It's okay to be a Netroots nutter

Netroots Nation, a consortium of progressive political activists, is holding its annual convention this week, as the media - hoping for a cat fight - keeps reminding us. Netroot views (which are too often brassbound) do not reflect the thinking of most mainstream Democrats. Yet its voice tends to be the loudest and most influential in the political press. As a result, pundits too often conflate their positions on the issues with rank and file Dems. The Netrooters are an important base for Obama, but his fate (thank God) does not hinge on their undying love. Besides, Democrats know that in the end, who they gonna vote for? Sarah Palin? I often complain about the whining these folks are famous for engaging in. But to be fair, there's another side to the coin. Appearing on MSNBC's Hardball, Daily Beast writer Michelle Goldberg perceptively observed: "It's the job of activists to ask for too much. It's their job to push [Obama] further than he is inclined to go." She's right. I'll keep calling out the Netroots nutters when they go over the top. But that doesn't mean I want them to stop trying.