Not Liberal Enough? Progressives Threaten Not to Vote in November Over Frustration With Obama
- Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:34am by
Tiffany Gabbay
- Print »
- Email »
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (The Blaze/AP) — They are trying to be hopeful, but the Democratic Party’s most passionate voters are struggling to hide their frustration with President Barack Obama.
Republicans attack the president as a big-government liberal. Many liberals meeting Thursday at Netroots Nation — it describes the annual convention as “a giant family reunion for the left” — argue instead that Obama hasn’t fought hard enough for progressive priorities on taxes, health care and the economy.
Members of The Blaze editorial staff are attending the Netroots Nation conference and will be reporting back with updates over the course of the next several days.
Even more problematic for the president: With the election just five months away, some are threatening not to donate money or time or even vote in November for the man who overwhelmingly ignited their passions and captured their imaginations four years ago.
“I want to be happy with him,” said Democrat Kristine Vaughan, a 45-year-old school psychologist from Canton, Ohio. “But I am finding that he has succumbed to the corporate influence as much as everyone else. I think he has so much potential to break out of that, but overall he has been a disappointment.”
Vaughan isn’t sure whether she’ll vote for Obama a second time and probably won’t donate money as she did during his first campaign. She refuses to support Republican challenger Mitt Romney, but is considering writing in another candidate in protest.
The sentiment is not unique among the 2,700 people gathered on the first day of this three-day convention. More than a dozen liberals interviewed here indicated some level of frustration with the president, despite widespread praise for his recent decision to support gay marriage and ongoing push to scale back military action in the Middle East.
Most plan on voting for Obama and their gripes are not unlike what the White House has heard for much of the president’s term. But these left-leaning backers’ varying levels of enthusiasm could spell trouble for a president whose 2008 victory was fueled by a massive network of grass-roots volunteers and small-dollar donors. Polls show the president locked in a tight race that’s likely to be decided in several swing states where he scored narrow victories four years ago. Places like Ohio, Florida and Virginia are expected to be especially competitive, and Obama will need liberal supporters to both work on his behalf and turn out in droves on Election Day.
“He’s done a good job, but he could have done a lot better,” said Ed Tracey, 55, of Lebanon, N.H., who heads his local chapter of the group, Drinking Liberally.
Tracey was one of Obama’s many small-dollar donors four years ago, but his dissatisfaction has affected his generosity: “I decided that unless I thought he really needed it, I wouldn’t contribute,” he said.
Despite the criticism, polling suggests Republicans may face a larger enthusiasm gap than Democrats.
In late May, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 93 percent of Obama voters said they are enthusiastic about voting for him, including 51 percent who were very enthusiastic. For Romney supporters, 75 percent were enthusiastic, and just 26 percent were very enthusiastic.
Still, a closer look at the Democratic base shows an evolution of enthusiasm — or lack thereof — over the past four years.
The widespread belief in Obama’s message of hope and change turned to frustration as the president yielded to Republican pressure by devoting a significant portion of the 2009 stimulus package to tax cuts. Liberals were further irked when he abandoned the so-called “public option” in his health care overhaul, didn’t go after big banks more aggressively in his financial overhaul bill and supported the extension of Bush-era tax cuts.
Now, many say Obama is not fighting hard enough for tax increases on the wealthy to help close the federal deficit.
“I look forward to him fighting much harder,” said Arshad Hasan, executive director of Democracy for America, a group founded by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
But, like many liberals here, Hasan offered a mixed review of the president. He said Obama’s decision to support gay marriage was “a huge accomplishment for progressives.” He also was hopeful that Obama might shift further to the left should he win a second term.
“There’s also a strain of thought among progressives that he’s waiting until after the election to come out and be more boldly progressive,” Hasan said. “I don’t know which way that’s going to go, but I know that either way, we get a much better deal than if Mitt Romney is elected.”
Indeed, instead of hope and change, Democrats are trying to rally around their dislike for Romney, a man whom many are still getting to know.
Massachusetts-based liberal radio host Jeff Santos held the first stop of “the Real Romney tour” at the conference. The event was designed to highlight perceived weaknesses in the former Massachusetts governor’s job-creation record and private-sector experience at Bain Capital, the Boston-based private equity firm he co-founded.
“He has no soul,” Santos said of Romney.
Romney’s association with reality television host Donald Trump drew some of the most heated criticism, especially given Romney’s unwillingness to condemn Trump’s repeated questioning of Obama’s birthplace.
“If Mitt Romney can’t stand up to a birther who’s putting out racist conspiracy theories, how can he lead on other issues?” asked Rashad Robinson, executive director of Color of Change, a liberal group that promotes African-American political influence.
