Liberals vow to challenge Obama in Democratic primaries

[one_voice]

President Obama’s smooth path to the Democratic nomination may have gotten rockier Monday, after a group of liberal leaders, including former presidential candidate Ralph Nader, announced plans to challenge the incumbent in primaries next year.

The group said the goal is to offer up a handful of candidates from various fields and areas where the president either has failed to stake out a “progressive” position or where he has “drifted toward the corporatist right.”

*snip*

“We need to put strong Democratic pressure on President Obama in the name of poor and working people,” said Cornel West, author and professor at Princeton University who has been highly critical of Mr. Obama’s tenure since helping him get elected in 2008. “His administration has tilted too much toward Wall Street, we need policies that empower Main Street.”

Mr. Nader and Mr. West are joined by Christ Townsend, of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, and Brent Blackwelder, president emeritus of Friends of the Earth.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/19/liberals-vow-challenge-obama-democratic-primaries/


Well this should be tons of fun. :eyes:

edited to add...you've got this manufactured crisis and you've Cheney out there calling for Hillary to run. Seems to me the right may not be as sure of their candidates and beating Obama as they make themselves out to be.

[blogslut]

1. The Moonie Times?

Really?

[Rex]

19. Yeah no kidding, I'm sure Moonies dream about Nadar

taking votes away from Obama. Moon is just another Rupert Murdoch imo, maybe worse.

[Bandit]

33. Primaries don't take any votes away from the Democratic candidate...

:shrug:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. I'm a little unclear about this

I thought that they were not looking for a challenger but people to "debate" President Obama on the issues (although how and when this might happen is unclear). :shrug:

[BlueIris]

3. To the next president, who I know will be a good Democrat: Good luck, Sir.

I used to trust you completely. I trusted you with my life. That is no longer the case, and part of the reason is because of what went down with the current Commander in Chief, whom you had a significant role in helping into the job he now holds. But since I believe you are the best the country will get, I still wish you luck.

[otohara]

4. Three Liberals

vow!

[mmonk]

5. A primary challenge will have to have a Democratic Party candidate.

I'm not aware they have someone in mind yet. One thing it would do is force him to run left while his advisors were trying to get him to go after "independents".

[cali]

6. oh sure. that's happening. not. nattering nabobs do not a challenge make.

[Renew Deal]

7. "liberal leader Ralph Nader"

:rofl:

And then there's West, and two other guys no one has ever heard of. Nice job of the RW Washington Times to manufacture a story.

[bluestate10]

26. West and Nader will never get to the polls, they will trip over each other's ego. nt

[JaneQPublic]

8. And, once again, the GOP will be funding Nader's campaign

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0709-04.htm

[sellitman]

9. King Ralph is still after Democrats

Would that he could turn his wrath on the right for a change.

Bastard!

[mmonk]

10. Funny that this Washington Times article

talks mainly about Democratic Party challengers in certain districts that have been abandoned. I don't see the challenger to Obama listed.

[bluestate10]

27. The Washington Times is a noted rightwing rag.

Why would any true democrat post anything that asswipe journal prints?

[one_voice]

34. True Democrat?

I posted it because I think it's funny how hard the right is pushing this stuff.

And then there's this..

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-chapman-obama-reelection,0,622512.column

I can't be the only one to notice that the right seems more concerned with who we're are/aren't running, and they're determined to try and split the party. Pointing it out shouldn't determine whether I'm a "true democrat", I resent the inference that I'm not.

[mmonk]

36. That's the main reason I noted that it is the Washington Times.

[Xithras]

11. Useless chatter until a candidate is named.

I wish someone would declare, but I'm pretty pessimistic about it happening. A primary challenger was always going to be a long shot, but we're only 3 1/2 months out from the first primary, and 4 1/2 months out from Super Tuesday. Putting an effective campaign together at this point would be nearly impossible.

