Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Ex-Adviser: Obama Not Bold Enough

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 8, 2009 2:21 PM CDT

(Newser) – One of Barack Obama's top advisers during the campaign tells Politico he's "losing patience" with the White House and wants more "bold" leadership from the president on a host of issues including health care and gay rights. “I’m not going to just sit by the curb and let these folks get away with a lack of performance for the American people,” says Steve Hildebrand, the campaign's deputy manager who helped engineer key wins in Iowa and South Carolina.

Hildebrand also criticizes Congress, particularly Blue Dog and moderate Democrats. “I know where Barack Obama is on these issues and I don't question his sincerity or his honesty towards trying to solve them,” he says. “I do question whether or not the Congress as it is constituted right now is going to have the capacity to ever deliver.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

President Barack Obama. (AP Photo)

President Obama speaks at the AFL-CIO Labor Day picnic at Coney Island in Cincinnati, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The problem is, Obama isn’t listening enough. I love him, I love Michelle, I want him to succeed, but all of us need to put pressure on him and Congress to do the right things.
- Steve Hlidebrand

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 14 comments

yummines

Sep 10, 2009 4:25 AM CDT

I think its funny how Obama has been accused of being socialist, anti-american, and even an Illegal Immigrant and someone thinks he's still not "bold" enough.

cornelison

Sep 9, 2009 6:08 AM CDT

Americans won't get a universal health care plan until they vote for more real Democrats in Congress. If the President were bold he'd ask for a vote on health care being a RIGHT & not a privilege.

AdaptAndOvercome

Sep 9, 2009 5:16 AM CDT

It's typical election year crap. What they fail to understand, it SHOULD NEVER BE about getting re-elected. It should ALWAYS be about doing what they were elected to do. And if they can't vote for health care reform- then they should all forfeit their insurance coverage. Tax payers pay it and we should save our defecit by cutting their "socialized insurance" and have them pay for it like every tax paying citizen that goes out and works just as hard or in some cases harder.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

Politico (Source Grid »)

Politics • Health

Congress • gay rights • presidential campaign • health care reform • Democratic Party • Election 2008 • moderate • Obama administration • Blue Dog Democrats • President Obama • Steve Hildebrand

More Newser Stories

No More Co-Pay for Birth Control: Obama

New preventive health rules require insurers to cover cost

(NEWSER) - Women can say goodbye to co-pays on birth control: Health insurance companies will soon have to cover the cost themselves, the Obama administration says. It’s part of expanded preventive care for women , including coverage of breast pumps, “well woman” physicals, and STD counseling, the AP reports. Insurance firms will likely raise premiums a small amount to handle the cost. Religious institutions may opt out of birth control coverage under the new rules, many of which won't take effect until Jan. 1, 2013. More»

White House Offers Another $6.5B in Cuts

Officials: We're meeting GOP 'halfway' with budget proposal

(NEWSER) - The White House has proposed another $6.5 billion in spending cuts, its latest offer in an effort to avoid a government shutdown as another deadline looms. Vice President Biden brought the proposal to talks with congressional leaders yesterday. While it’s far less than the House’s proposed $61 billion in cuts, administration authorities call it a place to start, the Washington Post reports. “We're willing to cut further if we can find common ground,” said a White House economic adviser. More»

GOP Pushes to Outlaw Presidential 'Czars'

Republicans have slammed paid advisers' role in Washington

(NEWSER) - House Republicans hope a new bill will drive out President Obama’s “czars,” the 39 paid advisers he’s hired throughout his term. The GOP has pushed similar bills in the past, but with Republican control of the House, this one stands a better chance of advancing, the Hill notes. Republicans have railed against czars like Van Jones, former head of "green jobs," who've led task forces without needing Senate confirmation. More»

2008 All Over Again: Obama to Base Campaign in Chicago

First reelection bid outside DC in recent memory

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s reelection campaign will likely be based in Chicago, not Washington—a rare move for a sitting president, and one that his advisers hope will help him rekindle the energy of 2008, Politico notes. Usually, campaigns are kept close to the president’s DC home, where they’re easily accessible, said a Democratic consultant: "In modern presidential history, this is kind of revolutionary." More»

DADT Repeal or No, Military Discharges Drop Off

Top-level approval required under Obama

(NEWSER) - Despite the continued reign of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the military has lately been discharging far fewer people under the rule, the Los Angeles Times reports. Thanks largely to changes in enforcement under President Obama, the number of discharges has fallen off this year after a continuous decline since 2002. Not one service member has been discharged under DADT since the administration announced the changes. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website