The amazing coalition
By Josh Painter Posted in 2008 — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Imagine, if you can, liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans joining together for a common purpose. I wouldn't blame you if you're unable to coax your mind into conjuring up such an image. But despite the odds against it, such an unlikely coalition has indeed formed and is growing rapidly.
Just what could have happened to produce an amazing coalition such as the one I'm blogging about? Surely it must be some universal issue. Four-dollar gasoline? Child abuse? The end of the run of Battlestar Gallactica?
No, none of the above. This new coalition that brings together right, left and the middle is the presidential candidacy of one Barack Obama. Democrats who were appalled at the way the DNC and the Obama machine treated Hillary Clinton's supporters (not to mention voters in Florida and Michigan) have joined with Republicans who are supporting John McCain (and some who are not, at least not yet) - all in opposition to The Obamessiah.
It's a rapidly-growing movement which brings together PUMAcrats and conservatives, centrist Democrats and moderate Republicans and various other political interests. The only thing they really all have in common is the determination to stop the Obama machine, but it is a powerful drive which should not be dismissed.
Bloggers from the left and right are affiliating their websites with The Nobama Network. This blogger is no exception, as my Obama oppo site, NOBAMA 2008, is now a network affiliate - one of 258 sites to join up in only two weeks' time as of this writing. Websites are represented from a spectrum of political blogs from LiberalRapture to MyVastRightWingConspiracy.
From the network's website:
Americans are feeling angry, appalled, defeated, and invisible. Often we hear our neighbors and friends remark they are not going to vote because their vote does not count. If you are feeling disenfranchised by your party, the DNC, or by the news media it is time for you to take a stand. On this site you will find numerous Grass Root Movements of people like yourself fighting for change. Find one that speaks to you, spend some time posting to Blogs, and talk to your neighbors and friends. Every vote counts and each voice will be heard. Get involved America. No one has the right to tell you what candidate to support or how to vote.
As you might expect, such a phenomenon as this has not gone unnoticed by the Obama machine and its captive elements. Already, pro-Obama operatives have swung into action, falsely reporting anti-Obama sites as spam, causing Google to block many affiliated sites.
Despite the attacks from the Obamatons, the movement is spreading like wildfire. It's yet another unexpected occurrence in what has become one of the most unusual presidential campaigns in American political history.
Are such odd politial liasons tenuous? Certainly. If we can manage to stop Obama's machine, the coalition will fall apart even more rapidly than it is being formed. But it proves the old axiom that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." At least until our common purpose is either achieved or fails. Then we will go back to fighting each other like the political animals we have always been. But for the moment, at least, it's an amazing popular political movement and one that's rather invigorating to be a part of.
- JP
He has cured many conservatives of their Clinton obsession, and many liberals of their illusions about the Democratic party machine.
The man is a god, I say!
in the primaries, this movement qualifies as the biggest surprise of all. Who'd a thunk it just a few months ago that the libs on the left and us on the right would have such common cause? Good for Obama--he truly is an instrument of hope and change. And a good uniter, too--all of us against him. Now that's unity, folks.