Podesta: Obama Given ‘Real Mandate For Change’
Podesta: Obama Given ‘Real Mandate For Change’
John Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress (currently on leave to head the Obama transition), explained this morning on Fox News Sunday that President-Elect Barack Obama’s victory last week constituted a strong endorsement by the American people of a “progressive philosophy” and has given progressives a “real mandate for change.”
Later in the program, however, Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Mike Pence (R-IN) argued that last week’s election was not a mandate. Despite the decisive election of Obama and other progressive candidates across the country, Cantor and Pence maintained that Americans were not endorsing the progressive platform:
CANTOR: This was not some kind of realignment of the electorate, not some kind of shift toward some style of European social, big government type of philosophy. [...]
PENCE: I don’t think this was a victory for a progressive, or a liberal victory, I think this was a victory for Barack Obama.
Watch a compilation:
Pence and Cantor are wrong. Last week Americans decisively elected a progressive president and gave progressives a majority in both houses of congress. Exit polls from last Tuesday show that “51 percent said government should do more to solve problems, the first time even a narrow majority said so since exit pollsters started asking the question in 1994.”
Indeed, while America remains a centrist nation, last week’s election demonstrates that the center is moving to the left. Polling shows that a majority of Americans favor progressive solutions to our nation’s problems including, instituting universal health care, expanding environmental protections, rebuilding the middle class, and ending the Iraq war.
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If Fox News Channel and the Republicans in Congress want to believe that Bush's narrow re-election in 2004 was a "mandate", then they should view Obama's election as a "super-mandate".
None so blind as those who will not see.
November 9th, 2008 at 12:22 pmJohn Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress (currently on leave to head the Obama transition)
Congratulations John! What an honor to be such a large part of such a monumental Administration (so happy we can stop calling it a Regime again).
November 9th, 2008 at 12:32 pmI fully expect the Cons to wage a war on the Internet, as it is the reason that America is shifting left. Sure, there's garbage in here, but most of it is educational, honest and well, reality liberal-biased.
November 9th, 2008 at 12:35 pmUhm. Barack Obama’s victory last week constituted a strong endorsement...
Last week Americans decisively elected a progressive president...
Using the word "decisive" to explain a 53% to 46% victory seems a little hopeful to me! Actually, 7% does seem like a landslide when the past two elections were split by less than 3% in the popular vote. I can live with that claim, however...
Wayne, the reason Bush got a "mandate" in his *second* election was because people saw his policies in place four years and rolled the dice again. The electorate pretty much said in 2004, 'well, good enough for another run around,' and returned him back to office.
So Bush only got the mandate because he won relection. Obama won on a platform of anti-Bush, so he has a "mandate" to be different than George Bush. Obama won the election, so he has a "mandate" to implement his election promises (aka, progressive agenda).
Obama will have his "real mandate for change" or his "super-mandate" in four years if the electorate likes what happens in the next four years and he gets reelected. Please correct me if I am seeing this wrong.
November 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pmno, ed okeefe, that prop 8 vote in california was NOT any indication about any right or left leanings in california...
TAHT was about LIES and MONEY (funding).
November 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pmNotice, the right-dominated media have erected shiny new goalposts, after eight years of judging Bush by limbo-stick.
And they're so high...
November 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pmNiffy Says:
Obama will have his “real mandate for change” or his “super-mandate” in four years if the electorate likes what happens in the next four years and he gets reelected. Please correct me if I am seeing this wrong.
You're wrong. You don't get to redefine the word "mandate" so that it suits your ideology.
Even the Republicans admit it, although not out loud, by claiming they only lost because the economy tanked. Well, that particular mandate is pretty obvious: "please fix the economy!"
November 9th, 2008 at 12:43 pmCantor was dressed down by Tweety on Hardball, for running away from Bush and the Republican brand, then he slimmed himself off into the shadows until after the election, only to come back onto FAUX Snewz more delusional than ever.
Cantor, the "new" leader of the Republican Disarray Party...
Hahahahahahaha.
November 9th, 2008 at 12:49 pmWayne, the reason Bush got a “mandate” in his *second* election was because people saw his policies in place four years and rolled the dice again. The electorate pretty much said in 2004, ‘well, good enough for another run around,’ and returned him back to office.
By the smallest margin in presidential history, lest you forget.
It seems you're trying to equate two very different elections. Public opinion about the war had significantly changed by the '04 campaign season, and was the bloodiest, from the war's standpoint. The voters were influenced by the hateful, and inaccurate Swiftboat attacks against Kerry, and reluctant to change horses in midstream - especially when "war heroes" like McCain refused to confront them.
Did you forget Purple-Heart bandages? At the RNC convention?
November 9th, 2008 at 12:49 pmNiffy Says:
The election was a landslide by all previous definitions and was more of a mandate than the delusional Bush administration claimed in 2004.
Be careful of that Republican koolaide, troll, it has soured over the last 8 years and is toxic to your shallow-minded soul.
November 9th, 2008 at 12:58 pmFYI, the MSNBC video has already been pulled from YouTube.
-AF
November 9th, 2008 at 1:01 pmRepublicans are still slumbering.
