Liberal Blogger Accuses Obama White House of ‘Hippie Punching’
- Posted on September 23, 2010 at 11:25pm by
Meredith Jessup
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A conference call Thursday with liberal bloggers and progressive media reportedly
turned ugly/awkward Thursday as White House chief strategist David Axelrod was excoriated for the Obama administration’s continued swipes at supporters among the “professional left.”
Susie Madrak, a blogger at the liberal site CrooksandLiars.com, chimed in and asked Axelrod, “Are you familiar with the term hippie-punching?”
This reportedly prompted a long pause from Axelrod who then responded, “Go ahead.”
“You want us to help you, the first thing I would suggest is enough of the hippie punching,” Madrak added. “Liberals and bloggers feel like we’re the girl you take under the bleachers but won’t be seen with in the light of day.”
She went on to decry a number of incidents where the White House went out of its way to distance itself from its liberal base and questioned how the practice would help energize the left for the upcoming election. “We’re not big numbers,” she said, “but we raise money and we encourage people to vote and get involved. You have to help us help you,” she concluded.
The Washington Post‘s Greg Sargent said the tense call “seemed to perfectly capture the tense dynamic that exists between the White House and the online and organized left: Though White House advisers in the past have dumped on the left, anonymously and even on the record, Axelrod repeatedly pleaded with bloggers on the call for help in pumping up the flagging enthusiasm of rank and file Dems.”
In response to Madrak, Axelrod tried relay some common goals. “Let me say this. I really believe this is the most consequential time in our lifetime… We are in a struggle, we are in a fight. We don’t have to agree, but we all have to lock arms and move forward here.”
“Saying we shouldn’t be involved in intramural skirmishes, I couldn’t agree more. And that goes on both sides,” Axelrod added. “I’m not lecturing you, I’m speaking to everyone involved on our side. There are big things at stake here. The nature of progressive thought is that we go at it, we trade ideas, and that’s as it should be. But we have to come together.”
“No, I said help us help you. Don’t make our jobs so much harder with these comments,” Madrack fired back.
“I’d say ‘right back at ’cha,’” replied Axelrod, seemingly irritated. “Whatever differences we have pale in comparison to the differences to the folks out there today masquerading as representatives of the American people.”
“I hear you, I hope you hear me,” he concluded.
After the call, Madrack took to her blog to sound off to her readers:
Basically, after Axelrod told us how wonderful we were and how much they needed us to close the enthusiasm gap in this election, I called him on it. Like, yo Dave, here we are, liberal activists who give money and [get out the vote], and the White House needs to punch us in public so no one thinks they take us seriously?
And then he said, like, your feelings don’t really amount to a hill of beans in this crazy mixed-up world when we’re TRYING TO SAVE THE COUNTRY (emphasis hers), and then I said excuse ME, we’re not talking about my feelings here, how am I supposed to motivate my readers when you treat them like the town ho?
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Comments (66)
Contrarian51
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 3:50amUpon further review, this reinforces a complaint I’ve voiced repeatedly over the years to whoever would listen. I feel that the primary process ruins the electoral process. Democrats have to run hard left to win primaries and caucuses and raise money, Republicans have to run hard right. It’s the more extreme, often single-issue groups that are most active during the primary season and you don’t dare fall far behind early even though the early states are small. The press will sound your death knell, the money dries up and you’re gone. So, you cater to the fringes. Then after winning the nomination, guess what? You need to get the folks who are more in the middle to believe that you‘re not some fringe kook and all of sudden everyone’s a centrist, or so most of the media would have everyone believe, and you’re abandoning the so-called base that got you where you are.
Now, this is the one thing I’ll give Obama credit for. He is actually trying to be who he is and do what he said. That the adoring mainstream media failed to understand just what it was he was saying, and that so many voters failed to reflect on the meaning of the words they heard, well, that’s on them.
Anyway, I can’t stop believing that we got better candidates back when they were chosen behind closed doors in smoke-filled rooms.
Report Post »dteam270
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 3:43am‘Hippie Punching’ Sounds like a wonderful idea. I’m in.
Report Post »sokeijarhead
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 3:29amThe liberals are starting to eat their own. If they keep this up we won’t have to worry about 2012 as there will be no liberals left. Just joking we could never be that lucky, but it is fun watching them self destruct.
Report Post »Damage6
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 1:56amHippie Punching? Wow sounds fun can I play?
