Legal Commentary

"Progressivism" In The 90s And Today

By Big Tent Democrat

It is a bit of an obsession for me, but the mischaracterization of Bill Clinton's Presidency and the views of Senator Hillary Clinton still bothers me a great deal. Here is Poblano:

Likewise, as David Sirota notes, one can co-opt leftist rhetoric, enthusiasm and mindshare and implement a centrist agenda, as Bill Clinton arguably did.

Well make the argument then, as opposed to just spouting the line. Consider how Poblano defines Obama as a progressive:

1. Reverse Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. (You mean like Bill Clinton did?)

2. Close corporate tax loopholes. (Like Bill Clinton did?)

3. Mandate health insurance for kids (Like Bill Clinton did?)

4. $1B in anti-poverty job program (Ever heard of the EITC?)

5. Expand AmeriCorps (created by Bill Clinton) and PeaceCorps. (Like Bill Clinton did?)

Here's my question, when will SOME Democrats learn to appreciate the achievements of Bill Clinton? When will they learn that denigrating the last previous Democratic President is counterproductive? When will they learn that President-Elect Obama is ideologically in tune with both President Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton?

Of course, unlike President Clinton, President-Elect Obama has the opportunity (indeed the necessity) to enact much bolder policies. But if and when he does, you'll probably find that a lot of his ideas are not new - they may have been first proposed by yep, President Bill Clinton.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on November 26, 2008 (boomark / email).