The U.S. clearly elected Obama... but doesn't want liberal politics? Huh?

By LindaBeth

I am thoroughly confused about the media arguing that the election of Obama does not mean Americans want liberal policies or that Obama should pursue them. Say what?

via Media Matters:

Then there's CNN's John King Wednesday night. Just try to follow his logic:

KING: Without a doubt, the electorate voted for Barack Obama, but still perceives him to be a liberal. And one thing you don't want to do when you win an election like this, a sweeping election like this, is alienate the people here in a place like Cincinnati. Why? George W. Bush carried that county four years ago. You don't want to drive them away.

[...]

So, Barack Obama is making inroads in communities that not too long ago voted Republican. The last thing you want to do if you want to keep them four years from now is to alienate them with a liberal agenda.

Right... people voted for Obama, but don't really believe in his platform. They perceive him to be a liberal, but don't actually want liberalism? Communities who previously have believed in conservative politics voting for a liberal politician could possibly have changed their minds about what direction we need to take, could they? Especially since the last 8 years have been sooo successful! And you wouldn't want to alienate them by enacting the changes you said you would make. Is this even any sort of logic?

Don't forget, after Bush's 2.5% victory spread in 2004, he claimed (indeed, he insisted) he had earned political capital and that he was going to spend it. After Obama's 6 point win, it's rather audacious it to suggest that Americans do not support liberal politics, as MSNBC's Rachel Maddow has been suggesting:



Saying over and over that we are a "center-right" nation will not make it so.

And if Obama's administration is successful, perhaps "liberal" and "progressive" can change from being dirty words and as labels that politicians don't want to embrace.

(Cross-posted to Smart Like Me.)