(Ouch) Soros Tells Progressive Donors Obama Might Not Be The Best Investment

[kpete]

Soros Tells Progressive Donors Obama Might Not Be The Best Investment

First Posted: 11-17-10 04:10 PM | Updated: 11-17-10 04:27 PM

WASHINGTON -- At a private meeting on Tuesday afternoon, George Soros, a longtime supporter of progressive causes, voiced blunt criticism of the Obama administration, going so far as to suggest that Democratic donors direct their support somewhere other than the president.

The Hungarian-American financier was speaking to a small side gathering of donors who had convened in Washington D.C. for the annual gathering of the Democracy Alliance -- a formal community of well-funded, progressive-minded individuals and activists.

According to multiple sources with knowledge of his remarks, Soros told those in attendance that he is "used to fighting losing battles but doesn't like to lose without fighting."

"We have just lost this election, we need to draw a line," he said, according to several Democratic sources. "And if this president can't do what we need, it is time to start looking somewhere else."

more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/17/soros-tells-progressive-d_n_785022.html

[Crazy Dave]

1. I agree n/t

[Dinger]

27. Me Too (nt)

[polichick]

2. "doesn't like to lose without fighting." - Well, can't argue with that. nt

[lob1]

3. Wow. That's damaging.

[impik]

32. Hee. We'll see.

[ProSense]

4. Sam Stein needs to get a grip with these headlines

and stop spinning his ass off:

<...>

"Mr. Soros fully supports the president as the leader of the Democratic Party," said Vachon. "He was not suggesting that we seek another candidate for 2012. His comments were made in a private, informal conversation that was about the need for progressives to be more forceful in promoting their agenda. He was stressing the importance of being heard by elected officials."

<...>

While Soros's comment gave some attendees the impression that he'd cheer a primary challenge to the president, the point, sources say, was different. Rather, it is time to shuffle funds into a progressive infrastructure that will take on the tasks that the president can't or won't take on.

"People are determined to help build a progressive infrastructure and make sure it is there not just in the months ahead but one that will last in the long term," said Anna Burger, the retired treasury secretary of SEIU. "Instead of being pushed over by this election it has empowered people to stand up in a bigger way."

<...>

One of those "movement" ventures is an outside-government arm to match conservatives in the 2012 elections. For several weeks, discussions have been led by Media Matters for America founder David Brock about the need to create a group that will run advertisements, conduct opposition research and perform rapid response functions. Those talks continued this past week, though disputes have begun to emerge about the most effective role for such a group. As one activist who is involved with the Democracy Alliance noted:

<...>

Soros' comments sounds like he's telling progressives to stop focusing on Obama and focus on building a movement.

[Barack_America]

6. Interesting that you've highlighted the spin of Soros's comment...

...in your complaint of "spin".

Why not focus on the comment itself if it's the spin on it that bothers you?

"We have just lost this election, we need to draw a line," he said, according to several Democratic sources. "And if this president can't do what we need, it is time to start looking somewhere else."


This comment of yours "Soros' comments sounds like he's telling progressives to stop focusing on Obama and focus on building a movement." I don't disagree with. However, I'm not sure you're recognizing the implications of this for Obama's 2012 campaign.

[ProSense]

7. OK, let me just highlight

the point that shatters the implication of the ambiguous headline (ouch).

"Mr. Soros fully supports the president as the leader of the Democratic Party," said Vachon. "He was not suggesting that we seek another candidate for 2012.

[Barack_America]

8. I'm more interested in what Soros said, than what this Vachon person says he said. nt

[ProSense]

10. How are you going to know what Soros said?

There isn't a single quote in the article from him.

It does however mention his alliance with David Brock

[polichick]

14. What about this?

Soros told those in attendance that he is "used to fighting losing battles but doesn't like to lose without fighting."

[ProSense]

16. Well,

"According to multiple sources with knowledge of his remarks..."

...heresay is not a direct quote, especially hearsay without context.

[polichick]

19. Well, if Mr. Soros feels he has been misquoted I'm sure he'll say so. nt

[vaberella]

72. I thought it was Soros' representative who was making the statements posted by Prosense. n/t

[polichick]

11. Are you the deflector in chief? nt

[ProSense]

12. Yes,

who are you?

If you want to focus on the fact that I have an opinion, you can lose the snark.

[polichick]

13. I'm someone who notices your talking points and deflection. nt

[ProSense]

17. Maybe instead

of characterizing other people's opinions as talking points, you could work on cultivating your own arguments.

[polichick]

18. Your "opinions" very often don't include actual opinions. nt

[ProSense]

28. Does that make sense? n/t

[ProudDad]

46. It appears so recently

:shrug:

May the "hopium(tm)" soon wear off...

I mainly feel pity for someone in such obvious pain...

[jefferson_dem]

35. "Mr. Soros fully supports the president as the leader of the Democratic Party."

Of course. I didn't think Soros was a dumbass.

Huff Post... Fail. When will they stop embarassing themselves?

