Is Obama Screwing His Base with Rahm Emanuel Selection?

[NicholeW.]

Is Obama Screwing His Base with Rahm Emanuel Selection?
By Stephen Zunes, AlterNet. Posted November 7, 2008.

Obama has asked conservative Clinton vet Rahm Emanuel to be his chief of staff -- it's not a good sign for progressives.

http://www.alternet.org/election08/106189/is_obama_screwing_his_base_with_rahm_emanuel_selection/

I had really wanted to celebrate Barack Obama's remarkable victory for a day or so before becoming cynical again. I really did.

And yet, less than 24 hours after the first polls closed, the president-elect chose as his chief of staff -- perhaps the most powerful single position in any administration -- Rahm Emanuel, one of the most conservative Democratic members of Congress.

The chief of staff essentially acts as the president's gatekeeper, determining with whom he has access for advice and analysis. Obama is known as a good listener who has been open to hearing from and considering the perspectives of those on the Left as well as those with a more centrist to conservative perspective. How much access he will actually have as president to more progressive voices, however, is now seriously in question.

[lisagurl]

He needs a person that can get things done. The buck stops with Obama not Emanuel. He is shoring up his weak points. We will see how it all fits together.

[goingdown]

Obama promised one thing: change. Meaning that now left-liberals should rule not right-conservatives. Very simple. I yet dissappointed to him.

[lisagurl]

Meaning that now left-liberals should rule not right-conservatives

It has nothing to do with liberal or conservative. It has to do with improvements.

[tekla]

Good choice I think.  Like Obama says, he knows how to get things done, and a lot of people in Congress owe him big time.

[goingdown]

What about the key liberal agenda: Amnesty for illegal immigrants. I worked hours to Europe for Obama mainly because immigration.

[lisagurl]

Amnesty for illegal immigrants

That is not high on the agenda he will not make the same mistakes as Clinton.

[tekla]

Yeah, I don't see that issue at the top either.

[goingdown]

For me it was ''the question''. I am very dissappointed in case he does not do it.

[RebeccaFog]

I'm sure Obama's friend understand the concept of inclusion.

Why do people have to fall apart before they even have any evidence that they should be fearful?

[lisagurl]

For me it was ''the question''.

The point of a federal republic is to the best for the most people. An intelligent voter will weigh the most important issues of the whole country before their personal issues.

[tekla]

I also think, that if Obama is going to live up to what he has said, that immigration reform is not going to be a swift process.  You really need a lot of people to sit down and look at it and think the process through.  Moreover it impacts some states far more than others, and that should be paid attention to also.

[goingdown]

In case I can not emigrate legally somewhere else the prison is waiting for me. I hoped that when new immigration laws come I can go to USA.

[RebeccaFog]

do what everyone else does - just show up here and get a job.  Who cares what the law says?

If necessary, you can just marry an American.

I hear Tekla and Lisagurl are desperate.   

[tekla]

Well among the things I'm kinda hoping for is that Congress is going to remember why they are there.  It's really their job to make law, though they seem to have forgot how to do it.

[goingdown]

I hope an executive order from president against the in this issue very conservative congress.

[RebeccaFog]

How would you like to see the issue of immigration handled?  To be honest, I'm not familiar with how it all works.

Plus, I can write to my representatives for you.

[tekla]

This congress, the one coming in, is going to be the most center-left we've seen since the 60s.  The real power in the Senate is going to be the girls club headed by Boxer, DiFi and Hillary, and Miss Nancy over on the other side.

[goingdown]

Could you name any real liberal in senate after Wellstone?

[RebeccaFog]

Probably Ted Kennedy, but I think he may be down for the count.