Obama: Democratic voter apathy ‘inexcusable’

By The Associated Press

Obama calls Fox News viewpoint 'ultimately destructive' for the country

Admonishing his own party, President Barack Obama says it would be "inexcusable" and "irresponsible" for unenthusiastic Democratic voters to sit out the midterm elections, warning that the consequences could be a squandered agenda for years.

"People need to shake off this lethargy. People need to buck up," Obama told Rolling Stone in an interview to be published Friday. The president told Democrats that making change happen is hard and "if people now want to take their ball and go home, that tells me folks weren't serious in the first place."

The midterm elections are in five weeks and polling shows that Republicans, out of power at the White House and on Capitol Hill, have a much more excited base of supporters than Democrats. Obama, campaigning this week in four states, is in a sprint to restore the voter passion that helped him win office

Yet in his attempt to light a fire under supporters, Obama comes across as fired up himself about how many backers fail to acknowledge the progress he sees. He said the glass-half-empty view among many progressive voters can be a debilitating force that distracts them from the real worry: Republicans.

The GOP is poised to win seats in the House, if not control of the chamber, and gain ground in the Senate, too.

"It is inexcusable for any Democrat or progressive right now to stand on the sidelines in this midterm election," Obama said.

The president has been telling Democrats to "wake up" and recognize that he and the Democratic-run Congress have delivered on promises, from a new health care law to tougher rules for Wall Street to more aid for college students. Obama wants disenchanted supporters to see that Republican wins in November would undermine the ability of Democrats to get the unfinished business done, from climate change legislation to allowing gays to serve openly in the military.

What emerges in the magazine story is a stern, lecturing tone from Obama.

It comes mainly at the end of the interview. Obama had wrapped the lengthy Q-and-A session, according to the magazine, but then returned unprompted to make one more impassioned point and unleash on the enthusiasm gap. He portrayed a clear choice between an administration that despite some warts has helped advance its agenda, and a Republican Party that would offer disastrous policies for the economy and civil liberties.

"The idea that we've got a lack of enthusiasm in the Democratic base, that people are sitting on their hands complaining, is just irresponsible," he said in the interview. He said Democrats should be thinking about what's at stake this election "if they want to move forward over the next two years or six years or 10 years."

The Rolling Stone interview was conducted Sept. 17. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the story, titled "Obama Fights Back."

Obama expresses plenty of disappointment over how Republicans made a tactical decision from the start to oppose him, but also offers some "grudging admiration" for its political effectiveness in keeping the GOP united. He said the resulting slog between Republicans and himself — legislative delays and political fighting reminiscent of the Washington he ran against — has worsened public skepticism of government and eroded the feeling of hope that surrounded his election.

The president said he keeps a checklist of his campaign promises and that he has met, by his account, about 70 percent of them.

As for the rest: "Well, that's what the next two years is for, or maybe the next six."

Obama would need to win re-election in 2012 for that latter timeframe to occur.

Obama calls Fox News viewpoint 'ultimately destructive' for the country

Obama told Rolling Stone that Fox News had a political agenda but he thought their main purpose was to make money.

"Look, as president, I swore to uphold the Constitution, and part of that Constitution is a free press," said Obama. "We've got a tradition in this country of a press that oftentimes is opinionated."

I think Fox is part of that tradition — it is part of the tradition that has a very clear, undeniable point of view. It's a point of view that I disagree with. It's a point of view that I think is ultimately destructive for the long-term growth of a country that has a vibrant middle class and is competitive in the world. But as an economic enterprise, it's been wildly successful. And I suspect that if you ask Mr. Murdoch what his number-one concern is, it's that Fox is very successful.

M.C.L Comment: I said it before and I'm going to beat that drum until it's worn out if any progressive or Democrat think by sitting home and letting the wingnut tea party Republican win a congressional or senate seat is going to teach this president or his party a lesson will be sadly mistaken after these sick, racist and hypocritical bastards take control.. If you're a 99er or soon to be 99er you think The Turtle, Jim DeMint, Sharron Angle and Christine O'Donnell will allow another extension of unemployment benefits? Ha ha ha no. While the house GOP is holding investigations to see what's on President Obama's Mp3 player you think they're going to fix health care, education, and the job outlook? Ha ha no. And if you're a gay activist you think an Republican house and a slightly Republican senate is going to fight to repel DADT, DOMA and any other issue you care about? Ha ha I wouldn't hold out for hope. While things haven't been the way you wanted to be but I can assure you if the corporate Republicans along with their easily led retarded tea bag cousins get power things are going to get worst.. Because these tools will be more focus to further crashing the economy while blaming Obama not only crashing the economy , they will have the Obama white house fighting off endless subpoenas from uber dickheads like Darrell Issa who's main goal is to find something to impeach the president over. While the Republicans play get the negro with the funny name we're going to suffer from their inaction.