By Scott Conroy
Texas Insider Report: Washington D.C. As negative reaction from congressional Democrats continues to pour in over
President Obamas framework tax cuts deal with Republicans prominent progressives who have long been critical of the White House for not taking a firmer stand against the GOP appear to have new ammunition for their attacks.
Obama they say is coming across as wimpy and wussy as Bill Maher described it during a Sunday appearance on CNN.
But some Democratic strategists are fighting back against that assessment arguing that a pragmatic approach is the key to a successful Obama presidency in the long term.
After their midterm drubbing Democrats who wanted Obama to draw the proverbial line in the sand particularly on not extending tax cuts for the wealthy became increasingly vocal in casting Obama as an irresolute president.
Democratic strategist and Clinton family confidante James Carville fired one of the most memorable shots last month when he told reporters If Hillary gave up one of her balls and gave it to Obama hed have two.
Last week New York Times columnist Paul Krugman wrote that it was hard to escape the impression that Republicans were correct in their belief that Obama could be counted on to fold on their vow not to act on any other legislation until the tax cuts extension issue was resolved on their terms.
It would be much easier of course for Democrats to draw a line if Mr. Obama would do his part Krugman wrote. But all indications are that the party will have to look elsewhere for the leadership it needs.
In another column that ran on Monday before the tax cuts deal was announced Krugman argued that Obama should let the Bush cuts expire for everyone at the end of the year rather than giving into Republican blackmailers.
Obama has long had an uneasy relationship with many leading progressive opinion shapers. Last summer White House press secretary Robert Gibbs revealed his frustration with the professional left and Krugmans suggestion
on tax cuts was just the latest piece of advice on playing hardball with the Republicans that Obama declined to take.
But Democratic consultant Bob Shrum is one prominent Obama defender who is now speaking out more forcefully against what he called the circular firing squad that has developed among leading voices in his party.
Im probably going to lose my progressive union card but I think it is wrong and self-destructive for progressives to be engaged in this Shrum told RealClearPolitics. This guy has achieved more progressive purposes than any president in 70 years and I think he has the strength to do whats right for example with the economy when hes faced with an unpalatable choice.
Shrum said that he was appalled at recent public statements coming from some of the same influential Democrats who supported President Clintons triangulation with Republicans after Democrats midterm defeats in 1994 but are now accusing Obama of abandoning his economic principles.
Shrum was particularly adamant about the moral necessity of a deal on temporarily extending all of the tax cuts which also extended unemployment compensation. He said that Democrats needed to grow up and understand that sometimes the ideal option is not one that is feasible.
Do we really want to leave millions of people without a way to feed their families or pay their rent so that we can prove their ideological point? Shrum said. Fundamentally the only successful presidencies that my sides have ever had have been principled and pragmatic -- youve got to be both. I mean on the other side Reagan was both principled and pragmatic. Reagan passed a large tax increase in 1982 that nobody ever talks about.
Pragmatic-minded Democrats also argue that the framework for the tax cuts deal which includes a $120 billion payroll tax is likely to put Obama in a better position to achieve a clear record of economic growth by the time the 2012 campaign kicks into high gear.
Furthermore Obamas approval rating among Democrats remained at a healthy 82 percent in an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll conducted last month although that number will be closely watched for any potential slide in
the coming weeks as the tax cuts framework moves to Congress.
The support the Democrats got from liberal Democrats in the last election would not suggest any particular problem that the president has with that constituency in the country at large Democratic pollster Mark Mellman told RealClearPolitics. The president is mainly judged on results and the question is going to be what are the results he produces.
In spite of recent speculation about a possible primary challenge to Obama any potential Democratic contender would face a massive series of challenges to overcome in mounting a credible campaign. Those obstacles would include Obamas massive fundraising ability presidential clout organizing prowess in the early voting states and unparalleled appeal within the African American community which holds considerable sway in the Democratic nominating process.
Shrum said that the 2012 primary challenge talk was insane pointing to the two most recent failed attempts at taking on a sitting president from within the party in 1976 and 1980.
If two of the great giants of modern American politics -- Ronald Reagan and Ted Kennedy -- couldnt successfully do that against presidents who fairly or unfairly were regarded as failures I certainly dont see how anybody in the Democratic primary is going to do that next time around against President Obama he said.
Scott Conroy covers the White House for RealClearPolitics. He can be reached at sconroy@realclearpolitics.com.
the coming weeks as the tax cuts framework moves to Congress.
The support the Democrats got from liberal Democrats in the last election would not suggest any particular problem that the president has with that constituency in the country at large Democratic pollster Mark Mellman told RealClearPolitics. The president is mainly judged on results and the question is going to be what are the results he produces.
In spite of recent speculation about a possible primary challenge to Obama any potential Democratic contender would face a massive series of challenges to overcome in mounting a credible campaign. Those obstacles would include Obamas massive fundraising ability presidential clout organizing prowess in the early voting states and unparalleled appeal within the African American community which holds considerable sway in the Democratic nominating process.
Shrum said that the 2012 primary challenge talk was insane pointing to the two most recent failed attempts at taking on a sitting president from within the party in 1976 and 1980.
If two of the great giants of modern American politics -- Ronald Reagan and Ted Kennedy -- couldnt successfully do that against presidents who fairly or unfairly were regarded as failures I certainly dont see how anybody in the Democratic primary is going to do that next time around against President Obama he said.
Scott Conroy covers the White House for RealClearPolitics. He can be reached at sconroy@realclearpolitics.com.
