[lbo-talk] tea party numbers

[c b]

Really, Chip. You think the Tea Party is responsible for the Reps
10-point lead in the generic Congressional ballot? Can't you admit
that the Obama admin is widely perceived as a failure, for a broad
variety of reasons? The health bill is deeply disliked. Obama is
continuing two unpopular wars. He's devoted himself to pleasing Wall
Street. But it's all the TP?

Doug

^^^^^^^

CB:  It's mostly the Tea Party and rightwing. Obama's drop in the
polls is not because he isn't more left.  It's because of the
rightwing attacks and lies, including  Tea Party nutty mendacity and
the Republican Congressional stonewalling    The health law is deeply
disliked by rightwingers and Republicans and those they have
hoowinked. The shocking percentage of people who think O is a Muslim
is a big chunk. The rightwing gets more of a hearing from a big chunk
of Americans  for their attacks on Obama because of unconscious
American racism.

The left is fooling itself if it thinks his low polls are due to their
leftwing criticisms. On the contrary, it is due to the rightwing
attacks. The monopoly media has been broadcasting rightwing attacks,
redbaiting and racism, not leftwing criticisms.  Very few Americans
think he is "continuing" the war in Iraq. That's sophisticated, but
sectarian leftwing criticism. Nor is he perceived as "devoting himself
to pleasing Wallstreet" , again sophisticated but not broadly held
thinking.

A lot more people hear Glen Beck than Lou Proyect.