Why Obama’s FISA Vote Was So Bad
(posted by Kevin Carson)
1. As a commenter at Unqualified Offerings (via Thoreau) points out, it deprives his promises and future policy commitments of all value:
Obama is still, as of this moment, a lesser evil, so nearly as I can tell. But the worst thing about someone who so directly breaks clear promises is that you then lose rational grounds on which to assess their future prospects. I really don’t think, right now, that Obama can sink to McCain’s level in four months. But I have no argument to that effect.
2. As Larry Lessig observed, it amounts to “self-swiftboating”–i.e., Obama’s gutless belly crawl on FISA had “the effect of undermining [his] own… strongest characteristic.” His strongest characteristic, Lessig argues, is that
he is perceived by the public as “different,” and hence (given the public hates politicians so) someone the public can like, or more significantly, get enthusiastic about.
In short, Obama has squatted astride his own good name, on or whatever reputation he had for integrity, and taken a giant shit on it.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
And this could really hurt in terms of GOTV troops. Even those of us who are still voting for Obama, are now vastly less enthused about his candidacy, and the depth of support matters.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:18 am
But Obama is the lesser evil! You have to vote for the lesser evil or the other team will win!