Several in the media have claimed that President-electBarack Obama won the election becausehe ran as a conservative and that notwithstanding Obama's victory, the United Statesis a conservative country. In claiming that Obama ran as a conservative, thesemedia figures ignore the central components of his platform, including repealof tax cuts for the wealthy, near-universalhealth-care coverage,and redeployment of troops from Iraqto Afghanistan.Democracy Corps, a Democratic polling group, released a ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.democracycorps.com/download.phpattachment=dcor110508fq1.pdf">poll on ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.democracycorps.com/strategy/2008/11/post-election-survey-with-campaign-for-americas-future/">November7 that showed strong support for the positions that Obama has articulatedon these issues. The poll also included questions that provided a direct choicebetween the position taken by Obama on a given issue and that taken by Sen.John McCain without referring to Obama or McCain -- with the more progressive choice echoingObama's position and the more conservative echoingMcCain's. For mostquestions that juxtaposeda clear progressive viewwith a clear conservative view, the progressive positionwas more popular. A list of positions Obama took on major issues during the campaign makes it clear that he did not run as a conservative, and the Democracy Corps poll results rebut the claim thatObama ran as a conservative and that theUnited Statesis a conservative country.<p㻞mocracy Corpsϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.democracycorps.com/download.phpattachment=dcor110508fq1.pdf">polled 2,000 voters November 4-5 and posed several questions asdirect contrasts between a conservative approach and a progressive approach,some of which were directly drawn from the arguments made by Obama and McCain.The poll asked which statement Ȭomes closer to your own view, even ifneither is exactly right."TradeThe poll asked respondents to choose betweenthese two statements-- "I'm more worried that we will do too little to require fairtrade and enforce worker and consumer protections" and "I'mmore worried that we will got too far burdening free trade accords withprotections for consumers and labor." Fifty-three percent of respondentssaid the first statement was closer to their point of view, compared with 34percent who chose the second statement. During the October 16 ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/16/politics/2008debates/main4525254.shtml">presidential debateat Hofstra University, Obama said: "I believein free trade. But I also believe that for far too long, certainly during thecourse of the Bush administration with the support of Senator McCain, theattitude has been that any trade agreement is a good trade agreement. And NAFTAdoesn't have -- did not have enforceable labor agreements and environmentalagreements." McCain, for his part, attacked Obama for "opposingthe Colombia Free Trade Agreement."Social SecurityThe DemocracyCorps survey asked respondents to choose between one statement onSocial Security, "We need to reform Social Security and protect it toensure that it's a safety net the American people can count on,"and a second, more conservative statement: "We need to reform SocialSecurity and establish personal savings accounts so individuals have moreoptions." The first statement, supported by 63 percent of respondents, issimilar to Obama's ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.barackobama.com/issues/seniors/#protect-ss">proposal to "protect SocialSecurity" and Ȯnsure Social Security is solvent and viable forthe American people, now and in the future." The second statement, involving Social Security privateaccounts, was supported by 35 percent of respondents. As recently as July 8, ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200809290017f=s_search">McCain said onCNN's ώmϪmerican Morning thathe supports allowing workers to divert part of their payroll taxes into privateaccounts: "I want young workers to be able to, if they so choose, to takepart of their own money, which is their taxes, and put it into an account,which has their name on it. Now, that's a voluntary thing, it's for youngerpeople. It would not affect any -- any present-day retirees or the system asnecessary."Health careRegarding health care, the Democracy Corps survey offered arelatively progressive statement, which was supported by 58 percent ofrespondents: "Our health care system needs fundamental reform, we shouldregulate insurance companies and give everyone a choice between a public planor what they have right now." This statement is similar to Obama's ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/">proposal for health-care reform, which "requires insurance companies tocover pre-existing conditions" allows individuals to keep their current health-care coverage if they choose todo so; and establishes Ȫ National Health InsuranceExchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public planbased