What he did was show that “hope and change” (progressivism) was popular enough to win an election, which admittedly did pave the way for future progressive candidates. Even if he was just pulling the rug out from under his supporters.
He passed the biggest healthcare reform bill in decades in the checks notes few months he had full control of the legislature. Changes to it were hamstrung after Ted Kennedy died.
Did he prematurely triangulate in the hopes of getting Republican votes under the assumption that they were operating in good faith? Absolutely. But I think that was naivete, not a policy statement.
But he ended up actually not being a progressive.
What he did was show that “hope and change” (progressivism) was popular enough to win an election, which admittedly did pave the way for future progressive candidates. Even if he was just pulling the rug out from under his supporters.
He passed the biggest healthcare reform bill in decades in the checks notes few months he had full control of the legislature. Changes to it were hamstrung after Ted Kennedy died.
Did he prematurely triangulate in the hopes of getting Republican votes under the assumption that they were operating in good faith? Absolutely. But I think that was naivete, not a policy statement.