The Democrats' Pragmatic Candidate For President

The cover art may be offensive (or just dumb), but this week's New Yorker includes a long Obama profile by Ryan Lizza (Making It) that seems to confirm many of the things that I and other friendly critics have been saying for months now: 

"Perhaps the greatest misconception about Barack Obama is that he is some sort of anti-establishment revolutionary. Rather, every stage of his political career has been marked by an eagerness to accommodate himself to existing institutions rather than tear them down or replace them."

Other notable tidbits:  Obama's oft-touted accomplishments as a community organizer were, by his own admission, "extraordinarily modest." Obama recently refused to support Will Burns, a former aide and protege who is headed to the state legislature. Several of his onetime supporters like Toni Preckwinkle have become disenchanted with Obama's moves to the center.

For my April article about Obama's pragmatic role on education issues in Slate, go here.

Comments

[Clyde]

Who the hell ever claimed that Obama was a "revolutionary"--besides the right-wing crazies?

Also, you are no "friendly critic." You have been bashing Obama from the start of the campaign, making up stories about him and his history, and using the most disreputable sources available to do it.

Obama hasn't moved from the far left to the center. He has always been a centrist Democrat. Attack him all you want, but be straight about it.