But he believed that the "left" were sophisticated enough to understand his strategy without explanation. Well, the "left" is no more sophisticated than the rest of America. They don't see nuance or strategy or tactics - they see in black and white - like the rest of America. They don't see the move to the middle as a strategy to win an election, they see it as a mirror to the soul of Barack Obama and the permanent position that he will also govern with. They don't see it as a political "strategy".

For better or worse, Barack Obama has decided that he will shut off the attacks on his patriotism, on the issue of guns, on the death penalty, on national security, and even on abortion, by playing to the middle. This is terribly disturbing to the "sophisticated" left. Why couldn't he simply have refused to put on the lapel pin? Why couldn't he simply say that we have to keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals? Why couldn't he simply say that he opposes the death penalty? And why did he have to take a position on late-term abortions??

Perhaps he saw a weakness in the Republican Party this year that could be exploited? He is smart enough to know the usual suspect issues that has been used against every Democrat for the last 30 years. Thus far, it has worked from a purely political standpoint. Obama has successfully answered all the questions about his patriotism and his religion and the Republicans and John McCain are left with nothing except to attack him from a personal level. He's a "flip-flopper". He is "untrustworthy". He's a "typical politician". Etc...etc...

But he expected too much from his supporters on the left. He expected them to understand the necessity to go to the middle, in order to defeat the Republican machine. So far, the "sophisticated" and knowledgeable "left" have not accepted his tactics. Under pressure, they are no different than the rest of America. They look at issues in basic black and white.