on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individualsand small businesses to buy affordable health coverage." The other statement offeredby the survey --"Our health care system needs fundamental reform; we should give Americanfamilies more choice by givingindividuals a tax credit to choose their own coverage" -- was supported by 38 percent of respondents.That relatively conservative statement was similar to McCain's ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.johnmccain.com/content/default.aspxguid=8475c713-a541-4b97-a2aa-800e35da37bb">proposal:"While still having the option of employer-based coverage, every familywill receive a direct refundable tax credit -- effectively cash -- of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 forfamilies to offset the cost of insurance. Families will be able to choose theinsurance provider that suits them best and the money would be sent directly tothe insurance provider."PrioritiesThe DemocracyCorps surveyalso specifically tested many of the policies Obama has proposed, asking voterswhether each should be "the SINGLE highest priority, one of the TOP FEWpriorities, but not the highest, NEAR THE TOP of the list, in the MIDDLE OF THELIST, or TOWARD THE BOTTOM of the list of priorities for the newpresident." If a respondentactually disagreed with an item on the agenda, he or she would presumably placethe goal "toward the bottom of the list of priorities." The datademonstrate that the public appears to want action on many of the key pieces of Obama'sagenda.<pϪmong the proposals the survey presented that a majority ofrespondents considered at least "near the top" of their priorities:"Repeal the Bush tax cuts for those makingover 250,000 dollars and cut taxes for middle class families and anyone makingunder 200,000 dollars." Sixtypercent said this was at least "near the top" of their priorities.Obama ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Factsheet_Tax_Plan_FINAL.pdf">proposed ȫroad-based tax relief to middle class families" and raising taxeson individuals earning more than $200,000 per year and families earning morethan $250,000 per year."Make health insurance affordable andaccessible to all Americans." Seventy-two percent said this was at least "nearthe top" of their priorities. As noted above, Obama proposed ȪNational Health Insurance Exchange ...that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable healthcoverage."Ȯnd the war in Iraqresponsibly and redeploy our troops from Iraqto Afghanistan."Seventy-six percentsaid this was at least "near the top" of their priorities. Obama ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.barackobama.com/issues/iraq/#phased-withdrawal">proposedwithdrawing troops from Iraqin a way that is "responsible and phased, directed by military commanderson the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government." Obamahas also ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/opinion/14obama.html_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin">proposed"providing at least two additional combat brigades to support our effortin Afghanistan.""Repeal tax breaks that benefit companiesthat move jobs overseas." Fifty-nine percent said this was at least"near the top" of their priorities. Obama has ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/16/politics/2008debates/main4525254.shtml">said, "Iwant to end the tax breaks for companies that are shipping jobs overseas andprovide a tax credit for every company that's creating a job right here inAmerica."Ȯnd dependence on foreign oil by 2025 byrequiring one quarter of U.S.electric power to come from alternative energy where new investments willcreate new jobs." Eighty-onepercent said this was at least "near the top" of their priorities.Obama's ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/factsheet_energy_speech_080308.pdf"Ϯnergy planproposes that ∐ percent of our electricity comes from renewable sourcesby 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.""Make job-creating investments in America'saging roads and transportation systems and stimulate new economicactivity." Fifty-nine percent said this was at least "near thetop" of their priorities. Obama's energy plan calls for⋞voting substantial resources to repairing our roads andbridges."<pϯurther undermining media claims that Obama ran as aconservative in an effort to appeal to a conservative country are statements byMedia Research Center president L. Brent Bozell III and Heritage Foundationpresident Ed Feulner before the election attacking Obama for embracing"socialism" or espousing views that were contrary to conservatism.As ώm>Media Matters ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200811070010f=h_latest">noted, after the election, Bozellclaimed that Obama ran as a conservative -- a sharp departure from his accusationbefore the election that Obama was espousing "socialism" throughoutthe Ȯntirety of the campaign." Similarly, in a November 7 ώm>Washington Times ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/07/conservatism-vital-signs/" title="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/07/conservatism-vital-signs/"Ϭolumn, Feulnerclaimed