Some progressives seem to sound paranoid about the future and look dimly ahead sensing loss as if disenfranchised with each new Obama transition announcement. If we are going to form, join and assist a nation of our own bottom up choosing, we may need to adopt a more positive and centrist attitude.
Trading the far right for the far left may not be a lurch that serves us well if we are going to depend on cooperation of the entire political spectrum to get out of the economic, health care, political and military jams we are in now. We will have to move to the center, let's face it. We did not win this election because progressives came out in great numbers to phone bank, canvass, enter data or work as volunteers in the Obama campaign. Although helpful, progressives were joined by numerous partisans of other stripes to create a broad constituency of significance. Collectively, we voted for a change in our national interest. We could not have won this election if we depended on progressives alone.
I am having a tough time as some of my fellow progressives insist now that this election outcome is our sole mandate. The numbers speak for themselves and they do not show a progressive shift to the left. They do vindicate a campaign to create a change in the way different partisans collaborate across ideologies.
You can always spot an article written by someone with no door to door canvassing, phone banking or data entry experience grieving the transition exercise. Anyone who walked the walk would know that door to door this administration owes a debt of gratitude to many who would surprise the pollsters.
Among the most ardent supporters of change are those with no previous interest in elections and/or those with a strong conservative bent who made up their minds to work hard for change and for Obama. Others were influenced by those who did volunteer work and made up their minds in the voting booth at the last minute thus placing our common welfare above all other political considerations.
This election belongs to a cross section of Democrats, Independents, Republicans, Infrequent Voters, First-time voters who never voted in the past and young people who would not have voted if it were not for the Obama Campaign.
Almost every interest group gave Obama support that made it possible for him to win against impossible odds, notwithstanding their affiliations with groups of their own choosing. This paradigm shift is something we would not suspect possible prior to this election. Voters exchanged their loyalties to be loyal to a change in their long standing affiliations and beliefs.
Now, as Obama studies and weaves his coalition and makes transition decisions, a government for the people, of the people and by the people is forming. It behooves all of us to support our newly formed coalition and help create a unified agenda that reflects the interests of this constituency of significance.
Allen McQuarrie, A Fox Hole Volunteer
