As progressives become increasingly disappointed with the man we helped to elect, talk of running a primary challenge against him from the left is getting louder. One progressive group has also started calling on members to withhold contributions to Obama's re-election campaign until he clarifies his support for Medicare. [Note: The link above points to Blogging Blue because I refuse to link to HuffPo, which was the source he referenced for this article].

Here is what one self-described Democratic insider wrote for AMERICAblog:

If Obama continues on his present course and does not show real strength and leadership, he will lose. In losing, his ineffectualness and lack of spine will become that of the Democratic Party and Progressives. The Left will be redefined in terms of Obama’s positions, as the Republicans try to roll back even those small accomplishments. And we will be out of power for another generation.

In spite of the merit of this argument, running a primary challenge against Obama is hardly a universal sentiment on the left. Zach at Blogging Blue recently pointed out that he's far happier with what Obama has done than what a McCain/Palin administration would have done. I agree, but I'm not sure that is a reason not to primary Obama.

Zach is correct that a primary challenge - at least an effective one - could weaken Obama's chances of re-election. But it could also prompt him to move more to the left. And there is also the question of whether losing an election or two might be a necessary evil to pull the Democratic Party back to the left. I know that is a tough pill to swallow. It is for me too. I'm just not sure how else we can reverse the slide to the right our country has made.

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