JROTC Program; Obama's "Move" to the Right ...Jul. 08‚ 2008To the Editor: JROTC is a VOLUNTARY program. No one is forcing any student to take JROTC. So please be respectful of those of us who wish to participate in this program and stop forcing us to live our lives according to your political views. In other words, give us the same freedom and respect to live our lives as we so choose that we give to you. Sincerely, Petra Meyer San Francisco, CA Dear Editor: Paul Hogarth's apologist spin on Obama's recent sell-outs was great! I'm looking forward to reading Hogarth's future dispatches from Gitmo, after President Obama recognizes the national security necessity of locking up lefty bloggers for a few years to prevent those evil Republicans from taking back the White House in 2012. Such an action might make a few of his supporters cringe, but wouldn't create lasting policy damage, so it would be nothing for real Progressives to worry about. John-Marc Chandonia San Francisco To the Editor: Barack Obama is not a progressive, so Paul Hogarth's column is correct that he hasn't changed his positions significantly. However, Mr. Hogarth erroneously conflates the lack of change with the fact that Obama was never progressive in the first place in order to conclude that "there's little in this recent statement [that he might not pull all U.S. troops from Iraq] that indicates cause for concern." There is indeed cause for concern, but that cause is based on Obama's lack of progressive ideals, not perceived moves to the right (it might be the center in the U.S., but on a global scale it's the right). Barak Obama has said that he wants to add 100,000 troops to the U.S. military, to attack Pakistan, and to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan. He fully supports the U.S. global empire, so he'll increase the already bloated U.S. military in order to do so. For those planning on holding their noses and voting for Obama in November, remember what you're voting for. For those who expect significant change, you're ignoring who and what Obama really is and not being realistic. Jeff Hoffman San Francisco Dear Editor, So let me get this straight: Obama clearly and intentionally moves to the right, and progressives are supposed to sit tight and keep their mouths shut until next year when they will suddenly be able to spring from nowhere and "hold him accountable." [Why Obama’s “Move to the Center” Need Not Alarm Progressives 7/7/08] This is a strategy almost certain to fail. If we don't speak up now, then forever hold our peace. If Obama gets elected after running as a centrist, there will be no mandate next January for things progressives care about. Obama, not to mention the pro-corporate advisors he's now surrounding himself with, will have far less reason to listen to progressives once he's already in office, than now, when he still might need at least some of their time and money to get elected. Furthermore, if there's any hope that our abysmal leadership in Congress will do something of significance next year, they must see the people demanding it at the ballot box in November. In order for the election to be a referendum on real change, Obama as a candidate must articulate and stand for real change. And despite the assurances in the article to the contrary, Obama's moves to the right will only hurt his chances of getting elected. Paul, you argue that by flip-flopping on FISA and taking more conservative stances on gun control and the death penalty, Obama is somehow inoculating himself from Republican attacks. This would be naive at best. The Republicans will fabricate whatever they need to attack him. They certainly don't need him to vote against telecom immunity in order to smear his record or swiftboat him. He can make all the moves to the right he wants, but Fox News will never like him. In the meantime he extinguishes much of the enthusiasm in his base. The best way for Obama to inoculate himself from the coming attacks, is to actually stand for something, show some genuine conviction and principles, and stop acting like the usual, wishy-washy Democratic presidential candidate. How is the Obama camp's "pre-emptive defense game" substantively different from the play-it-safe cowering we've seen from democratic presidential campaigns for the last twelve years? Will the Democrats never learn that it's impossible to beat the Republicans by trying to become more like them? Are we really talking about this again in another presidential election year? You defend Obama for recent hints that he may "refine" his Iraq policy. You argue that he's not actually shifting his position. Rather he's essentially always been weak and vague on withdrawing from Iraq, despite what folks may have been led to believe. And we're supposed to be okay with this? The only "refining" Obama should being doing on his Iraq policy is spelling out the details of an immediate and complete withdraw of troops to be implemented the day he gets in office. Taking a principled, decisive stand on Iraq and other key issues is absolutely the right thing to do, it's the best campaign strategy, and it's the only way his victory would result in meaningful change. Obama will not take these decisive stands in his campaign unless the people demand it now. Six months from now will be too late. Andy Blue San Francisco You can submit letters to the editor by clicking on this link: feedback@beyondchron.org or by writing to: Beyond Chron 126 Hyde Street San Francisco, CA 94102 415-771-9850 (phone) |