Former President Barack Obama is either trying his best to get canceled or to inject some sanity into a fractured Democratic Party. Only two weeks after criticizing cancel culture, Obama is now warning the Democratic Party against allowing the far left to gain more influence.
While the former president did not name any of the individuals to whom he was referring, it seems obvious that his comments were targeted at the Justice Democrats crowd. His remarks addressed the upcoming presidential campaign, and he is likely fearful that alienating moderates might get President Trump re-elected. But he also seems to be concerned about the possibility of the far-left bloc taking over the party.
Obama Issues another Warning
Barack Obama
Obama recently gave a speech to leftist donors in which he expressed reservations about the Democratic Party’s rapid leftward movement. “Even as we push the envelope and we are bold in our vision we also have to be rooted in reality,” he said. “The average American doesn’t think we have to completely tear down the system and remake it.”
The New York Times reported that Obama did not single out any candidate by name, but he did urge the 2020 Democratic field to listen to the voices of voters instead of proposing policies based on the far-left activist crowd. It is not difficult to see that his remarks refer to Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who are the candidates pushing far-left socialist policies like universal healthcare and education.
The former president might be signaling that he will endorse a moderate candidate like his former vice president, Joe Biden. Perhaps he is trying to pull the Democratic Party back to at least a semblance of normalcy. But the question they must answer is this: Which wing is closer to what the American people want, the far-left progressive faction, or the moderate establishment?
What Does America Think?
So how does America feel about the progressives’ most sacred policies? Let’s take a look at the Green New Deal. The proposal is the centerpiece legislation designed to fight climate change and save humanity from being melted alive like the Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
However, the legislation does not seem to be quite as popular as the progressives want us to believe. The Green Advocacy Project (GAP) conducted a poll to assess attitudes towards the Green New Deal. A small majority of Americans (46%) opposed the proposal.
But what about Medicare-For-All? Haven’t they been telling us that everyone loves the idea of a government-run healthcare system that would eliminate private insurance? Well, according to journalist Peter Suderman, people do favor universal healthcare – until you tell them how it works. In a piece written for Reason, Suderman discusses a survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, showing that 56% of Americans favored state-run healthcare:
“But the more revealing part of the survey, I think, comes from the questions focused on the costs of single-payer, all of which caused support for Medicare for All to drop below 40 percent. Told that it would eliminate private health insurance and require people to pay more in taxes, for example, support fell to 37 percent. Told that it would cause some medical treatments and tests to be delayed, support dropped even further, to 26 percent.”
There is also the problem of paying for the legislation. But you, dear reader, already know that being a progressive means never having to explain how you will make the manna rain down from the heavens. But will the Democrats listen to Obama and the minuscule remnant of rational leaders left in the party?
Will they Ever Listen?
Obama appears to be on a mission to prevent the Democratic Party from leaping off the cliff into the abyss of socialism. It seems odd, doesn’t it? Almost like we’ve been transported into an episode of The Twilight Zone. Next thing you know, President Trump will stop tweeting and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will start making cogent arguments.
Nevertheless, it is obvious that the Democratic Party is at a crossroads. It can move closer towards socialism, which will alienate moderates, or it could follow Obama’s lead and embrace rationality. The battle over the direction of the party is far from over, and both sides are digging in their heels. It is still too early to tell which faction Democratic voters will support, but ultimately, the result of the 2020 election might determine where the party will go in the future.
Who’s making the popcorn?
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Read more from Jeff Charles.
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