Perspective is needed on the Political Left

Since Barack Obama cliched the democratic nomination he's been taking tons of heat from the left wing of the democratic party. I'm hoping that the folks throwing the bombs will come to their senses and stop beating up Obama for not being liberal enough. Conservatives like to point out that Obama is has the most liberal voting record in the senate. I don't know if this is true or not but I'm guessing his heart lies a bit to the left of the mainstream of the party. I think that his primary victory is a victory for progressives - much more so than if HRC had won. Indeed, HRC almost sounded like a republican at times during the campaign. We know she isn't but she was clearly running in the primary as if it were a general. Which is where Barack is now - running in the general.

I think the left of the party is making a huge mistake in resisting the actions Obama is taking to position himself for the contest against McCain. It's the same on both sides of the aisle. During primaries, repugnicans run to the right, democrats to the left. On both sides it's base, base, base. That's the way it is, for better or worse. Then when the primary is over, both sides tack to the center. John McGetoffmylawn has defied this wisdom by starting on the right and going righter, but I digress. Obama wants to win. All progressives want him to win. To do so, he needs a large contingent of independents, Reagan Democrats and moderates to go with him. They won't if he runs left. Sorry but that's the way it is. Always has been.

We won't know if an Obama presidency will deliver on the lofty themes he has articulated until he actually wins. I for one will take Obama's hopeful vision of a united and peaceful, egalitarian and prosperous America over the dark and fearful future offered by John McCan't. So come on Lefties! Don't engage in self destructive efforts to push the candidate to where he can't appeal to the center. That is a clear recipe for loss. Like voting for Nader in 2000. Let's resist the party's proclivity for foot shooting and get behind the best candidate I've seen in my lifetime. This is OUR Kennedy. Support him. Donate. Vote. Stop the pressure from the left until AFTER he wins.