They still refuse to believe that their party's ideologies were soundly defeated last Tuesday by new progressive ideas.
Republicans are now crediting the win of Obama to Obama's personal abilities, some crediting the win to his campaign management; some even went further to give the credit to Obama's teeth like California Congressman Duncan Hunter.
But Republicans are refusing to give credit to voters who voted to defeat them and their outdated ideas.
Majority of Republicans still believe that Sarah Palin will bring them the big victory next time in 2012.
Did Sarah sign 'Joe the Plumber' to a new contract for the next election in 2012?, or is she going to bring us 'Joe the mechanic' next time around?. !!
November 9th, 2008 at 1:05 pmMANDATE!!!
Settle down, Daryll. What will Tiffany think...?
November 9th, 2008 at 1:06 pmYet, four years ago when Bush got "re-elected" by 2% of the popular vote, he called that a mandate to keep the war going in Iraq. I suppose Republicans losing another couple of dozen seats in Congress wasn't considered a mandate for progressive policies, either.
Frankly, I'm surprised that Fox would ever allow that view to be aired on their network, as this retrospective of Fox's smears campaign against Obama would seem to imply.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:08 pmZooey Says:
MANDATE!!!
Settle down, Daryll. What will Tiffany think…?
Indeed. It has nothing to do with the beaches of Brazil, Daryll.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:18 pmThe dogma of the right has proven to be from the rear end of a sick dog. Raygun's failed policies have proven very damaging to 95% of USA citizens. It's way past time to give the thinkers and the pragmatic folks a chance to make things a bit better.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:19 pmI thought Jeff Gannon was Bush's "Man-date". Did I get that wrong?
November 9th, 2008 at 1:21 pmAs Bill Maher said it's time for the GOP to look in the mirror.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pmNiffy, one more thing regarding "mandates":
The Republican spin machine never put the word "mandate" in the context a a reelection. They spoke of Bush having a mandate by virtue of him having won the election in 2004.
To quote VP Cheney: "President Bush ran forthrightly on a clear agenda for this nation's future and the nation responded by giving him a mandate."
Furthermore, Republicans referred to Bush's "mandate" in 2004 because it was a victory that could not be contested, as opposed to the 2000 election.
Both were common topics in he news covering the 2004 election.
In short, Obama won a clear and uncontested victory in the 2008 elections. By Republican standards, the American people saw Obama's agenda and "responded by giving him a mandate."
Let me know if this is still unclear to you.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:42 pmAnything over 5% is huge in America. Also he RAN ON CHANGE. Clearly this IS A mandate for change in the way Obama has said he was going to change things.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:44 pmMemo to the Wingnuts and Trolls: It is a Mandate. Obama won an overwhelming victory with the electorate precisly because they bought into his message of change. It is also why Democrats were able to expand their majorities in the House and Senate and might yet get to 60 seats in the Senate if the last 3 undecided races go their way. As far as I'm concerned, that gives President Obama (I love the sound of that!) the MANDATE to govern from the Center Left.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:45 pmObama’s victory last week constituted a strong endorsement by the American people of a “progressive philosophy” and has given progressives a “real mandate for change.”
OMG.....DO YOU KNOW WHAT SWEET MUSIC THAT IS TO MY EARS?
November 9th, 2008 at 2:07 pmSweet Music indeed Rastasman. I haven't stopped smiling yet.
November 9th, 2008 at 2:12 pmI have been told by several people who look at this site and the huff po as well that they no longer bother looking at the comments because of the rudeness ,expletives and generally adolescent behavior exhibited .
November 9th, 2008 at 2:56 pmThink progress is an icon of the left and calling names and insulting other posters with personal attacks does nothing more than turn off those who are undecided or possible converts.Such behavior does this site and the progressive agenda in general a great disservice .
freeman,
I also see, from time to time,poorly worded and negative posts, but ....... have you ever gone to RedState?
It happens both ways.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:16 pmWell formulated arguments and honest dissent and discussion are better tools for resuscitating our democracy . Let the ugliness remain a hallmark of republicanism !
November 9th, 2008 at 3:21 pmShine bright and put an end to all this darkness !The world is depending on us .
Cheers Gregor, your post does clear the air more. If Republicans claimed Bush had the mandate in 2004 because of the fact it was a 'clear' election, then going with the same definition, Obama indeed gets one, too.
If it were up to me I would be more reserved in the use of the word 'mandate' to describe the results of the election, however, if you want to add in the cumulative effects from 2006 Congressional elections to today (cheers, jurassicpork), you do have more credence to claim one. For myself, I prefer to wait four more years.
And tarazan; Majority of Republicans still believe that Sarah Palin will bring them the big victory next time in 2012. If Republicans do nominate Palin in 2012, they completely failed to learn anything from this election cycle... which should lead to Obama's "mandate" (by my standards) in '08!
Finally, barfly, I am trying to equate the two elections. Yes, the issues were different in '04 to today. Yes, the electorate opted not to "change horses in midstream," but that was the point I was trying to make. By opting not to change horses, Bush had a mandate to continue the war. I guess the parallel is not as clear cut as I was trying to make it?
