Soo-Ryum Yang
Politics
"All too often our politics still seems trapped in these old, threadbare arguments – a fact most evident during our recent debates about the war in Iraq, when those who opposed administration policy were tagged by some as unpatriotic, and a general providing his best counsel on how to move forward in Iraq was accused of betrayal"
Barack Obama 6/30/2008
Nearly a year after MoveOn.org's infamous "General Betray Us" flop, Obama has decisively spoken against the group's controversial attack on the military leadership in Iraq. But, don't expect his comments to spark "Obama Betrayed Us" ads in NYT. He is still the Left's only hope.
It is obvious that the group's ad was cruelly mischaracterized. However, it was very hard not to mischaracterize the ad's claim. It was more like giving the Right carte blanche rather than providing ourselves the platform to discuss important issues. Essentially, it had a good idea but very very bad wording.
Sure, by equating MoveOn.org's tactics with those of the Bush gang, Obama might lose some support of those anti-war activists from Vermont and Berkeley, but this stratgey might work in the end, especially if he wants to win Virginia and Ohio.
Despite his post-partisan rhetoric, his voting record puts him in the far left corner- where the majority of Americans would feel uncomfortable. By denouncing extremist politics, he will only appear not only more centrist, but more likable, and thus be more electable.
MoveOn.org can now do what it's best at. Just move on.
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