Sam Stein stein@huffingtonpost.com | HuffPost Reporting
First Posted: 11-17-10 04:10 PM | Updated: 11-17-10 04:34 PM
WASHINGTON -- At a private meeting on Tuesday afternoon, George Soros, a longtime supporter of progressive causes, voiced blunt criticism of the Obama administration. Soros suggested that Democratic donors direct their support somewhere other than the president.
The Hungarian-American financier was speaking to a small side gathering of donors who had convened in Washington D.C. for the annual gathering of the
Democracy Alliance -- a formal community of well-funded, progressive-minded individuals and activists.
According to multiple sources with knowledge of his remarks, Soros told those in attendance that he is
"used to fighting losing battles but doesn't like to lose without fighting."
"We have just lost this election, we need to draw a line," he said, according to several Democratic sources. "And if this president can't do what we need, it is time to start looking somewhere else."
Michael Vachon, an adviser to Soros, did not dispute the comment, though he stressed that there was no transcript of a private gathering to check. Vachon also clarified that the longtime progressive giver was not referring to a primary challenge to the president.
"Mr. Soros fully supports the president as the leader of the Democratic Party," said Vachon. "He was not suggesting that we seek another candidate for 2012. His comments were made in a private, informal conversation that was about the need for progressives to be more forceful in promoting their agenda. He was stressing the importance of being heard by elected officials."
Dissatisfaction with the Obama administration was not limited to Soros's private gathering with donors.
On Wednesday morning, Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina received several tough questions during his address to the Democracy Alliance. According to a source in the room, he was pressed multiple times as to why the administration has declined to be more combative with Republicans, both in communication and legislative strategy.
Another source in the room said the exchange was not entirely contentious as people were simply expressing frustration about the fact that "we just came out of an election where the right wing and the Republicans distorted what was going on."
Rightardia thinks the Soros comments are long overdue. Bill Maher even noted that GOP is better able to get thing done then modern Democrats. George W. Bush was elected by the slimmest of margins. it didn't stop him form trying to privatize Social security or starting a $ trillion dollar war in Iraq.
Obma was elected with a clear mandate. He had a Democratic House and could have written an Executive Order to end "Don't ask, don't Tell" but the was too timid to do this. Bush wouldn't have cared if the House passed a law that infringed on the executive powers of the president. He would have ignored the law and let he courts work it out.
Democrats need to get things done and with haste. The Democrats cannot become the party of the plodding and timid.
Why does a light weight like Sarah Palin think she can beat Obama in 2012? America wants a strong leader, not a president who is afraid to make waves. Obama needs to stop walking softly and to start using the big stick.
The Republicans will oppose anything that Obama does, so why try to seek compromise and bi-partisanship? Start swinging the stick.
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