Jo Becker and Christopher Drew's lengthy New York Times' article on Barack Obama's "evolution from Hyde Park independent to mainstream Chicago politician" is meant to inform our understanding of how the Democratic nominee will build a viable electoral coalition this year. But the piece is more valuable for it's insight into how an Obama administration might govern if elected.
Take this quote from Will Burns, a former aide who consulted on Obama's now famous 2002 anti-war speech:
“What’s fascinating about Barack is what he’s trying to do is reframe and change the discourse so you build support for liberal alternatives within the electorate. He has an ability to frame stuff so it’s not an all or nothing proposition.”
This statement embodies the hope that his backers on the left see in Obama. Unlike the last Democratic nominee, who was badly damaged by the idea that his rhetoric was hollow and politically opportunistic, Obama seems to understand that a progressive agenda, while favored by voters on its merits, doesn't yet enjoy a popular political mandate. To get there, Obama seems focused on acknowledging and discrediting conservative policies while cultivating support for his own nuanced positions among a variety of voters who hold divergent views.
This "pragmatic" approach is rooted more in his experiences as a community organizer than his rise through Hyde Park. It will hopefully put him in a stronger position to not only win the race in November, but once elected, to push progressive policies more forcefully than any recent Democratic president.
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