"Principles should trump partisanship and personality"

John Nichols - Progressives should, of course, thank White House press secretary Robert Gibbs for the small favor of distinguishing the Obama administration from the left.

Principle progressives should be at odds with the Obama administration on issues of principle: Afghanistan, marriage equality, renewing civil liberties protections and the economic justice agenda on which this White House has so frequently pulled its punches. On all of these issues, Obama and his aides have adopted stances too similar to those of former President George Bush and his aides.

Principles should trump partisanship and personality.

　

There are plenty of cheerleaders in politics -- from White House press secretaries to pundits and precinct captains.

　

What we need are more people who speak truth to power -- on the left and the right. Read more.