Robinson said some blacks now have less enthusiasm for Obama.
“President Obama hasn’t done everything we wanted. But we know what Romney would do,” he said. “Mitt Romney has said things like he doesn’t really care about the very poor. And for a community that is facing unemployment levels the black community is facing, we may not be going to the polls with hope, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be turning out.”
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 710 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 563 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 384 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 376 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 364 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 376 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 384 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 314 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 149 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 376 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (76)
inexiletill2012
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:43amYes that’s the only way !
A non vote for Obama is a Vote For America
NO VOTE NO VOTE NO VOTE NO VOTE ! ! !
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 11:58amthey-the-lemmings should vote [New-party] ! Just the thing to draw votes from King-O’.
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:12pm“In late May, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 93 percent of Obama voters said they are enthusiastic about voting for him, including 51 percent who were very enthusiastic. For Romney supporters, 75 percent were enthusiastic, and just 26 percent were very enthusiastic”
The problem with the results of this poll (other than the fact that it’s done by leftwing hacks, so who really knows what the truth is) was that the wrong question was asked . Had the question been “How enthusiastic are you about voting against Barack Hussein Obama ?” then the outcome would look very different.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 1:53pmWith the election just five months away, some are threatening not to donate money or time or even vote in November for the man who overwhelmingly ignited their passions and captured their imaginations four years ago.
I could live with them not voting. Please, please, please, please, please God!
Report Post »Sue Dohnim
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 1:55pmIt is a trick to get Ron Paul people NOT to vote,
Progressives will vote, as many times as they can for Obama
This is propaganda…
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 5:58pmSounds good to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:26pmCan we have that in writing PLEASE….. Progressives would use invisible ink for sure….
GOP2012
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:29amPlease, the left will always bow before their boy-god. That is why he really is an extremist. At anytime Barry could have moved to the middle, thrown the Ayers crowd under the bus, and been reelected in a landslide. His own dogmatic devotions to the failed policies of socialism will hopefully be his downfall.
Report Post »GrayPanther
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:45amRight on! BHO is a narcissistic progressive who would throw the Democrat party under the bus to save his own back side. Gratefully, he and his czars will be gone in January and the healing can begin.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:48amObama’s done a good job? HE’S DONE A GOOD JOB???? What the h*ll has he done?? Other than **** up everything he’s touched??
Report Post »jackact
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:29amThank you progressives
Report Post »We need all the help we can get in Nov.
Stay home.
Sincerely,
The Tea Party
:):):)
BeingThere
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:18amI bet they’re going to hold their breath too! Go for it!!!! LOL
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:16amToo bad they didn’t stay home in 2008…. We wouldn‘t be in the mess we’re in right now!
Report Post »txannie
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:13amWhile Romney may not be the the ideal person for the job we need done in this country, remember…a vote for any other party other than Romney’s is a vote for Obama. We need to get behind the person that can unseat the current administration. Period. That’s it. If he doesn’t do the job either, we unseat him too. Remember, we can vote to remove a person not doing the job they were elected to do, but we have to get ourselves together and quit dividing the party.
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:42amWell said, good luck with the rabid Paulbots.
Report Post »Brae
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:10amHooray!!
Report Post »affinity
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:07amI don’t trust liberal progressives or independents. They voted for President Obama (the Progressive Savior) and the reason they are unhappy is because he didn’t completely destroy our country in a timely manner. They’re just setting us up to accept bipartisanship once again. I say destroy the liberal progressive movement by any means necessary. Their unhappiness is my pleasure.
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 5:25pmGood post!!!
Report Post »Bruce P.
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:03amI would say “Good! Stay home!” but no matter which one of these two bozos wins, we all lose.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:04pmO’bozo=now….Romney=maybe, later…….I’ll choose LATER!! A slight-delay….more USA wakes-up… and a much larger slapp-for-victory…later. :-)
Report Post »Just in time
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:58amAnd yet these are the same people who say that Republicans won’t comprimise. Astounding!
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:04amDo Not Vote For Communist This November
Vote TEA or GOP. Lets elect a new Congress and President who pledge to us that they will arrest Obama and his fellow travelers for High Treason. We are the same kind of Americans who demanded that the Rosenberg atomic spies be executed for their Treason against the American People. Lets get serious about High Treason.
Report Post »wdittgasn
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 11:47amRomney won’t arrest Bammy or Holder, both of whom should be dragged to prison right now……. But Mitt thinks he is a nice guy….. I wish he would stop this nice guy CRAP, and tell it like it is.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:21pmWDI: It‘s not Romney’s job to arrest anyone. Romney should stay out of this mess. Obama’s “personality ” not the issue. His policies and the actions of his administration are only things that count in a campaign. Congress has the responsibility to deal with the Holder DOJ / administration Leaks in the NYT and the Fast & Furious leaks and malfeasance .
