The Problem Isn't Obama's Liberalism

David Brooks writes an interesting but seriously flawed column today, where he describes the fast decline in support for the Obama Administration and the Democrats in general. Then he says this: "From the stimulus to health care, it has joined itself at the hip to the liberal leadership in Congress."

I think Brooks has missed the mark here. It is not because Obama has been 'liberal' or 'off to the left'. That's crazy. Liberals are unhappy with Obama, and that unhappiness is a big reason for the decline in his support. (I'm one of them.)

The problem isn't Obama's liberalism. Kowtowing to the banking industry in the bailout is not liberal. Ramping up the military effort in Afghanistan is not liberal. Giving the Blue Dog Democrats the 'green light' in the Senate, and giving up on the public option is not liberal. For that matter, being obsequiously 'bipartisan' is not particularly liberal, when it sacrifices liberal goals in the process.

The problem is that Obama isn't pleasing the liberal/progressive wing of his own party (his base), and he sure as heck isn't pleasing the Republicans, despite his attempts to do so. I'm not sure what the independents are upset with, but it could be they miss the eloquent, forceful Obama, who seems to have disappear.