that Obama ⋊mpaigned on conservative themes throughout thefall" and that Obama "took some conservative positions on issueslike taxes promising to cut them." Yet prior to the election, in anAugust 10 ϊ href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/10/stall-that-slide-to-the-70s/" title="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/10/stall-that-slide-to-the-70s/"Ϭolumn, Feulnerhad claimed that by "unveiling an economic plan that revolves aroundraising taxes on the wealthy,"Obama indicated that he "wants to go back to the policies of the1970s" under former President Jimmy Carter. Feulner also asserted in theAugust column that "Mr. Obama promises to 'soak the rich.' "The following are examples of media figures claiming the United Statesis a conservative or ⋎nter-right"country, some of whom also claimed that Obama ran as a conservative. The blog Think Progress hashighlighted ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/05/center-right-2/" title=ȫlocked::http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/05/center-right-2/"Ϫ ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/06/meacham-conservative-nation/" title=ȫlocked::http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/06/meacham-conservative-nation/">number of theseexamples. <pϭuring the ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0811/06/cnr.03.html" title=ȫlocked::http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0811/06/cnr.03.html"㸑 a.m.hour ofώmϬNN Newsroom on November 6, Republican strategist BayBuchanan said, "No question this country is center-right": ϋlockquote>TONY HARRIS anchor: The election is behind us. We cantalk about the future and moving forward and getting some things done. Youknow, I wanted to have you on to ask some pretty straightforward questions.HARRIS: How will we --"we," big "we" -- make this work I'm talking Republicans,Democrats, independents,Libertarians. Republicans --do Republicans want to work with a President-elect Obama <pϫUCHANAN: Well, it all depends onwhich direction the country -- Obama wants to take the country. If he is reallygoing to govern from the center and recognizes that the nation is center toright, then we're gonnawork with him, just as we worked with Bill Clinton to get welfare reform.<pϫut when Bill Clinton wanted tonationalize health care, we fought him tooth and nail. And we won, because the American peoplewere on our side at the time. So,that's what I think is going to be the formula for the next couple of years.HARRIS: Hey, Bay, you mentioned center-right. You still believe the country iscenter-right I'mlooking at Indiana. I'm looking at how closethings were in Missouri. I'm looking at Virginia. I'm look -- do you still believe it'scenter-right Couldn'tit just be center, whatever that is, just center HARRIS: OK.<pϫUCHANAN: There's no question thatthis vote was absolutely against Republicans and George Bush, a repudiation ofthe direction we took the nation. Ninety percent of the country thinks we were going -- think we are on the wrongdirection. So, that'sRepublicans --HARRIS: So, did you take it too far right <pϫUCHANAN: No, we didn't take it too -- we did not govern using theprinciples of the party. We abandoned those principles, and we got -- now look at what Obama ran on.One of the key issues was tax cuts.Those two words are basically a conservative message and always have been. Andhe grabbed them, and I don't believe his tax policy is something I wouldsupport, but he sold it as if it were.No question this country is center-right. And we'll be with him as long as hestays moving the country in the direction we believe is in our best interest. , Fox News contributor Karl Rovesaid, ⊺rackObama understands this is a center-right country, and he smartly and wisely ran a campaignthat emphasized that":ϋlockquote><pϫILL HEMMER anchor: You know, I've thought fora long time that the country was center-right. Maybe that's 51 percent, butstill center-right. Didthese results make us,or force us, to rethinkthat ROVE: No, no,not at all. In fact, look, remember, wehave a Democrat candidate for president. Our president-elect ran on the basis of a tax cut for 95percent of Americans. He ran television ads in the battleground states thatcalled government-runhealth care extreme. He attacked his Republican opponent for favoring a tax cuton -- a tax increase onhealth benefits. I mean, we, we -- Barack Obama balanced hiscomments about Iraq withtough language on Afghanistan,even threatening to invade an ally. No, Barack Obama understands this is acenter-right country,and he smartly and wisely ran a campaign that emphasized that. We're notred states, blue states, we're the United States, and he talked about conservative values suchas hard work, patriotism, service to community, and sacrifice for community. <pϭuring a November 5 interview on PBS' ώmϬharlieRose, ώm>ώm>Newsweekeditor Jon Meacham said,"It's justthis side of possible that Obama will be able to govern, what I believe, is