… on Obama’s political triangulation to win support for his stimulus proposal and other issues. So says Brummett. (Link fixed.)
Probably. But there’s a flaw in supporting this proposition with the oversimplified math of center-left leaners versus the presumably greater number of center-right leaners as being determinative in governance. This math presumes that the center’s wishes are more nearly in line with those on the right. The center is actually an amorphous group that shifts issue by issue. When it comes to spending for government programs, the people have proved time and again that they are decidedly leftish. Left is not the right word, of course, except as compared with the right’s hatred of Big Government (excepting the defense industry and other pals).
Bill Clinton himself knew this well. Every poll shows this so-called conservative country favors abortion rights and sensible gun restriction measures, to name two hot button issues. Every issue doesn’t reduce itself to a decision that tilts in favor of the center-right position. Sometimes, Clinton went center-left. He managed to get by in Arkansas quite nicely despite defying the NRA on occasion.
Lately, there has been disappointment on my end of the political spectrum over what Obama jettisoned to win stimulus package approval. (School construction is a bad thing?) But there are many years and issues to come. On some, we hold hope that the majority position — call it center-left if you insist on oversimplifying — will hold sway.