Barack Obama says when he leaves office he will "continue to speak out in defense of Democratic core values."
This has been reported all over the media.
Perhaps I am stupid but these "Democratic core values" are never specified by Obama and no reporters seem to ask him what he means.
Is Obama going to defend the Democratic Party Platform? Or is he referring to some kind of abstract ideas?
Perhaps Obama is referring to the same "Democratic Party core values" as defined by George Lakoff?
Or, seeing as how Barack Obama appears in ads for The Nation magazine, are the "values" advocated by The Nation which The Nation magazine says should be Democratic Party core values what Obama is talking about.
Obama claimed to be campaigning for "progressive core values" when he was campaigning in 2008. He claimed single-payer universal health care was a "progressive core value" during campaigning in 2007. Obviously, Obama has had a change of mind when it comes to single-payer being a "progressive core value."
Or, what about Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, free school lunches... are these "Democratic core values" Obama intends to defend after having appointed the reactionary Republican Alan Simpson to head up the cat food commission?
Is war with Russia and China part of "Democratic core values?"
What about defending the Israeli killing machine--- is this a "Democratic core value?"
Will Obama put on his marching shoes to defend "Democratic core values?"
Does the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Eleanor Roosevelt played such a big role in drafting, reflect "Democratic core values?"
Doesn't anyone want to know what Obama will be defending when he says he is going to be "defending Democratic core values?"
How come we can't go anyplace and find specifically what "Democratic core values" are?
Obviously, Obama doesn't share with Bernie Sanders "Democratic core values;" or does he?
I kind of would like to hear if Obama shares the "Democratic core values" of those seeking to "reform" the Democratic Party.
Do we have a right to expect that those who toss around vague statements about "defending Democratic core values" be more specific? Should they provide drafts of legislation articulating specific solutions to problems based of these "core Democratic values" or should we just be satisfied that Obama and others simply talk in a language where these "Democratic core values" simply remain "properly framed progressive sounding policy directives" as advocated by the linguist George Lakoff and be satisfied that our problems will be solved "incrementally" in "baby steps" long after we are dead?
I would like to know if disbanding NATO is a "Democratic core value?"
Is nuclear disarmament and beating swords into plowshares a "Democratic core value?"
The reason I would like to have Obama and the Democratic Party hacks specifically spell out what "Democratic core values" are is because this would give people a chance to make up their minds whether or not they want to continue to vote for Democrats or start a new working class based people's party.
Am I expecting to much asking for these "Democratic core values" to be spelled out?
Is full employment a "Democratic core value?" If it is, why don't Democrats bring forward legislation that would make the president and members of Congress legislatively responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment?