I suppose my idea is, the main issue in '04 was Iraq, since Bush won, he had the mandate to continue. In '08, (recently) we have the economy, but more generally, the issue was 8 years of Bush. Since Obama won, I see it as a mandate to rebuke the Bush policies, if that is a mandate at all.
I appreciate the thoughtful responses.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:24 pmI just read every post on this thread and fail to see anything like what you describe. The worst thread as far as insulting has been yours so far.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:52 pmI wasn't talking about this thread , Fred .I was making a general statement about making this blog site and the progressive message as effective as possible . TP is gaining notoriety , lets let it be for the right reasons .
November 9th, 2008 at 3:54 pmYeah, and that happened before you arrived with your saguine advice and it has been and is a rough and tumble place for discussions.....it's for adults so don't act like this is kindergarden and we have to all play nice, ok?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:07 pmNo Fred we don't agree on this .
November 9th, 2008 at 4:16 pmIf adults use personal insults and nasty language , then my idea of adult behavior and yours are something we really do dis agree about . Why should we talk to other people on the internet in such a way that we would never talk to them in real life , where we would probably end up in a fist fight ?In most states such behavior is actually forbidden by law .
Maybe you aren't concerned that people have told me they no longer bother with the comments on TP because of the adolescent behavior , but I find myself feeling it is a great loss .
freeman Says:
TP made the top 10 without a hall monitor. period.
Your constant whining about such adolesence is distracting from the thread, that is why you will be called a concern troll for your behavior.
You have posted maybe 50 times in the last two days and fully 35 of those posts have been about our bad language and the integrity of TP based on your opinion.
You seem to think that the trolls who drop by here calling us left wing loonies, etc. are just nice everyday people that you might speak to in the mall.......wrong.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:22 pmNot only is America center/left, it has been for quite many decades at least since WW 2 when socialist ideals became a permanent part of society by the formation of Social Security. The myth that this is a conservative nation is one of illusions the right puts up to try to set the agenda. An example of a conservative society would be dark ages Europe, or the Taliban not 21st century liberal America. The country will move further left when we have Univeral Healthcare. The right wing pundits are trying to stop progress with this meme of theirs but it won't work if Obama doesn't listen to them.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:54 pmAre all the Republicans just naturally insane or do they have to work real hard at it?
"CANTOR: This was not some kind of realignment of the electorate, not some kind of shift toward some style of European social, big government type of philosophy."
Big government?
After the neo-con Republicans doubled our federal deficit from $5 Trillion to $10 Trillion over the past eight years, after being handed a budget surplus by President Bill Clinton's administratin?
After the Republican-controlled House and Senate increased "ear marks" every year they were in charge?
After the Republicans started a "war of choice," not one of necessity, which has cost hundreds of billions of dollars, with hundreds of billions more to be charged to U.S. taxpayers?
After the Republicans relaxed home-lending regulations that had been in place for decades, protecting not only potential home buyers but also lenders from shaky mortgages, a lax Republican policy leading to the recent market meltdown?
After the Republicans rammed Paulson's "bail-out" plan through Congress, a plan that sounds like something Herbert Hoover would be proud of, but will not stop our nation's fall into an even deeper recession, possibly one bordering on another Great Depression?
After Republicans gave up the Patriot Act and Homeland Security which has vastly expanded the government, leading to illegal intrusions into the privacy of American citizens in the process?
"Big Government" was okay with these culture of corruption, deceit and greed Republicans...as long as they, and their crony Wall Street CEOs, defense contractors and religious fundamentalists were raking in the "big government" largesse...which is the same perverse lyrics sung by totalitarian thugs around the world.
But when these "big government" totalitarian thugs are tossed from office (and power over the purse) they suddenly turn into "small government" reformists. Go figure.
November 9th, 2008 at 11:12 pmAmericans are decisively non-ideological. They respond to their felt needs at any given time and will always go with the feel good candidate for President.
November 10th, 2008 at 3:14 amThe right wing is sure sounding desperate.
I can't wait for them to get behind Bill ORielly's "War on Christmas" this year.
It was a landslide election in case some of these republicans weren't paying attention.
By the Way,
November 10th, 2008 at 3:28 amGeorge Bush and Dick Cheney are not Center Right..!
And neither was the republican controlled House and Senate in their rubber stamp sheepish following Bush into war profiteering and animal house economics.
# 35; wizard2000:
Good stuff !!
¶ AIO
November 10th, 2008 at 4:10 amTo our little concern troll "freeman":
John Podesta is head of the Center for American Progress.
Which runs this site.
He's also in charge of Obama's "first 100 day agenda".
Like I told you, Obama's liberal agenda is in good hands.
Now please, for the love of the god of your choice, shut THE fcuk up.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:43 amCongratulations John! What an honor to be such a large part of such a monumental Administration. I am looking forward to see john fulfilling President Obama’s vision on harmonizing the whole globe currently I am busy in exams70-236 for Exchange Server 2007, Configuring about which I am confident to pass in first attempt because I have already pass 70-642 which is for Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring as well as your page concern I must say that you have done a great job I will return on your page to read you more.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:25 am