Here\u2019s the thing I\u2019m starting to think Obama never understood: yes, for most of us the 2008 campaign was partly about him, but it was more about the campaign itself\u2014about the sudden feeling of power that gripped a web-enabled populace, who felt themselves able to really, truly hope. Hope that maybe they\u2019d found a candidate who would escape the tried-and-true money corruption of Washington.<\/p>\n
None of us gave $50 hoping for a favor. Quite the opposite. You gave $50 hoping that, for the first time in a long while in American politics, no one would get a favor. And the candidate, it must be said, led us on. His rhetorical flights were dazzling\u2014to environmentalists like me, he promised to \u201cfree this nation from the tyranny of oil once and for all,\u201d and \u00a0pledged that his administration would mark the moment when \u201cthe rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once in office, it was inevitable that he\u2019d disappoint us to some degree. In fact, we knew the disappointment would come and braced ourselves for it. After all, our movement was up against the staggering power of vested corporate and financial interests. It\u2019s hard to beat Big Money. Still, we didn\u2019t mind thinking: Yes, we can. We\u2019ll work hard. We\u2019ve got your back. Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n
What we completely missed was that Obama didn\u2019t want us at his back\u2014that the minute the campaign was over he would cut us adrift, jettison the movement that had brought him to power. Instead of using all those millions of people to force through ambitious healthcare proposals or serious climate legislation or (fill in the blank yourself here), he governed as the opposite of a movement candidate.<\/p>\n
He clearly had not the slightest interest in keeping that network activated and engaged. Though we had brought him to the party, it was as if he didn\u2019t really want to dance with us. Instead\u2014however painful the image may be\u2014he wanted to dance with Larry Summers. (Fundraising idea: I\u2019d pay $75 to be assured I never had to have dinner with Summers.)<\/p>\n