Puffin’s Place

If Obama’s retreat on the FISA bill has you in a twist, you can go to this page of his campaign site and read blog comments by hundreds of us who feel the scarey sounds of politicians footsteps in some of what’s happened since the primaries. Apparently he now finds Bush’s hammering of the Constitution not great but ok for now. And does he also appear to be easing his withdrawal date from Iraq? And I guess we should not even mention his sudden fondness for the flag lapel pin.

I realize that none of us will ever agree with Obama 100%. I realize that people with brains and guts can change their minds. I realize that Obama is in an entirely new ball game these days which may account for the fact that he now likes the Supremes ruling on DC gun ownership. And I want badly to continue to believe and promote this guy.  But I surely hope he remembers, as they say, them that brought him to the dance. We bought tickets because he did not pander. He did not lie. He did not mime the trimmer of British history.

I’d like to see no more groveling defenses of patriotism; those that doubt will not be persuaded by the cheap symbols of country or the pleadings of a man they are determined to mistrust. I’d like to see him follow his guts even if it means he gives up votes from the pious and the crass.

Meanwhile, I’m going to reread Eugene Robinson’s 7/4 column on Black patriotism and hope Obama will find his footing or make clear to some of us the new postures he is striking.