obvious implication there is that progressives have to convince enough of the public as to why the reform is needed so as to create a public clamor for the reform that is so loud and demanding that FDR would be forced to make the reform.
President Obama campaign campaigned on closing Guantanamo and he initially tried to close it. So on that issue, we have evidence of the first two parts of Roosevelt’s advice. He agrees with you. He wants to do it.
Progressives just didn’t make him do it. How do I know that?
Look at these poll numbers:
The survey shows that 70 percent of respondents approve of Obama’s decision to keep open the prison at Guantanamo Bay. […] The poll shows that 53 percent of self-identified liberal Democrats — and 67 percent of moderate or conservative Democrats — support keeping Guantanamo Bay open[.] The Post-ABC News poll found that 83 percent of Americans approve of Obama’s drone policy, which administration officials refuse to discuss, citing security concerns. The president only recently acknowledged the drone program, which some human rights advocates say operates without a clear legal framework and in violation of the U.S. prohibition against assassination.
But fully 77 percent of liberal Democrats endorse the use of drones, meaning that Obama is unlikely to suffer any political consequences as a result of his policy in this election year.
Support for drone strikes against suspected terrorists stays high, dropping only somewhat when respondents are asked specifically about targeting American citizens living overseas, as was the case with Anwar al-Awlaki, the Yemeni American killed in September in a drone strike in northern Yemen.
Those opposed to these policies have simply not convinced a majority of Americans that closing of Guantanamo is good or that the use of drones is wrong. Not only that, large majorities of Democrats and liberals are unconvinced!!!
And President Obama cannot be expected to expend precious political capital when such large majorities are against him. Indeed, he tried to close Guantanamo early on in his term and he suffered for it. What progressives and liberals and libertarians who want these policies changed have to do is make Obama do it. And to do that, you have work to do on the national stage.
Finally, the poll had some good news:
The Post-ABC News poll shows that 78 percent of the public supports Obama’s drawdown plan, scheduled to culminate in 2014 with a complete withdrawal of U.S. combat troops.
Which is probably when Obama moved up the pull out date to 2013, next year. It is always easy to do that popular thing.
Gitmo and the lack of process that goes on there are human rights issues. It shouldn’t matter one iota what a majority of people think about it. To think otherwise is equivalent to, say, someone arguing that Muslims shouldn’t be allowed to practice their faith because the majority of Americans disapprove of Islam. The 1st amedment removes any consideration about a majority’s wishes. Drones have a terrible record of killing innocents–you know, “collateral damage.” Their use could constitute war crimes. Our treaty obligations under international law, to which we are signatories, obligate us to obey them per our constitution where treaties are described as “the.supreme law of.the land.” Again, obeying the constitution is a necessity that makes the feelings of a majority irrelevant.
Lack of.due process…
A little triumphalism from the imperial presidency wing of the Democratic party, eh? It’s cool. It’s cool. He earned it. Just remember that we are going to have a Republican President again someday. That’s all I’m saying.
Dana…
I am not saying these issues are not human rights issues.
Jason…
I am not saying I agree with the majorities on this (I actually do agree with the majority on drones, but that is besides the point).
Dana and Jason…
I am saying that progressives have to convince the public that these are human rights issues so that the public demands change.
You can’t sit back and say they are human rights issues and then expect Obama to do all the heavy lifting. But, that’s what progressives did, from the poll numbers.
Its a bullshit argument of tools being out of the box or the ability of this president or the next wielding them. America is 310 million sheep strong, where they are led depends on the noise machine of the day. Obama is center right as is all of congress minus Sanders. Corporations run this country, and when they dictate your fear at least that’s the one true feeling you’ll ever tweet.
DD, progressives can’t convince the voting public of anything! We’ve been trying, but we’re outfoxed and then there’s the wall of apathy.
I wouldn’t say outfoxed Joe, I would say outspent.
Yeah, we don’t have the bullhorn of Fox News, the bullhorn of right wing radio, or the money of the Koch brothers to blast the message.
Remember when I said blog posters are not the base? Proof (see above).
These types of polls show exactly why organizations like the ACLU are important. No politician wants to extend political capital on really unpopular people. Hopefully the ACLU will force a change.
You don’t use a bullhorn when a little Delaware Liberal is all it takes. One person calls it out and its up to the rest to listen.
non sequitur : http://youtu.be/Y6ljFaKRTrI
This was a triumph.
I’m making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.
It’s hard to overstate my satisfaction.
Aperture Science
We do what we must
because we can.
For the good of all of us.
Except the ones who are dead.
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake.
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
And the Science gets done.
And you make a neat gun.
For the people who are still alive.
I’m not even angry.
I’m being so sincere right now.
Even though you broke my heart.
And killed me.
And tore me to pieces.
And threw every piece into a fire.
As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you!
Now these points of data make a beautiful line.
And we’re out of beta.
We’re releasing on time.
So I’m GLaD. I got burned.
Think of all the things we learned
for the people who are still alive.
Go ahead and leave me.
I think I prefer to stay inside.
Maybe you’ll find someone else to help you.
Maybe Black Mesa
THAT WAS A JOKE.
HAHA. FAT CHANCE.
Anyway, this cake is great.
It’s so delicious and moist.
Look at me still talking
when there’s Science to do.
When I look out there, it makes me GLaD I’m not you.
I’ve experiments to run.
There is research to be done.
On the people who are still alive.
And believe me I am still alive.
I’m doing Science and I’m still alive.
I feel FANTASTIC and I’m still alive.
While you’re dying I’ll be still alive.
And when you’re dead I will be still alive.
STILL ALIVE