The Latest Media Blind Spot:
Viewing All Criticism of Obama Through a Right-Left Prism
Arianna Huffington Social Commentary and Political Opinion
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By Arianna Huffington, Tribune Media Services
In the last two weeks, there has been a flurry of stories that has tried to portray criticism of Barack Obama's recent stands as the sole province of disenchanted members of "the left" -- also referred to as "the far left" (New York Times), "left-winger bloggers" (also New York Times), "the liberal blogosphere" (USA Today, Christian Science Monitor), and "left-wing supporters" (The Telegraph).
And many of these stories have cited my urging Obama not to water down his brand and tack to the middle in an attempt to attract undecided swing voters as examples of the "fire from the left."
Actually, I am not offended that Obama isn't marching in lockstep with progressives. I'd be worried if he was marching in lockstep with anyone. Other than himself. My problem isn't that Barack Obama doesn't always agree with me. My problem is that Barack Obama has started to disagree with himself -- falling prey instead to the Conventional Wisdom sirens.
Obama doesn't need to go down a checklist of progressive issues and mark "yes" next to each one. His job is not to please the disaffected voter profiled in the New York Times who has decided to vote for the Green Party candidate, or Bob Fertik of Democrats.com, who has raised over $101,000 for Obama -- but has put it in an escrow account, payable once Obama demonstrates "a firm commitment to progressive values."
He needs to remain true to himself -- and, above all, to make it clear that he will not lead by sticking his finger in the air to see which way the political wind is blowing.
In the 1950s, Jacques Soustelle, a close aide to President Charles DeGaulle, returned from Algiers, where he had taken an informal poll, and told the president that all his friends were bitterly opposed to his policies. "Changez vos amis" (change your friends), DeGaulle replied.
In 1977, when President Anwar Sadat went to Israel, he did so despite fierce opposition even from within his own cabinet.
A real leader lights the way for others. That's why I respect the leadership of Chuck Hagel -- even though we disagree on more issues than we agree on. But on the seminal issue of our time -- Iraq -- he followed his heart and his gut and his principles and stood up to his own party. That's leadership.
And it's why I respected the leadership of John McCain in 2000 -- again, even though I disagreed with him on many issues -- and why I am so troubled by his transformation from maverick to panderer.
This isn't to suggest that leaders should never change their minds. Of course they should -- when they are confronted with new evidence and new facts on the ground. Just imagine how different the world would be if George Bush had done that.
So nothing is more important, especially for real leaders, than doing whatever it takes to stay true to themselves. And that starts with something ostensibly very simple but very important: getting enough sleep. Even if that means not scheduling a third event that day or not flying across the country for another dinner with big donors.
How to raise money and how to get your message out has changed radically -- but campaign operations have not.
Look at all the money raised online, and at all the voters who have been reached via YouTube. Both these things can happen while the candidate is sleeping -- and making sure that when he is awake, rested and recharged, his message is one that inspires donors to give and voters to turn out, even if they haven't done either of these things before.
The conventional-wisdom pundits, the conventional-wisdom campaign advisers and our own worst instincts -- whether it be too much caution or not enough -- come to the fore and hold sway when we are sleep-deprived.
"Every important mistake I've made in my life," Bill Clinton once said, "I've made because I was too tired."
So tell the donors: The press-the-flesh dinners can wait until Obama is in the White House. His time is currently much better spent walking on the beach or doing whatever else it takes to stay connected to his own truth, his inner strength and his core principles.
As for the media: Not everyone is approaching everything in this campaign from a right vs. left perspective. Stop trying to force everything into that tired old way of looking at American politics.
Arianna Huffington's e-mail address is arianna@huffingtonpost.com.
(c) 2008 Arianna Huffington. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of 10 books. She is also co-host of "Left, Right & Center," public radio's popular political roundtable program. Her weekly liberal commentary is syndicated in newspapers across the country by Tribune Media Services.
Originally from Greece, she moved to England when she was 16 and graduated from Cambridge University with an M.A. in economics. At 21, she became president of the famed debating society, the Cambridge Union. Her books include:
"The Female Woman," on the changing roles of women, was published in 1974 by Random House and translated into 11 languages.
"After Reason," on political leadership and the intersection of politics and culture was published in 1978.
"The Woman behind the Legend," published in 1981, a biography of Maria Callas quickly became an international bestseller.
"The Gods of Greece," celebrates the power of myths as guides to forgotten dimensions of life and ourselves. Atlantic Monthly Press republished it with paintings by Francoise Gilot
"Picasso: Creator and Destroyer," a biography of Pablo Picasso was published in 1988. It was a major international bestseller, translated into 16 languages. The book was made into a film starring Anthony Hopkins as Picasso and produced by Merchant-Ivory for Warner Bros.
"The Fourth Instinct," on the longing for meaning in a secular world, was published in 1994.
"Greetings from the Lincoln Bedroom," a political satire, was published in 1998.
"How to Overthrow the Government," on the corruption of our political system and the need for reform, was published in 2000.
"Pigs at the Trough: How Corporate Greed and Political Corruption are Undermining America,"a New York Times bestseller, was published in 2003.
"Fanatics and Fools: The Game Plan for Winning Back America", offers a scathing portrait of our contemporary political landscape with a bold, inspiring and practical approach to restoring America to the promise envisioned by our greatest leaders. It was published in 2004.
Huffington has made guest appearances on numerous television shows, including "Charlie Rose," "Oprah" "Nightline," "Real Time with Bill Maher," "Inside Politics," "Larry King Live," "Hardball," "Good Morning America," The Today Show, " "Countdown" and "The O'Reilly Factor."
In May, she launched The Huffington Post, an Internet publishing venture featuring an innovative group blog where some of this country?s most creative minds will weigh in on topics great and small, political and cultural, important or just plain entertaining.
She serves on several boards that promote community solutions to social problems, including A Place Called Home that works with at-risk children in South Central Los Angeles. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Archer School for Girls, the advisory board of the Council on American Politics at George Washington University, and the board of the Reform Institute that works on campaign and election reform issues.
Arianna Huffington lives in Los Angeles with her two daughters.
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