Tuesday night was a definite victory for the President. As someone who did not want a Romney/Ryan administration, I am relieved. While the Electoral College gave the appearance of a landslide, the popular vote indicates things were much closer than that. And I think looking at the electoral vote is a mistake. It leads to thinking like this.
The Buzzfeed article has conversations with top Obama backers who declare their hopes that Obama will move from center left to all out left. That he will institute things like grand and sweeping gun control. Which is funny, because outside of saying he would like to see the assault weapons ban re-instated, he has done nothing in four years that shows an actual dedication to gun control. Last month, the first time Obama even mentioned the assault weapons ban, (previously, surrogates had mentioned it) he also expressed concern that there were other things behind the violence, that more gun laws do not ersolve those problems. Gun control has simply not been a priority in four years.
But I think Obama’s backers are missing the bigger picture. Obama’s victory was not a mandate from the people for a liberal festival of Spending and restrictions. No, it was far more pragmatic than that. Obama did not get overwhelming approval from our nation to do whatever he wants. At the same time, it was not a support of Republican leadership either. We have pretty much the same set up as the last two years. Meeting in the middle is the key.
If his acceptance speech is any indication, he gets that. He seems to understand that he cannot just walk in the door and say, “I won, gimme what I want.”
Listen, top backers are always going to hope the President does all the things they want him to. That is nothing new. Assuming their hopes have real meaning is premature.
Mitt could have won had he taken positions and stuck with them.