Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama is defending himself against charges that he is either "flip-flopping" or moving to the center. While the "flip-flopping" charges should be easily dismissed as they accept a rightwing frame, they are persistent in media coverage of the Obama campaign. Potentially more damaging to Obama are criticisms from the left in recent weeks that highlight Obama's move to the right on issues such as trade, Iraq, gun control, and the death penalty.

In response to these charges, Obama said:

"Let me, first of all, talk about the broader issue, this whole notion that I am shifting to the center or that I'm flip-flopping or this or that or the other. You know, the people who say this apparently haven't been listening to me... I've been organizing with churches for years in the community. And so, the notion that somehow that's me trying to look like I'm, you know, more centered, more centrist, is just not true... Don't assume that if I don't agree with you on something, that it must be because I'm doing that politically. I may just disagree with you."

While Obama's statement rejects the notion to that he is moving to the center, it should also serve as a reminder that he still has a long way to go on several issues of importance to progressives, liberals, and radicals. In order to get there, he is going to need to be pressured and held accountable.