[killbotfactory]

56. I'm pretty sure Obama would agree with that.

"stop focusing on Obama and focus on building a movement"

In fact, that's one of the things I took out of his campaign. It kind of got lost in the media frenzy of the election, the economic crisis that hit the country, and the progressive mediasphere's tendency to view everything he does as a betrayal of some perfect ideal, rather than a step towards that ideal.

[Uzybone]

5. HuffPo, liberals best friend

they've been firing up liberals into meaningful action since never....

[boppers]

9. Obama wasn't running this year.

So, yeah, putting money towards Obama would have been a dumb investment.

[RBInMaine]

15. Yeah Soros, try financing progressive media or shut your hole.

[polichick]

20. Why do you say that? nt

[RBInMaine]

23. If he was serious about damaging pukes, he'd finance progressive counter media.

[polichick]

24. Has anyone asked him to? nt

[RBInMaine]

25. He needs to be asked? (And I'd be willing to bet he as been asked.)

[polichick]

26. I thought you may have read something that said he wouldn't do it. nt

[ProudDad]

47. News Flash! He just gave a million bucks to Media Matters... (n/t)

[DrToast]

21. I agree...sort of

I am starting to think that giving money to politicians is a waste of time. I think you're better off giving money to organizations pushing for issues you support. Since lobbyists rule Washington, give your money to lobbyists.

[polichick]

22. True. nt

[frazzled]

59. Is giving money to Media Matters any less of a waste of time?

They've been around for quite a few years now, and I fail to see what they have accomplished for all their millions except catch Bill O'Reilly and Dr. Laura making racist comments, and something about Rush Limbaugh talking about "phony soldiers." Last I saw, Limbaugh and O'Reilly are still on TV collecting their millions.

I can see Soros putting money into an organization like Rove's, which poured kazillions into advertising this past election. But dumping it on Media Matters rather than the DSCC? It's sort of like flushing your money down the toilet.

As an aside: does it ever bother you that almost every one of the "big voice" outlets on the left are all run by former Republicans? Brock, Huffington, Moulitsas, etc.? Why is that? I think sometimes its just that they know how to bring in the money.

[AlinPA]

29. That could hurt. nt

[impik]

33. You really think that you can put someone who is on the left to Obama in the WH?

Keep dreaming.

[AlinPA]

36. I didn't propose that, I'm only saying that Soros' remarks will hurt the President since it

comes from a prominent supporter of Democratic causes. I don't understand the "keep dreaming" remark.

[ProudDad]

51. Yep, with 5 guys like Soros willing to put up a couple of billion

for the propaganda machine...

Damn straight...

The USAmerikan sheeple vote for the loudest megaphone (and lately the biggest lie)...

Imagine if the Truth had the kind of coverage the lies get...

[jillan]

30. Time to regroup, Obama. Time to do to the republicans what you did to your challengers in '08

http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Democratic+Presidential+Candidates+Meet+First+OX_TFfrJ9hAl.jpg

[impik]

31. So invest in someone else. Who's stopping you?

[Cali_Democrat]

34. Recently Glen Beck said Soros led Jews to the death camps

Instead of attacking the President, he should probably go after Fox News and other nefarious interests.

[craigmatic]

37. I guarentee you that Obama isn't worried. His funding comes from elsewhere.

[ProudDad]

49. You mean here?

http://www2.goldmansachs.com/?cid=31050699

or here?

http://www.ml.com/index.asp?id=7695_15125

[craigmatic]

57. Pretty much (although he didn't need it because he was going to win anyway)

[Jakes Progress]

38. Got the usual set of head in the sand replies.

First there are the tough guys telling Soros to bug off, we don't need you. Now that is smart. Who needs the support of a billionaire for an election.

Then there is the "he didn't really say what they said he said and if he did it doesn't mean what the words he said meant" deflectors.

Both groups wish to ignore reality. First, we do need wealthy liberal supporters. We don't need to piss them off the same way the administration pissed off progressives. We need them both to win. The righteous tough guys need to stuff their egos and woo those votes and dollars we need. Second for the deflectors. This smoke is emanating from a real fire. People are angry that there seems to have been too much giving in and too much emphasis on pleasing right wingers more than left wingers. You can say it isn't happening and you can parse all the sentences you want to prove it to yourself, but this is real. Ignoring it or pretending it isn't there will not make it go away. But we do need to make it go away for real if we hope to win.

[ibegurpard]

39. yup

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jakes Progress]

42. Oh yes. In your real world,

everything is fine. The wars are good things. People out of work are just lazy. The world loves Obama. There is no need to worry about the election in two years because Obama is so wonderful that the world will fall at his feet.

Thank you for providing a perfect example of the people who don't see that if we keep doing what we've been doing we will get the same thing we got last election. And here I thought change was the thing people wanted.

[ProSense]

41. "Mr. Soros fully supports the president as the leader of the Democratic Party."

Speaking in code: the video

[Jakes Progress]

44. And this means what? Do you ever have anything to say about your blue text?

I think cheering the president is fine. More power to you. It's a tough job sometimes, but we can rely on you to ignore everything and beat the drum.

