And while many were pleased with this rant, many others were not happy with it at all.
Daily Kos reports:
I see both sides. Keith had some good points, but he seemed naive about how compromises work. When you look at the bigger picture, we are saving many millions from losing their UE benefits. Now, we many be upset, but the folks who are receiving the benefits are happy about this.I love Keith Olbermann. Keith Olbermann has been instrumental in the Progressive cause and he has gone where many Liberals have been fearful of going. His criticism of the President on the tax cut deal was simply wrong and his tonality much too harsh. I blame the President for extremely poor messaging. I blame Keith Olbermann for being a purist to the detriment of the country.Stating that the President gave away the house simply for 13 months of unemployment is patently false. As Ezra Klein stated 130 of the 900 billion went to the middle class via Progressive policies like reduction in the FICA taxes every middle class person pays, 13 months of unemployment compensation, tax credits for small businesses, tuition credits, and much more.
While it is true that the portion going to the wealthy may be considered is a transfer of wealth to the rich, what should be more disconcerting is that we did this entire bill with borrowed money. It is naïve to believe that Republicans care about what the middle class believe. On January 1st Republican would have been willing to let the middle class suffer and starve until the rich were compensated.
If we want successful and more pure policies, we should stop maiming each other in the Progressive movement and work to convince a larger base of Americans that supply side (trickle down) economics does not and never worked. Because of the construct of our Senate, Republicans will never need a majority to protect the rich. That is a bet they will always win unless we educate the masses in the long term, while in the short term we govern like adults.
We must keep the pressure on the President but we must also be realistic. While most of us activists in the Progressive movement have jobs, we must remember that while we fight some of those we are fighting for will be hurt irreparably if we do not fight intelligently. I am positive that is what President Barack Obama is attempting to do.
To be real, no one truly came out on top. This was a Pyrrhic victory, a victory that has its good and bad sides. At this point, we can't harp on this forever. We have to see how this plays out.
2 comments:
I wholeheartedly agree with Olbermann. Look, when the primary for the Democrats I was strongly leaning toward Kucinich.
Obama was my second choice. But once he captured the nomination, so be it. He sounded like a good candidate. But he's been something of a let down this past year or so.
Obama needs to grow a set.
I agree with the Daily Kos. Keith and Rachel are being too hard on Obama in this case. Sure, I'm disappointed in the compromise and wish it were different. He has an extremely difficult job with all the opposition he has against everything he's trying to do.
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