Far left deserts Obama on Libya - mostly
It appears that the far left - those most excited about Obama's election - have finally abandoned him when he proved himself to be less the praiseworthy on their core issues of war and socialism.
They complained that Obamacare didn't go far enough, that Gitmo should be closed, that we're too slow taking our troops out of Iraq and he was wrong to put more troops in Afghanistan. They also think he's too close to Wall Street and should be doing more to help the working class.
This action Obama has undertaken in Libya seems to have unhinged most of them. Michael Moore tweets, as reported by The Hill:
Moore, a frequent critic of President Bush for launching the Iraq War, unleashed a string on tweets comparing the U.S. military's mission in Libya to Iraq and Afghanistan, using a mantra coined by Charlie Sheen:It's only cause we're defending the Libyan people from a tyrant! That's why we bombed the Saudis last wk! Hahaha. Pentagon=comedy
And we always follow the French's lead! Next thing you know, we'll have free health care & free college! Yay war!
We've had a "no-fly zone" over Afghanistan for over 9 yrs. How's that going? #WINNING !
Khadaffy must've planned 9/11! #excuses
Khadaffy must've had WMD! #excusesthatwork
Khadaffy must've threatened to kill somebody's daddy! #daddywantedjeb
Moore also suggested that Obama should return the Nobel Peace Prize he won in 2009:
May I suggest a 50-mile evacuation zone around Obama's Nobel Peace Prize? #returnspolicy
And Obama's pastor, Rev. Wright's good friend Louis Farrakhan was even angrier:
"I warn my brother do you let these wicked demons move you in a direction that will absolutely ruin your future with your people in Africa and throughout the world...Why don't you organize a group of respected Americans and ask for a meeting with Qaddafi, you can't order him to step down and get out, who the hell do you think you are?
It should be noted that Farrakhan has long been a strong supporter of Gaddafi, while the Libyan dictator has returned the favor by giving Farrakhan millions of dollars.
Even Andrew Sullivan - Obama's favorite "conservative" - has hopped off the bus:
There is no actual or imminent threat to America from Libya. I supported Obama against first Clinton and then McCain because I knew full well that both Clinton and McCain were unrepentant fans of presidential war-making powers and had both supported almost every war in their political lives. I wanted someone with more restraint. But the president we supported is not, it is now clear, the president that we have.
Poor Andrew. It must be jarring to realize your hero has feet of clay.
Some congressional Democrats have come out in support of the president, but most are mainly keeping their mouths shut. The far left Democratic base is in an uproar over their president's intervention - no matter how hesitantly and timidly it is carried out - and this may have consequences in 2012.