Why Does a Progressive Voter Support Obama?

I had the pleasure yesterday of voting for Barack Obama, my Congessional Representative John Lewis, and my State Senator Jason Carter (Jimmy's grandson). Why does a progressive values voter cast a ballot for Pres. Obama, in light of his prosecution of a vicious drone war and his accumulation of unaccountable power in the executive, etc.? Because a responsible progressive voter does not invest emotionally in a rose-colored view of the person who holds the office or have unrealistic expectations of the office of the Presidency. A responsible progressive voter does what is necessary to maintain and expand space for progressive, democratic priorities to be fulfilled in the longer term through sustained advocacy and activism. An Obama presidency represents the maximum available opportunity to enact and enforce real world progressive and democratic values across the spectrum of issues. A Republican in the office of the Presidency at this time in history represents a drastic rollback of those values and a substantial and probably decisive move in the direction of corporate hegemony and yes, even fascism. I would also add catastrophic environmental destruction. If you think it couldn't happen here, read the memoirs of people who lived through the ascent of Hitler in the waning years of the Weimar Republic. They thought his strident tone was mere electioneering bluster, and that he would be a responsible leader once he attained power. They trusted him to get the economy on track again and not bother himself with a crackdown on democratic institutions and persecution of religious, ethnic and political minorities. They were so very wrong. It might not happen as swiftly or overtly here, but it should be crystal clear that the Republican party is headed down a similarly wicked path if democratic forces do not rally to stop them. It's that simple.

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