Ari Berman: Why Progressives Worry About Jim Messina, New Campaign Manager for 2012 Obama Campaign

DemocracyNow.org -
Republicans and Democrats are already gearing up for the 2012 election, projected to be the most expensive in history. Obama is expected to formally kick off his re-election bid on April 14, and his campaign could raise as much as $1 billion. In a move criticized by progressives, Obama has appointed former White House deputy chief of staff, Jim Messina, as his campaign manager. Obama's move has drawn scrutiny over Messiana's ties to corporate America, his push to drop the public option from healthcare reform, and his lack of support for gay rights.

Democracy Now! interviews journalist and author Ari Berman about his new profile of Messina in The Nation magazine. "Messina has a 'take no prisoners style,' but what he is doing is often taking Democrats and grassroots prisoner," Berman says.

For the video/audio podcast, transcript, to sign up for the daily news digest, and for today's entire show, visit http://www.democracynow.org/2011/4/1/shunning_grassroots_that_propelled_08_el...

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• jim messina
• ari berman
• nation
• obama
• 2012
• election
• campaign
• democracy now

[rickbar123]

I started to worry the night Obama was put into office and he put Rhom Emanuel the NAFTA King in as his second man. To me, that move sent a signal to Corporate America; don't worry bad trade deals will continue. Obama is no friend of the Working Man. Sorry.

[yayayayayaya36]

Obama is a centrist. Not a progressive, not even a liberal.

[taxfatcats]

are we weeping for Kim Jong yet?

[Slatrelle]

Congressman Ron Paul has continued to run his Congressional office in a frugal manner, and was able to return more than $100,000 from his allotted office budget to the Treasury this year, an increase over the $90,000 returned last year.

[Charmer4856]

For all the gullible people out there who thought he was gonna bring change, what do u think of him now? I gave him the benefit of the doubt because it somewhat helped the morale in the black community (still tons of people talk highly of him because he's black), im black and im not impressed with what he's done so far. Either he is a Bush 2.0 or there are people that are hindering his true ideas of change

[MrTomPeters]

Really glad Ari is out there telling the truth about this corporatist scumbag.

[windberjohnstown]

Obama = Bush

Obama= Bush

Obama = Bush

I will stay home in 2012 unless Ron Paul runs as an Independent

[TheUSMetalhead]

Obama is a centrist not a progressive, it's no surprise he used a fake liberal like himself to be the liaison for the progressives in the dem party. How about the party itself just end this, push a real progressive through the primaries, they have candidates who would have just as good of a chance to beat the GOP at the national level, it's no contest. Obama and his admin needs to be shown the door. And I swear if these loser "change" folks put him in office again I will snap.

[mispistoleros]

worry about AIPAC.

messina will probably continue emanuel's campaign strategy of sidelining anti-war democratic candidates, freezing financial support.