I suspect that anyone politically experienced enough to qualify for that position is going to know that, and isn't going to waste their political capital on a campaign that is doomed to fail before even beginning. The best we can hope for at this point is a primary challenger with enough name recognition to get the medias attention, to try and force Obama back to the left a bit.

[dennis4868]

14. I agree...

we need someone who will ignore congress and pass laws on their own as president...I just hope that someone will stand up and be that person but I am a little pessimistic about that now...we don't have time for a president who takes fillubusters seriously, or lets dems weaken his legislation, or repubs obstruct...we need a man who will ignore all of this and simply pass pure progressive legislation all by himself. hmmmm...who is that man?

[Xithras]

18. Pure progressivism isn't required...

...but a little dedication to the cause would be nice.

[dennis4868]

24. I agree 100%

we are on the same page...dedication to the cause ---> www.whatthefuckhasoabamdonesofar.com

[dennis4868]

12. My god Obama must be feeling the heat now...

HAHAHAHA!

[still_one]

13. Nader isn't a Democrat he belongs to the Green Party, let him run with that party /nt

[HappyMe]

15. Lol! Okay, then.

Every 4 years this guy come out of the woodwork. :eyes:

[tritsofme]

16. Lee Mercer Jr to the rescue!

[kctim]

17. They can run ANY progressive or liberal they wish

they wouldn't stand a chance in hell of beating President Obama. Even if they did, I would write President Obama in before I would ever vote for one of them.

[Xithras]

21. So....

...you're saying that, if Obama wasn't on the ballot, you'd help elect a Republican?

Just turning the common DU meme around a little here ;)

[kctim]

22. The common DU meme is

that you aren't a Democrat if your not a progressive. I disagree with that lockstep thinking and so do all the Democrats I know.

So, IF President Obama was to not be on the ballot, I would write him in. You can view that as helping elect a Republican if you wish, but if I were you, I would be more worried about all the Democrats who would actually vote for the Republican over the progressive.

[bluestate10]

30. People that call themselves progressives on DU are an insignificant minority.

If Nader or West or anyone of that ilk go up against President Obama, they will get their ass kicked.

[frylock]

37. people that call themselves progressives on DU are an insignificant minority.

that bears repeating:

People that call themselves progressives on DU are an insignificant minority.

put it on a bumper sticker. what better way to rally people to your cause? you're insignifigant, but we really need your vote. and if our guy loses, it's entirely your fault.

[bluestate10]

28. Same here. nt

[JoePhilly]

20. Breaking News: A shark has just jumped Ralph Nader!!!

The AP reports that after years of people "Jumping Sharks" ... the sharks have had enough.

"Its been embarrassing" said the Shark spokeshark, "to have ridiculous people jumping over us all the time. So we've decided our best response is to start jumping over ridiculous people in protest. And Ralph was the first ridiculous person on our list".

The sharks are also considering a jump over Michelle Bachmann, after her own "shark jump" at the last GOP Debate. The fact that she rarely leaves IOWA anymore will make this tougher, but the Sharks are not concerned.

"If she stays in the GOP primary fight until Florida, we can definitely jump her there, and perhaps 8 other truly ridiculous GOP candidates, all at the same time. That would probably set a world record." confirmed the spokeshark.

The AP is also reporting that Cornel West is angry at the sharks for not planning to "jump over him", but this is unconfirmed.

[bluestate10]

29. Are you F'ing kidding me? Didn't know that anything could jump that ego. nt

[JoePhilly]

32. lol!!

[Scuba]

23. He will decline to debate. n/t

[bluestate10]

25. Hope the group is better than the two pompous ass-ed buffoons mentioned

in the short read. West and Nader are better served ignored.

[bluestate10]

31. Wrap your fish in the Washington Times, that is all that paper is good for. nt

[Bluebear]

35. Lol this thread sure is an ignored magnet!

[Arkana]

38. And Rick Perry and Mitt Romney are writing thank you cards

to Nader as we speak.