Eric Alterman's Blog, page 22

Obama Wimps Out on Tax Cuts

The president is ready to compromise on the Bush tax cuts and extend them for the rich. Eric Alterman wonders why Obama can't manage to defend a campaign position that's both popular and fiscally sound.
It's happening again. Barack Obama is punching...

The Left's Deficit Fantasy

Scrap the anti-poverty programs, lay off federal workers, and make kids pay for the Smithsonian. The Bowles-Simpson deficit plan has no bearing on reality-and the left needs to show backbone against it.
How many ways can Barack Obama say, "Suck on it,...

The Left's Deficit Outrage

Scrap the anti-poverty programs, lay off federal workers, and make kids pay for the Smithsonian. The Bowles-Simpson deficit plan has bearing on reality-and the need to show backbone against it.
How many ways can Barack Obama say, "Suck on it,...

Jews Snub the GOP. Again

The right painted Obama as anti-Israel, hoping to pry Jewish voters from their Democratic roots. Nice try. Maybe the scare tactics were meant for conservative Christians instead.
Remember New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow's worry, expressed...

Yes, Jews Are Still Democrats

The right painted Obama as anti-Israel, hoping to pry Jewish voters from their Democratic roots. Nice try. Maybe the scare tactics were meant for conservative Christians instead. By Eric Alterman
Remember New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow's...

Blame It On Rahm

The Democrats are in for a thumping on Tuesday, and it's the departed White House chief of staff's fault. Eric Alterman on Emanuel's failed electoral strategy-and the shape of the party to come. Plus: Check out the latest on all the hot races at The...

Obama's Baffling Gay Snub

The president's base-and the majority of the country-want to dump the controversial gays-in-the-military policy. So why won't Obama just do the right thing? By Eric Alterman.
Let's all try to get this straight: The military says its members will...

How Obama Screws His Base

The president's party desperately needs to rev up liberals to stave off disaster this fall. So why does he keep punching them in the face?
In case you hadn't heard, yes Barack Obama did go before a $30,000-per-person Democratic National Committee...

Obama's Finally Ready to Rumble

The president's jabs at Boehner and tax-cut proposals may be too little, too late to save the midterm elections for his party, but his bracing return to campaign mode is more than his dispirited base was expecting, says Eric Alterman.
We already know...

Obama Is Good for the Jews

New York Times columnist Charles Blow wrote that Obama is losing Jewish support, but Eric Alterman says he's wrong and poll numbers show that on the whole they are some of his strongest supporters.
Although he "generally ignores these types of...