But here, where voters and old guard Democrats live, we need a new path. Polishing the same old road with lots of selected quotes and pretty pictures is not convincing anyone. You do know that is what we have to do don't you? It's all very nice to rev up the choir every now and then, but if you haven't noticed, the choir is getting smaller. I won't get any larger with happy talk and just ignoring those who are disgruntled.

[ProSense]

48. "Do you ever have anything to say about your blue text?" Yes

it's a video.

President Obama has driven the kooks crazy.

[ProudDad]

52. He's driven good hearted, rational, Progressive people crazy too (n/t)

[Jakes Progress]

63. I wanted to know what you had to say.

I see the pulled quotes and the videos. i can draw my own conclusions, but I wanted to hear yours.

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Turborama]

60. It's a video of Keith Olbermann and Sam Stein that's been posted in the videos forum

Well worth watching, if you haven't seen it already.

Instead of just disrespecting ProSense for posting a link to something by calling it "blue text", "selected quotes and pretty pictures" & "happy talk", how about checking out where the link went to 1st?

[Jakes Progress]

64. You missed the point.

I have seen the video. Saw it before it was referenced. I just wanted to hear ProSense's interpretation and the conclusions he draws from the video that pertains to the OP.

Maybe you don't come here often, but the blue text and selected quotes refer to a perpetual habit of dropping stuff into a discussion forum without any discussion. I was asking for conclusions. One of the problems with an online forum is that people see the same thing in different ways. I was asking for PS to comment on his offerings. PS rarely does so. It is the poster's prerogative to not comment or interpret, but it is mine to ask for such clarification.

[flamingdem]

61. I find myself agreeing with you but I'd like to know more about these statements from Soros

.. who leaked this and what was their motive, is it recorded... arrg guess I have to go on Huffpo.

I think that people are upset and want push back against the Repukes, naturally. The jury is out
on the best way to do that but even the patient are having a hard time accepting any dealings with
the Repukes at this point, so Obama just loads it all onto his shoulders as the only adult in the
room... which is why it may be so hard for him to risk too much push back when things could end up
more dysfunctional than ever.

[Poll_Blind]

62. +1

PB

[donco6]

70. And then we give a medal to GHWB.

If you think the cheerleaders HERE are bad, who the fuck is talking to OBAMA?

[Bluenorthwest]

43. I would take from his comments that Mr Soros thinks money

should be spent independently of the campaign apparatus, not that there should be another Democratic candidate. Money and effort needs to be spent drawing the damn line in the media sand that the Kaine/Obama DNC/OFA crowd refuses to do.
That is what he was talking about, and he's not the only one saying it either. If the current cats can not cope with the media, it must be done for them if we expect to win, if they expect to win.

[sally cat]

73. That was essentially my take as well.

[ProudDad]

45. Oooops. There goes his "Medal of Freedom"!!!

:rofl:

[donco6]

67. Snort!

I'm sure there's some RW criminal they can hand it off to instead.

[BeyondGeography]

50. I sure hope someone's hair is on fire at the White House

Because we are trying to tell him something.

Not just Soros, many of us who have supported the President through thick and thin.

You have no friends across the aisle. You may have campaigned on bipartisanship, but it is pointless to do anything but fight these people who have been doing everything in their power to defeat you. It's the right politics and the right policy. Plus, as President, you have the power.

[elleng]

53. PROBABLY WANTS AN INSTITUTION TO COUNTER REPUGS $$

to effectively funnel money. I've advocated Dems acquiring a chief financial officer.

NOT about opposing POTUS.

[jeanpalmer]

54. People are catching on

Soros told those in attendance that he is "used to fighting losing battles but doesn't like to lose without fighting."

Jan Schakowsky for President. She has the right ideas and appears willing to fight.

[Thrill]

55. Well Obama needs to start fighting

You can't expect people to invest and fight for a guy who is going to let the opposition run over them.

People want a President with a backbone. Whether its a Republican or Democrat. Toughness is a must

[LittleBlue]

58. Haven't given him a dime since the election. Don't plan on ever giving to him again

Compromise express doesn't really excite people to give money or time.

[kjackson227]

65. I am so sick of all of the dissension and disunity in this party...

we're an effing train wreck waiting to happen. Regardless of whether or not Soros said what he did and the reasons behind his statement, as a member of this party, I see that we're becoming just as conflicted as the Republican Party. In my opinion, Soros should have kept his damned mouth shut. He should have known that there would be repercussions from making flame bait statements like this. And, yes, Soros has the right to say what he did, but he was very irresponsible in saying it. Democrats need to stop the bleeding that is gushing more and more on a daily basis, or we'll be handing this country right back to the Republicans in 2012.

[flamingdem]

69. 1. His remarks were reported incorrectly 2. Someone ratted on him in at a secret meeting nt

[ampad]

66. "According to several Democratic sources"

And there is the rub. If he did say this why not go on the record with a direct quote? Why doesn't the Huffington post request a direct quote?

[Arkana]

71. Hey, thanks, Mr. Soros!

With Carville questioning Obama's manhood, Blue Dogs in Congress whining about "bipartisanship", an opposition party that does nothing but monolithically oppose, and a bitchy media, I'm surprised Obama hasn't handed Joe Biden his resignation.