Damage6
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 1:53amBy the time I got thru reading this I was laughing so hard that I literally had tears. Well there Mr. President that’s what you get when you pander to the 5% on the seriously whack job left in order to score cheap politcal capital. The 40% of the country that considers itself conservative and a huge chunk of the independents think these people are bat$h!t crazy. NOTHING you do will EVER satisfy them and everything you do to appease them further alienates you from NORMAL Americans. Good luck in November and in 2012. You’ll need it.
Report Post »Contrarian51
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 1:26amThere’s no way that was a full, true, direct quote of Axelrod. Not a single “uh, uh” in the whole thing.
It was said earlier but I’ll repeat it. Glenn predicted this, that the extreme left would come after this bunch of fools. Hell hath no fury like a radical scorned.
Watch for a speed-up in the rats leaving this sinking ship.
Report Post »carol m
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 1:30amHell hath no fury like a town ho scorned lol
Report Post »SaintGeorgeGentile
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 1:01am“Liberals and bloggers feel like we’re the girl you take under the bleachers but won’t be seen with in the light of day.”
Take a look at her and you’ll understand the analogy
Report Post »Waiting4George
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 11:17amWhy, fiddle-dee-dee, SGG
Report Post »Are you saying lefty dolls are ug-ugly?
This is not news
Conservative babes rule
Neil Boortz has a list of many!
Okieflyover
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:59amDoes it bother anyone else that there is this much coordination, now out in the open, between the way far left online people and this administration?
Report Post »shadowpatriot.64
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 1:46amFor real. They dont try to hide it either. No more smoke and mirrors. The alliances are openly exposed and flaunted. Win in November then take away and marginalize Supreme Leader Barry. The rats will run from the barn.
Report Post »Sunnyr
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:43amI must be really over the hill. I’ve never heard of “hippie punching” OR the Moped thing. sigh….
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 2:48ami think we should bring back hippie punching while they are riding mopeds lol
Report Post »Christi
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 1:54pmMe either – is hippie punching like dwarf tossing or cow tipping?
Report Post »HTuttle
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:34amNot a backbone in the bunch.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:31am, how am I supposed to motivate my readers when you treat them like the town ho?
Report Post »=++++++=
So thats how this WH is treating its communist organizers ? Like a ho ?
I’m shocked. Shocked I tell you
;-)
GrassRootBeer
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:30amThe comments section over on this liberal bloggers site in response to her comments to Axelrod are showing that the Hope-n-Change voters are feeling like the used puppets that they were to Obama and his camp…
Comment:
“I would like the Obama Administration to tell me why I should get out of bed on November 2010, or November 2012 for that matter. After 8 years of Bush, Obama has turned out to be more ant-choice and anti-women.
Report: “Are you going to sign the Freedom of Choice Act?”
Obama: “I have more important things to do.”
Ya, so do I Obama. Like voting Republican.”
Another Comment:
“I’d say you speak for a majority of politically active Dems.
Axelrod, Jarrett, and the Man himself, are a bunch of Mayberry Machiavellis who don’t understand why they occupy their position of power. They don’t understand how to bring about politically popular reform in the public interest, when the 111th Congress was our best opportunity to do that in a generation. They are setting back the cause of the left by a decade.
They deserve far worse than you gave them.
Save the Democratic Party! Separate the Party from the craven and selfish crew at the top of the White House pyramid!”
Report Post »jcatlanta
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:47amI don’t think Obama really gets it. He is playing with fire. I think when he totally disappoints the radical left after a stunning defeat in November that the true radicals with come after him for revenge because they were soooo close to their goal. they always want to make the conservatives out to be dangerous, but I’d be a lot more worried about the radical left than conservatives.
Report Post »Debrabate
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 3:36amI think Obama got in over his head and has finally realized that the job he got wasnt what he applied for.
Report Post »jetmech568
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:27amAfter Nov. it’s back under the bleachers for you!!
Report Post »jcatlanta
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:42amIts time to put them out with the trash.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:21amthe dems are like animals, turning on each other, and eating their young.
Report Post »GrassRootBeer
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:33amThey are imploding.
Report Post »longhorn mama
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:21amWhat did Glenn say? The Far Left revolutionaries were going to eat the Democratic Party.
Report Post »Scramblin
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:17amJust tracked back to her blog to stir the pot… why can they be the only ones to “post” on the opposing teams field.
Report Post »Mike777
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:15amPalin vs Axelrod i say Palin KO Axelroot first punch.
