President Obama's post-partisan America has disappeared, replaced by the politics of polarization, resentment and division.

 

In a Univision interview on Monday, the president, who campaigned in 2008 by referring not to a "Red America" or a "Blue America" but a United States of America, urged Hispanic listeners to vote in this spirit: "We're gonna punish our enemies and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us."

 

Recently, Obama suggested that if Republicans gain control of the House and/or Senate as forecast, he expects not reconciliation and unity but "hand-to-hand combat" on Capitol Hill.

 

What a change two years can bring.

 

We can think of only one other recent president who would display such indifference to the majesty of his office: Richard Nixon.

 

We write in sadness as traditional liberal Democrats who believe in inclusion. Like many Americans, we had hoped that Obama would maintain the spirit in which he campaigned. Instead, since taking office, he has pitted group against group for short-term political gain that is exacerbating the divisions in our country and weakening our national identity.The culture of attack politics and demonization risks compromising our ability to address our most important issues - and the stature of our nation's highest office.

 

Indeed, Obama is conducting himself in a way alarmingly reminiscent of Nixon's role in the disastrous 1970 midterm campaign. No president has been so persistently personal in his attacks as Obama throughout the fall. He has regularly attacked his predecessor, the House minority leader and - directly from the stump - candidates running for offices below his own. He has criticized the American people suggesting that they are "reacting just to fear" and faulted his own base for "sitting on their hands complaining."

 

Our divisive president, redux

I must have missed all the republican attempts to reach across the aisle and compromise. I also haven't seen any contempt or demonization of Democrats the last two years. I can't imagine why President Obama would feel this way.

I must have missed all the republican attempts to reach across the aisle and compromise. I also haven't seen any contempt or demonization of Democrats the last two years. I can't imagine why President Obama would feel this way.

The point of the article is he was going to change all that. Instead, he's been one of the worst.

The point of the article is he was going to change all that. Instead, he's been one of the worst.

 

He tried but all he got was alot of No's and lies, half truths and you lie's. Obama's and Democrats in general biggest problem is they haven't taken this tact sooner. Republicans have been doing this since the mid 90's.

I seriously doubt that I will see a president of one party embraced by the congressional majority of another party in my lifetime. Why does anyone expect this to happen? Seriously....

He tried but all he got was alot of No's and lies, half truths and you lie's. Obama's and Democrats in general biggest problem is they haven't taken this tact sooner. Republicans have been doing this since the mid 90's.

:lol: is about all I can do to this.

:lol: is about all I can do to this.

Makes two of us! :lol:

Biggest difference between the two that I can think of is that (and I'm paraphrasing someone here) when President Nixon gave a speech, the first thing you did was check your silverware drawer.

Biggest difference between the two that I can think of is that (and I'm paraphrasing someone here) when President Nixon gave a speech, the first thing you did was check your silverware drawer.

:lol:

:lol: is about all I can do to this.

 

Makes two of us! :lol:

 

Please explain to me how he (Camel) is wrong.

I enjoy listening to Pat Caddell and reading his articles. Interesting indeed.

Please explain to me how he (Camel) is wrong.

Come on, TB&G. It's like he's saying the Democrats don't do it. They've long been doing the exact same thing, including Obama. I haven't seen where Obama has really tried to extend across party lines. He had no intention of doing anything that would give the Republicans the credit. He's continued on the same path as all politicians have on both sides of the aisle. He's turned into a much bigger divider than Bush or Clinton ever were. The article is pretty spot on about how he hasn't delivered on those promises. Unless you can prove the article wrong, it makes a much better case than Camel does.

I must have missed all the republican attempts to reach across the aisle and compromise. I also haven't seen any contempt or demonization of Democrats the last two years. I can't imagine why President Obama would feel this way.

Shocking, isn't it?

Come on, TB&G. It's like he's saying the Democrats don't do it. They've long been doing the exact same thing, including Obama. I haven't seen where Obama has really tried to extend across party lines. He had no intention of doing anything that would give the Republicans the credit. He's continued on the same path as all politicians have on both sides of the aisle. He's turned into a much bigger divider than Bush or Clinton ever were. The article is pretty spot on about how he hasn't delivered on those promises. Unless you can prove the article wrong, it makes a much better case than Camel does.

When some Republican leaders basically admit that they don't want to cooperate with Obama because they want to defeat him, I would say there is just as much cause of division coming from the Republicans as there is from the guy occupying the White House.

Come on, TB&G. It's like he's saying the Democrats don't do it. They've long been doing the exact same thing, including Obama. I haven't seen where Obama has really tried to extend across party lines. He had no intention of doing anything that would give the Republicans the credit. He's continued on the same path as all politicians have on both sides of the aisle. He's turned into a much bigger divider than Bush or Clinton ever were. The article is pretty spot on about how he hasn't delivered on those promises. Unless you can prove the article wrong, it makes a much better case than Camel does.

 

Ok. I guess I thought that you were denying that Republicans have been in full out stall mode against President Obama. Since you are not, I can pretty much agree with everything else that you said. However, it is nearly impossible to unite those that don't want to be united and that is what it has appeared to be to me since President Obama took office. Yet, phrases such as "I win" (Obama) and "You lie!" (Senator Joe Wilson) are indicative of such a stalemate.