Reply #39: Your criticisms of Obama: I partly agree, partly disagree [View All]

This was a huge blown opportunity. You should recognize, however, that Obama took some steps in the direction you advocate.

As to your first point, he didn't "divert() from the economic crisis to focus on corporate health insurance reform". His first legislative push was the stimulus bill (ARRA). It created or saved millions of jobs. At the time, progressive economists criticized it as being too small in comparison with the magnitude of the problem. They proved to be right, but I think all those critics would agree that the stimulus did a lot of good.

Of course, even with regard to the stimulus, his timidity showed. He should have proposed what the economists said was needed -- something in the $2 to $3 trillion range. If the Republicans shot it down, it would be on their heads. Instead, he started out by compromising. In fact, he committed the fundamental tactical error of negotiating against himself. His first proposal was too small and weighted too heavily toward tax cuts. Even so, he got virtually no Republican support for it.

We have the benefit of hindsight -- of looking back at two and a half years of Republican obstructionism. I can cut Obama some slack for not knowing that in January 2009. There was a case to be made at that point for trying to tone down the partisan warfare in Washington. His experience with the stimulus, however, should have educated him. We can reasonably fault him for continuing to try to be a conciliator long after it had become obvious that what was needed was, if I may borrow a phrase, a fierce advocate.