Report Post »thibx
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:58amyou don’t have enough sense to get out of the rain.
Report Post »buyundbuy
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:54amWhen you have a leader who leads from behind you know full well who’s going to get shot and mained before he even gets a scratch.
Know why all those imams are still alive while all their stupid bomb jacketed martyrs are now in doodoo heaven~?
Obama learned well from his socialist parents.
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:53amNot progressive enough? What do these people want? They could care less about any deficit. Why not just go directly to bankruptcy – just skip all the incremental steps. NutRoots is a more appropiate name for their pow-wow.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:58amThey have no idea about the deficit. You could tax 100% of the super riche’s income and it would not even put a dent in the deficit. $115 trillion and counting. Liberals are traitors and unfit to be citizens.
Report Post »FREDD The WILSON
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:53amStay at home.. Better yet go stay with your brethen in North Korea or Greece. Your girl Hillary’s gonna run in 2016
Report Post »Wakeup Maggie
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:53am…as they should..they‘ve f’d up our country enough with their liberal bs
Report Post »Tuner
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:52amThis news is as scary as it gets! Think about this for a moment, they are LEFT of Obama and they have a right to vote! If that doesnt scare you think about this. One of them interviewed was a SCHOOL teacher! These morons are teaching our children!
Like the crying lib the other night, Ive heard it reported he was a teacher as well. And he was so stupid he referred to our nation as a “democracy”.
We MUST teach our children how the framers hated democracy and what a democratic republic is. One framer referred to Democracy as mob rule, another warned to fear the tyranny of the majority and Jefferson the genius of much of the wording said “democracy is doomed when the people learn they can vote themselves money out of the public trough”. Sounds down right prophetic to me!
Teach your kids! And that does NOT mean pay teachers more, it means turn the TV off, leave the computer for an hour or two spend some time with them AND their friends and find a way to make history interesting and current. Otherwise morons like this that are LEFT of Obama will prosper and multiply.
Geeeshhh, with this group if Stalin and Mao were around they would have a good chance to be elected. Unbelievable but sad and scary too!
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:07pmThe ONE was elected!!
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:51am“Liberals” (what a ridiculous misnomer) love democracy… when the political winds are blowing in their favor. Progressives will readily admit they would accept rule by fiat… as long as they were the ones making the dictatorial proclamations… when things aren’t going their way.
Report Post »Your Name Here
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:51amGo ahead and hold your breath libturds. I‘ve got some dry cleaner bags and duct tape you can use if you can’t hold your breath until November.
Report Post »As an added bonus your face will turn blue to match your parties color.
IrritableGimp
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:49amThe way I see it, if they don’t like our “Republic”, then they are free to move to Democratic Europe and we’ll all be happy :D
Report Post »sio2yh2o
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:48amand……..what happens to all that money he‘s raised if he doesn’t win?
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 1:00pmHe keeps it, or it folds back into the SuperPACs that collected it.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:47amNow that’s an idea!!! YES!
Report Post »freedom_gurl35
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:44amThe saying, “You get what you pay for” has never been more appropriate.
Progressives want to stay home or write in their vote? They have that right. What concerns me is the inevitable violence that will break out this year because of the left’s frustration with Obama. Imagine how bad it could get if Romney is elected…
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:55amAs far as I am concerned these people have renounced their citizenship anyway. Deport them all to a commie country more to their liking. Why don’t they all move to the same city, take over and demonstrate their ideas in the real world, show how well it works…Oh yeah, they did. It is called Detroit.
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:43amI would hope Progressives would stay home and not vote. Sounds like there is a Santa Claus.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:41amEveryone say it with me now, … “GOOD!”
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:39amGreat news stay home you sick twisted bastards and we’ll rid ourselves of the Marxist POS once and for all.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:43amAmen .. .. AMEN!
Report Post »JRook
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:44am“In late May, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 93 percent of Obama voters said they are enthusiastic about voting for him, including 51 percent who were very enthusiastic.” Of course buried in the middle of the report is the info that identifies this report is, at best, contrived.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:46amI second that motion.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 9:59amI’ll third that! More GOOD news. :)
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:01amOn the money and AMEN!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:19amWho are you and what have you done with JCROOK?
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 12:16pmThis too is just Progressive-hype. You’ll think(like many times before) they’ll stay home…then you willsay “we’ve won!” and stop trying. This is how the Progs have won each time! They will then have an automatic landslide victory…each time! Our House-leader is a Wimperrer-in-chief…he always gives in at the last minute to “not offend” your heighness-of bloated-govt-in-chief!
Report Post »