Report Post »13thGenerationAmerican
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:24amVoting against your own self interest, how insane.
Report Post »KEA
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:14amI dont think the ultra liberal far left even knew what a progressive was until recently. Now they are trying to figure out what the hell to do as they cant just abandan ship but they aslo cant keep supporting a country destroyer.
Its rather amusing to listen to!
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:10amJudging from the way this liberal writes, she is definitely a product of government schools. I couldn’t pay attention to what she was saying(probably a good thing) because of the terrible writing. If this is what her readers need to understand what they read, it is really scary and sad.
Report Post »conservativeme
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:04amThis proves that even the ultra-liberal far left can’t stand the progressive agenda of this administration. Another insult to the TEA Party – saying they’re “masquerading as representatives of the American people”. Looser!
Report Post »Scramblin
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:04amHippie Punching – no one younger than 40 know what a hippie is…
Suzie the new term is MOPED > fun to ride, until your friends see you.
Since he is a serial liar, did you really think YOU were the one???
Report Post »Quack Addict
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:15am“Hippie Punchin” that sounds like fun. Alas, where have all the hippies gone?
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:35amI‘m over 40 and didn’t know but of course I’ve always been conservative, social and physical.
Report Post »Dawgnabox
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:34amAustin Tx and Washington D.C. plus the 6 in San Francisco, 2 in Sonora, New Mexico and of course Hippie Bob that lives in the park behind the 7 11 store in my neighborhood, although the kids around here now refer to him as Barefoot Bob. Geez where has the time gone?
Report Post »booger71
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:03am“You want us to help you, the first thing I would suggest is enough of the hippie punching,” Madrak added. “Liberals and bloggers feel like we’re the girl you take under the bleachers but won’t be seen with in the light of day.””
Well they got one thing right, liberal bloggers are like little girls
Report Post »Scramblin
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:00amHippie Punching is so 70′s
Report Post »Your ilk are now called MOPEDS – fun to ride until someone sees ya. Glad you’ve had enough of the anointed one also.
JamesF
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 11:57pm“You want us to help you, the first thing I would suggest is enough of the hippie punching,” Madrak added. “Liberals and bloggers feel like we’re the girl you take under the bleachers but won’t be seen with in the light of day.”
Wow, sorry you fell for his line of BS, but lets face it you liberals and bloggers tripped all over yourselves in your rush to get under those bleachers with him. An easy ride doesn’t garner much respect, if you‘re lucky you might get a little sweet talking when he needs another spin and you will convince yourselves he’s changed and really cares about you again… This time it will be different.
Yeah, anyone capable of logic will tell you where that’s going to end.
Report Post »Huff-a-Ton Post
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 12:38amThe only real choice the uber-left has is between Democrat and, well Democrat. Green or socialist candidates would destroy their chances to push any kind of policy. Broken Axelrod knows he doesn’t need to lift a finger to get their 11th hour support.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:41amWith lefties, its all about ““feelings”, isn’t it?
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:02am@SCRAMBLIN..Those UNDER 40 DO know what a HIPPIE IS.. However.. it’s for the STYLE of clothing rather than for the POLITICAL views.. LOL.. See NOT everyone who dresses like a hippie is a liberal nor are all those in a suit and tie a Conservative..Which comes to JUDGING a book by it’s cover says it all.. Which is the problem Axelrod is having.. when the HIPPIES shed their clothes for a SUIT he seems to dismiss them and only looks at the ones who are in jeans and tee shirts..
Report Post »forgetting he has done the same thing just to LOOK respectable..
While Hippie Punching MIGHT sound like fun,, make sure it’s really a HIPPIE your punching and not someone who just likes the clothes..LOL and before you befriend a guy in a suit MAKE sue they aren’t a HIPPIE trying to pass as main stream..
poverty.sucks
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 11:31pmAxelrod losing his touch? Or is he too busy thinking about the next gig that he hasn’t the energy fight? Nobody’s scared of him now.
Report Post »NotWaiting4Godot
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 2:00amI’m hoping Axelrod has a few good blows left in him. I want him throwing hard combinations at his “pet” hippies. I’m hoping for a knockout. You go bro!
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:46amThey’re all imploding and this is where it gets dangerous.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 11:03amI have not had the pleasure of “Hippie punching” for some time. Where do we sign up? Hopefully it is just punching with words. It is such an easy sport.
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