“All Important Independents

I just read NPR’s summary of the Obama-O’Reilly interview. It was typical NPR “take no sides even when a child is stomping on frogs” sort of coverage. But one line really hit me, “To further his appeal to the all-important independents, Obama took the opportunity to underscore that while he’s been labeled by conservative critics an ultra-liberal, he’s really been more of a pragmatist.” I agree with that statement, but I just don’t accept its starting phrase. “All-important independents”? The Democrats lost in the last election because young progressives did not come out to vote, not because “independents” (whatever the hell that means) switched from Democrat to Republican. So this focus on the mythical “all-important independents” is madness. If Obama wins in 2012, it will be because the youth vote comes out again. That is the only story.

43-0

I’ve already written about this. This is a good take on it.