There appears to be some understandable confusion, since the election, as to whether Barack Obama is a Progressive or whether he is a Centrist. Much of the discussion has occurred within Barack Obama's support on the left. The questions are being fueled by Barack Obama's choice of personnel in filling cabinet posts. Thus far, he has made about 1/3 of those choices, yet, on the Left, some of his proposed appointees have stirred up controversy. I have given thought to President Elect Barack Obama's approach to date, and I believe that I'm seeing a gameplan that may answer some of the controversy generated. I propose that it will be much more effortless for President Elect Barack Obama to propose a progressive agenda, if he is not forced to defend from the media and the Right, each and every cabinet pick that he makes. Rather than getting bogged down with his choice of cabinet members, picking mainstream centrists will allow him to start out with a stronger hand in what he will propose. The idea is not to have to fight for anything and everything, every step of the way...in particular, coming out of the gate, as we are in too dire straits for that. Plus Obama is not a fighter in the classic sense. So when I look at who Obama is naming, most which are what the media have decided to call "centrists" and thus far seem to approve of...I suspect that there is a methodological approach in naming what some progressives (Krugman and Reich) as well as conservatives (Brooks) have labeled "Mainstream Pragmatist Brainiacs". And so, I "get" what he is doing. And in so doing, he has provided himself with cover to actually concentrate on the policies he will be proposing, rather than spending electoral capital defending his choice of personnel. As you some well know, the media would have a field day if Obama chose Progressives that the left, as a whole, were in love with, to populate his entire cabinet. I consider this maneuvering to be quite brilliant, and I was reminded, in reading the below paragraphs from an Obama 2004 letter to the Black Commentator responding to his name being listed with the DLC, that he will be working his policies in a different manner than what has been expected of him by those who haven't read his books or writings. What is important, however, is that I do believe that Obama's policy proposals will be progressive, even if their are formulated and proposed by those pragmatists seen as Centrists.
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