Obama defends – One day after Bernie Sanders won New Hampshire, President Obama defended his own place in the Democratic debate over who can call themselves a “progressive.” Speaking to Illinois lawmakers, he argued that compromise is not a surrender and strongly suggested a
One day after Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary, President Obama stepped into the fight over what it means to be a progressive, arguing that the divide is being drawn too sharply and doing harm to what lawmakers could actually accomplish.
At the last Democratic debate. Sanders had insisted. “Some of my best friends are moderates. but you can’t be a progressive and a moderate at the same time.” He also dismissed Hillary Clinton’s claim that she is a “progressive who gets things done. ” pointing to her earlier stance in which she had “plead[ed] guilty” to being a moderate.
When pressed on whether Obama fits Sanders’ own definition, Sanders said he did consider the president a progressive.. Sanders also renewed criticism of Clinton as part of a broader “establishment.” Obama’s response came in an address to the Illinois state legislature on Wednesday. in Springfield—where his presidential campaign launched nine years earlier to the day.
In that speech, Obama defended his legacy and placed himself in both worlds, saying, “Trying to find common ground [with Republicans] doesn’t make me less of a Democrat or less of a progressive,” and adding, “It means I’m trying to get stuff done.”
He then turned directly to the primary argument over who is and isn’t a real progressive, calling it damaging.. “We have got to insist on the opposite: that it can be a genuine victory that means progress for all sides. ” Obama told lawmakers. urging them to reject the idea that compromise equals betrayal.
“Instead of trying to draw that line, we can work together,” Obama said.. “So when I hear voices in either party boast of their refusal to compromise as an accomplishment in and of itself. I’m not impressed. ” he continued.. “All that does is prevent what most Americans would consider actual accomplishments. like fixing roads. educating kids. passing budgets. cleaning our environment. making our streets safe.”
The scheduling and content of the remarks left little room for doubt about whom Obama viewed as the better continuation of his agenda.. Just this week. Sanders criticized the Obama administration’s immigration enforcement initiatives. adding to the tension between the two men as the nomination battle tightened.
The pattern Obama laid out was not just about labels.. He argued that compromise is the route to “actual accomplishments. ” while he also described himself as staying “part of the establishment” yet still “a progressive. ” and he drew a sharp contrast between “fixing roads” and the politics of refusing to compromise.
At the same time, Obama’s aides framed the White House position as formally neutral while signaling a preference.. Former White House press secretary Jay Carney said this week. “I don’t think there is any doubt that he wants Hillary to win the nomination and believes that she would be the best candidate in the fall and the most effective as president in carrying forward what he’s achieved.”
Carney added that Obama would not make it official until the nomination became clear: “He won’t officially embrace her unless and until it’s clear that she’s going to be the nominee. I think he is maintaining that tradition of not intervening in a party primary.”
Obama Bernie Sanders Hillary Clinton New Hampshire primary Illinois legislature Democrats progressives moderates compromise immigration enforcement Jay Carney