Obama,The Poster Child For The Progressive & C-SPAN

In listening to a C-SPAN analysis of the presidential "State of the Union" speech I saw a rare moment to connect to some irony based upon the comments of various callers who individually talked about the subject of "transparency" but few of them connected it all together.

 

The truth is so evident - The Progressive Sees Barack Obama As Their Poster Child.

The irony that I speak of is the difference in "chatter" that can be heard regarding Obama and C-SPAN in relation to the question of "Transparency".

This past week President Obama entered the lion's den.  He was invited to and accepted the invitation of House Republicans to their retreat in which they plotted strategy.  Obama agreed to come on one condition - that the exchange be broadcast upon "C-SPAN".  His handlers made the case that this would advance the concept of TRANSPARENCY that the administration has staked their claim upon. 

Let us all agree - Obama is a talented speaker.  Give the man a microphone, a camera and a teleprompter and he will deliver an impassioned message.  This is not the point that I have come to debate.

The key point of irony that I wish to advance is the arbitrary "victories" that some people take AS THEIR OWN.  Indeed - having one many, Obama, stand in a room full of Republicans (sorry - mostly White men) and artfully handle their questions for his advantage is another feather in his cap.  For those who were looking for the one on many debate to turn into a smack down - which it was not - the victory is that Obama came out holding his own.

The frustration that I have is that some of the people proclaiming "Obama Kicked Republican Booty" were not among those who said much when the promises to show the HEALTH CARE NEGOTIATIONS ON C-SPAN was pulled off of the table.

Most certainly there is a need for a QUALITATIVE appraisal between which of these two viewings is more germane to the "permanent interests" of the person at hand.  Indeed I may be missing the point: Barack Obama IS the "Permanent Interest" of some people.   They live their lives vicariously through is own fate as president.  Some have even noted the necessity to make sure that he is happy so that he can carry forth "our" efforts.   

Despite the fact that the Democratic Party had:

• The Presidency
• A Sound Majority In Tue US House Of Representatives
• A Filibuster-Proof 60 Votes in the US Senate

the failure to pass their key legislation has been shifted off of the questions of LEADERSHIP by Barack Obama and his ability to marshal his Democratic Party forces toward a victory over to the claim of obstruction by the Republican minority who was at fault for derailing the progressive agenda items.

In keeping with tradition - the MINORITY always suffers from the framing of their guilt by those who have the power of majority and willing operatives within the press.