Justice and Ideology in Examining Obama

I reject the notion that I'm supposed to kowtow to a party before ideology. That is not to say that I am dogmatic with any ideology any more than with a political party. I may align closely with a certain group of ideologies, sure, and I may find myself closer to one party than another, but at the end of the day, I can look in the mirror and say honestly: I am not a socialist, capitalist, communist, fundamentalist of any sort. I'm a human and I am interested in justice for everybody and everything. If this means allying with people who may use socialist means to achieve a just end, I will indeed ally with them. If this means standing opposite people who drape themselves in a flag they wave only when it means protecting themselves and people who think, look, and act like them and benefit accordingly, then I'll do so. As Malcolm X said, "I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it's for or against."

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Pondering the 2012 election, it seems difficult for someone who is firmly and sincerely devoted to progressive causes and ideologies to feel halfway okay with voting for Barack Obama again. It's difficult to even air these grievances aloud, as much of the monopoly on criticizing the President has fallen on the side of the Tea Party. They've made an art form out of it in ways and it makes it difficult for the left to voice their dissent. They run the risk of their voice getting caught up in the fog of media coverage of an extremely loud, extremely active organization that, whether they realize it or not, support the policies that indirectly cause their own frustration and anger.

Indeed, President Obama has fallen down on the job in important moments when the left expected him to rise to the occasion. He pushed a lackluster stimulus bill that should have been much bigger than it was. He has repeatedly bent over backwards to placate Republican and right-wing feelings with extensions of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations. He accepted a version of the health-care reform that gave the private industry what they want, even after they have been raising costs for years. He has done little to significantly scale back the growing and problematic defense sector. Indeed, the left has much room for grievance with Obama. The only consolation that it once held for backing him now and in 2012 was the feeling that, "It's better than a Republican".

But if Obama is to continually bend to the right rather than to the left, if he is to start negotiations from a destination that ensures a long term problem for the nation and long term political loss for the left, why would the left continue to support Obama? If right-wing policies are to be enacted, wouldn't it make more sense to let the right-winger enact them so as to not obfuscate the location of the problem in our national approach?

It's highly improbable that the right would welcome any Republican candidate over Obama. Even Ron Paul, who gets the Democrat nod with his approach to foreign policy and ending the Drug Wars, sits wrong with many on the left for his approach in other areas. However, it's looking even more improbable that the left is going to back Obama with the same confidence it did during the 2008 election. This could spell a real problem for the President. Low turnout to vote on the left or deflection to the 3rd party could mark one of many incidents that may spell a Republican win. In short, Obama had better learn the difference between allegiance to party, ideology, and justice soon. It could cost not only himself but many progressive causes ground in the long run.