Time to fight

Failure is not an option. The Obama presidency is the best chance for progressives for at least a generation until the demographic trends catch up with the Republicans in 20 or 30 years and wipe them off the map.

By Max J. Castro
majcastro@gmail.com

Barack Obama delivered a masterful State of the Union speech. The Republicans sat on their hands. Their rejection of the bipartisanship Obama has been offering for a year could be read in the GOP body language. Later in the week, the President met with Republican members of Congress in Baltimore. It was reported that he received virtually no applause.

How long is Obama and the Democratic Party going to reach out to Republicans and receive a clenched fist for their trouble?

Enough is enough. It’s time for the Democrats to throw away their copies of “Getting to Yes” and other tomes on conflict resolution and break out Lao Tzu and the “Art of War.”

From now on the question is not how to convince the Republicans; the question is how to vanquish them. Let’s not waste any more time bending over backwards to receive a resounding NO from the Republicans.

The Republicans have only one objective: to turn the Obama presidency into a disaster. If they can do that, it might be a long time before the American people opt to elect a minority to the highest office in the land, especially a progressive minority. It is as if the Republicans want to punish the American people for their electoral choice.

That would be fine and dandy for a party that has become increasingly reactionary, monochromatic, and angry. The fact that there is not a single African American Republican in Congress speaks volumes. The tea party faction of the Republican faction would fit well in apartheid South Africa.

Let’s stop wasting time courting the Republicans and knock heads with them. Let’s use the Congressional majority and every advantage it affords to win as many battles as possible, starting with health care. Obtaining an (imperfect) victory on health care is absolutely essential. And it’s time for Democrats to stop using gentle tactics against the brutal ones of the Republican camp.

We may not win on every issue but we must demonstrate to the American people what we stand for in opposition to the Republicans–on the environment, on human needs, on big business versus workers and the middle class. And we must show the courage of our convictions.

The Obama presidency is the best chance for progressives for at least a generation until the demographic trends catch up with the GOP in another 20 or 30 years and wipe them off the map.

Failure is, therefore, not an option.

The State of the Union speech should mark the beginning of a new strategy and a new energy such as was displayed during the campaign. The time of trying to gather stones together with the Republicans is over. Let the battle commence in earnest.