Obama’s Lack of Principles Defines Centrists’ Biggest Problem

Politico posted a great story today about Obama’s lack of principles and the trouble it is getting him into. 

“By declining to speak clearly and often about his larger philosophy — and insisting that his actions are guided not by ideology but a results-oriented “pragmatism” — he has bred confusion and disappointment among his allies, and left his agenda and motives vulnerable to distortion by his enemies.”

This is the biggest problem that centrists like Obama face.  The right and the left both have ideologies which guide their world views.  These ideologies are used to explain what someone believes and what they hope to accomplish.  For example, Reagan reminds us of conservatism defined by smaller government, lower taxes, and strong defense.  However, when it comes to centrists the message is not as clearly defined, because we look at every issue on its merits.

For example, “Obama spoke of his “pragmatism” and said he doesn’t “get bottled up in a lot of ideology and 'Is this conservative or liberal?’ My interest is finding something that works.”

“If you’re a serial pragmatist and just go from issue to issue and say, ‘Here’s a problem we need to solve,’ then the play of values and ideas gets lost in that.”

In liberal intellectual circles, it is now common for Obama to be described as rudderless and politically expedient.

While liberals wonder where Obama stands, in many precincts of the right there seems to be no uncertainty about who he really is: a would-be socialist, determined to dethrone private enterprise and individual liberty in favor of government power.

“Most Americans aren’t looking for ideological debates, they want pragmatic, common-sense solutions,”

... He tries to be practical, but practical without a philosophy can look political.”

Obama has been the most activist domestic president in decades, but the philosophy behind his legislative achievements remains muddy in the eyes of many supporters and skeptics alike. There is not yet such a thing as “Obamism.”

“What may be missing from the White House is a clear and convincing narrative into which all the various initiatives neatly fit, so that the public can make sense of everything that’s done,”

You have to provide the country with a narrative of where we have been and where we need to go and how to get there,” said Don Baer, a communications director in Bill Clinton’s White House. “That requires a theory of the case on the role of government — and the role of the president.”

That is the main goal of The Pragmatic Center.  I want to translate centrists’ objectives and beliefs into one ideology which can unite us and guide us.  As this story by politico demonstrates, the lack of such an ideology is the biggest reason why centrists are marginalized and unorganized.  An ideology of our own would provide the “narrative” to fellow centrists and voters everywhere of what our goals are and what we believe. 

As I have argued in recent posts, centrists should have an ideology of their own.  There are groups such as the Democratic Leadership Council, the New Democrats, and the Independent Progressive Politics Network that promote a moderated, centrist progressivism.  However, such an ideology is just moderated progressivism and does not really convincingly separate these groups from the special interests dominated progressivism of the far left.  So if not progressivism, then what?

President Obama said it himself, pragmatism.  What unites centrists of all colors is that we all want common sense reforms and solutions based on merits and not on their ideological purpose or special interest support.  Pragmatism already defines us.  Let’s use it to our advantage and promote it as a third way.  Conservatism of the Republicans and Progressivism of the far left Democrats are outdated and dominated by special interests.  We need a third option that provides us with clarity of our beliefs and our goals.  That ideology is pragmatism. 

Just as small government, less taxes, and free trade define conservatism, pragmatism also needs a list of defining principles.  As I have also recently argued, our defining principles should be smart government, equal opportunity, and innovation.  These principles do not just explain our beliefs but they also clarify our goals, defend our pragmatic approach, and are a great narrative for campaigning. For example:

While progressives want big government to solve all problems and conservatives want to ruin government to leave you to the mercy of big businesses and the powerful, centrists want smart government to help us in times of crisis and get out of our way in times of prosperity.  We want a government that runs as effectively and efficiently as a business.  We want a government that is smart enough to invest in education and the industries of tomorrow.  We want professional, smart government. 

While progressives want to create equal outcomes which history has repeatedly shown cannot be done and conservatives want an “every person for themselves” environment which fosters great inequalities in which the more powerful increasingly exploit the less fortunate, centrists want equal opportunity.  We believe that providing equal, effective education will provide every American the opportunity to live their potential and pursue happiness. 

And finally, both progressives and conservatives are so constrained by their outdated ideologies and supporting special interests that reforms and innovation are almost impossible.  Success in a globalized world is now defined by innovation.  It was once America’s defining quality.  But because of the two parties’ incompetence and irrational adherence to outdated ideologies, innovation in America is disappearing.  We need a renewed interest and focus on innovation to provide us with more opportunities and choices in every sector of society, from the private sector to government.  In government, centrists want to focus on creating professional, smart government.  As for the political process, centrists want to lower the barriers to entry for political candidates and parties.  Centrists also want to minimize partisanship by making our elected officials public servants, not party servants.  We can do that by reforming our primary system and changing how congressional districts are created.  Independently designed congressional districts and primary reform are centrists' top two priorities.  Without them centrists will never have enough influence to create the reforms that America so desperately needs. 

These three principles define centrists.  And they should be used by centrist candidates and elected officials to provide the public with a narrative of what they believe and what they want.  Centrists like President Obama need to start to promote pragmatism and its principles of smart government, equal opportunity, and innovation.  If Obama doesn’t then his accomplishments as well as his future success will be undermined by a lack of definition.

To Read the full Politico article click HERE!

To Read more about centrists’ ideology of pragmatism click HERE!

• American Politics