Newsflash: You can be an ardent supporter of president Obama without justifying everything he does! [View All]

This Al-Awlaki thing (among other issues) has made it clear that some will go to any length to shield the president from any and all criticism. Even the good presidents are not 100% right in every decision. Trying to make it so by taking extreme or unnatural positions (for democrats anyway) seems like a desperate desire to stand by your man, possibly at the expense of your own values. I have often read on DU that it's up to us to help him govern and reach his potential by making our desires clear, and when necessary, holding his feet to the fire. We can't accomplish that if we reflexively spring to his defense no matter what. Unlike Bush supporters, we democrats are independent thinkers and not prone to slavish devotion. We support Obama best by keeping him honest.