Although I eventually evolved into and remain a strong supporter of Barack Obama, I was admittedly a little late to the party. One of the things that bugged me about Obama from the beginning - and still does to a degree - is this idea the he is a "post-partisan" politician. Obama's campaign rhetoric often seemed imply that having strong beliefs that one is willing to fight for is a mindset that is no longer relevant. We don't need to "fight" for change this thinking goes, we simply need to unite as one and move forward together to change the world. As if that has EVER happened.
"Change We Can Believe In" and "Yes We Can" are great campaign slogans, but have always been too generic and ambiguous for my tastes. To make change a reality we have to do more than believe in it, or to tell ourselves we can do it, we have to FIGHT for it. I strongly support most of the policy changes Obama seems likely to propose. They are critically important and long, long overdue. But change will not come easily. There are very powerful forces that we will find highly resistant to the implementation of strong, fundamental change in policy. These forces have a significant financial stake in the status quo. Anyone who thinks these forces will surrender without a fight for the betterment of America and the new "post-partisanism" are living in a fantasy world.
Most Americans, certainly myself included, are weary of the "permanent campaign" mentality that has taken root American politics and government over the past 16 years. Under this mentality everything in government is done with one eye (at least) on the next election rather than on the future of the country. This mentality has the effect of preserving the status quo and favors incrementalism vs fundamental change. So I get it. We're sick of politics as usual vs. progress and change. But progress and change do not happen by themselves nor are they possible without belief and commitment. A belief that there is a right way and a wrong way. If you have such belief and commitment that there are right policies and wrong policies and if you favor one over the other then you are by definition a partisan. And there is nothing wrong with that.
But still a large part of Obama-nation bought into the "post-partisan" rhetoric. Until now. While many of these people thought that "post-partisanism" sounded like a high minded ideal, they sure don't like how its playing out do they? Boo-hoo, there aren't enough liberals in the cabinet. Boo-hoo... how could Barack keep a Republican at Defense? Boo-hoo... Hillary???? How is this possible - she's a DLCer who criticized Barack! And the biggest boo-hoo of all: Rick Warren at the inaugural.
Look, some of this "outrage" may be justified, but people... this is what you signed up for!!!!! Give Obama credit, his reach across the aisle, team of rivals, listen to the other side, no red states or blue states stuff... well it looks like he was serious. So after you bought into it for 18 months why are so many of you so pissed that he's actually practicing what he preached?
The outrage over the Rick Warren thing seems to me to be particularly misplaced. I too think the guy is a self-important, self-righteous, egomaniacal a-hole but really - who gives a rats ass about this? Would anyone even remember six weeks from now who gave the invocation at the Inaugural if not for all of this misplaced outrage from Obama's base? It just doesn't matter at the end of the day. The cause of gay rights and gay marriage is on the right side of history and Rick Warren and his ilk are on the wrong side. Getting three minutes of fame at the Inaugural is not going to change that.
So stop sweating the small stuff and remember to be careful about what you ask for. When you worship at the altar of post-partisanship and believe that everyone should have a seat at the table, you need to recognize that there will be some people sitting down that you don't particularly like. Maybe being a partisan isn't so bad after all huh?
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