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Letter: Reform too slow for many voters

The Columbian
Published: April 24, 2012, 5:00pm

The letter “Review administration’s deeds,” from Grant W. Bigelow, published appropriately on Friday the 13th, expressed fear about unions and President Obama. But when the unions and collective bargaining rights were under attack in Wisconsin and Ohio, the president did not weigh in.

In fact, Obama has been a cautious, even timid leader, caving in to Republican demands with regularity.

He has talked about his fondness for the “Blue Dogs,” the most conservative faction of the Democratic Party. His closest economic advisors were Wall Street guys and the financial sector was bailed out without conditions, like a brake on over-the-top executive compensation.

Now Obama is trying to fire up his base, but many progressives, like myself, have been disappointed by his status quo “centrist” focus. To be sure, it’s not easy being the first black president and inheriting an economic disaster from George W. Bush.

Yet, based on the “change” theme of the 2008 campaign, Obama voters had a right to expect a reformist administration.

That hasn’t happened.

This fall Americans will have a choice between two types of conservatism: hot (GOP) and cold (Democrat.) Obama and Mitt Romney are mirror images in a sense. Both lack a core of conviction, and issues will lack resonance in the resulting popularity contest.

Bret Raushenbush

Portland

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