I'm just the guy that can't stand cant. ___________

 
MUDDLED MODERATES MIRED IN MORASS OF THEIR OWN MAKING

It seems hard to believe that any Democratic partisan would take issue with President Obama's seeking to energize the Democratic base for the midterm elections.

Yet that is exactly what some self-styled "moderate" Democrats are doing.

Today's New York Times carries the mostly unremarkable story that President Obama is "is increasingly focused on generating enthusiasm within the base that helped put him in the White House two years ago, from college students to African-Americans."

What is remarkable about the story, however, is the reported response of a group of moderate Democrats who fear that Obama is seeking to energize liberals into voting:

But the White House strategy has generated qualms among some Democratic moderates.

Third Way, an organization of centrist Democrats, produced a study showing that liberals are the smallest share of the electorate and not enough to keep Congress in Democratic hands. Citing Gallup polling data, the study said self-described conservatives made up 42 percent of the electorate, compared with moderates who make up 35 percent and liberals who make up 20 percent, a shift of several points to the right in the last two years.

These muddled moderates are mired in a morass of their own making. Mobilizing the base is a no-brainer.

The way to mobilize the base is talk up the substantial accomplishments the Obama administration has achieved to improve the life of everyday Americans, and Obama's ongoing fight against the Republicans who seek to block efforts to restore the economy for their own political gain. And guess what? This is likely to appeal to all Obama voters -- who outnumbered McCain voters by a 53 to 46 percent margin.

What these self-styled "moderate" Democrats don't realize is that most voters who consider themselves moderates are more interested in results, not ideology. When you talk about fighting to improve the lives of these voters, you are more likely to turn them on -- not off -- regardless of whether the fight is for a liberal or a conservative solution.

Moderate voters are not primarily interested in labels. By focusing on labels, these moderate Democrats of the Third Way show that if there is one thing they don't understand, it's moderate voters.
posted by Gary at 8:37 AM