largely a center-right country." AsThink Progress noted, Meacham wrote in a ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.newsweek.com/id/164656/output/print" title=ȫlocked::http://www.newsweek.com/id/164656/output/print"Ϭover story for theOctober 27 edition of ώm>Newsweekthat "shouldObama win, he will have to govern a nation that is more instinctivelyconservative than it is liberal --a perennial reality that past Democratic presidents have ignored at theirperil." From Meacham's interview with host Charlie Rose: ϋlockquote>ROSE: Fresh, new, different. Wherehave we transformed politics in this raceMEACHAM: Well, here's one thing about Obama. You know, hedid opt out of public financing. He just spent more money than anybody inhistory. This is not, Ithink -- I think progressives should be very careful feeling the millennium is aboutto come and, you know, disease will be gone by Saturday and poverty by Monday.This is a very practical man. And I think that he's a lot like Ronald Reagan, in that it's quite possible his core believershave such faith in him that they'llforgive him his compromises, that -- you know, Reagan could raise taxes. Reagancould sign liberal abortion bills. Hecould do --ROSE: Reagan could talk to theSoviets.MEACHAM: Right, the Soviets. Reagan could end the Cold -- could do allthat. Reagan could grow government by 6or 7 percent and stillbe this, this figure.It's just thisside of possible that Obama will be able to govern, what I believe, is largely a center-right country. WashingtonTimes ϊ href="http://mediamatters.org/rdto=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/06/patriotic-grace/" title=ȫlocked::http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/06/patriotic-grace/"㻭itorial stated:⋞mocrats may argue, why should Obama play fair He's earned the office,Democrats rule now and Republicans be damned. But we would remind them and Mr.Obama that this is still a center-right country." From the ώm>Times editorial: ϋlockquote>Mr. ϊ name="ORIGHIT_4">ϊ name="HIT_4">Obama is movingquickly. He has reportedly named "hyper-partisan" Illinois Rep. RahmEmanuel as his chief of staff. This contrasts with his acceptance remarks onelection night, when Mr. ϊ name="ORIGHIT_5">ϊ name="HIT_5">Obama spoke on a theme of bipartisanship:Ȫnd to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -- I may not have won your vote, but I hearyour voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too."ϊ name="HIT_6">Obama play fair He's earned the office, Democrats rule now andRepublicans be damned. But we would remind them and Mr. ϊ name="ORIGHIT_7">ϊ name="HIT_7">Obama that this is still a ϊ name="ORIGHIT_8">ϊ name="HIT_8">country. Mr. ϊ name="ORIGHIT_9">ϊ name="HIT_9">Obama, despite his liberal record, nowrepresents all Americans --including the independents, Republicans and Democrats who voted against him. Morning Joe, Tom Brokaw said, Ȫndthis country, even with the election of Barack Obama last night, remains a verycentered country, or maybe even center-right in a lot of places." Helater added, "We still remain a centered country or a center-rightcountry when you look at the geographic distribution": ϋlockquote><pϫROKAW: And this country, even withthe election of Barack Obama last night, remains a very centered country, ormaybe even center-right in a lot of places. There were a lot of people who werecenter-right who crossed over and voted for Barack Obama because they feelbetrayed by what has happened in the last eight years with the theology thatwas preached and then not put into practice by the people who were in office,frankly --JOE SCARBOROUGH co-host: Amen onthat.<pϫROKAW: -- on so many levels. Thewisdom of the American people is always the most heartening thing to me. Youknow, they figured out -- we sit here for two -- almost two years now talkingabout this every day and micromanaging what may happen next. They're taking it in,they're making decisions about what's in the best interest of theirfamily and community and their country, and they made a big investment in thisyoung man. As Peter Hart said, they voted for hope over fear. Because he isstill an untested politician who's coming into one of the worst openingacts I could imagine a president could possibly have....MIKA BRZEZINSKI co-host: TomBrokaw has been fixated on this presidential vote map county-by-county, whichshows the colors even more doppled sic across the country. If you can hold itup.<pϫROKAW: We can show that. I mean --and that's what I was talking about earlier.<pϫROKAW: We still remain a centered countryor a center-right country when you look at the geographic distribution. This iscounty by county. And I think really that what will happen here is that theAmerican people will have to decide whether their statement last night comeswith a compact that they have to make -- with themselves and with thepresidency -- that it's not just a fleeting moment.Just don't give Barack Obamathe job, stand back and say, "OK, pal, what are you going to do forus" Because in this case, it is everybody on deck, all hands on theoars.