Netroots Nation: Progressive Bloggers Challenge Obama's Record

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer defended the Obama administration's record today before a gathering of progressive bloggers that charged the president has reneged on his campaign promises.

At the annual Netroots Nation convention in Minneapolis, Pfeiffer sought to deflect criticisms about Obama's record on LGBT rights, the war in Afghanistan and the extension of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

Moderator Kaili Joy Gray, a contributing editor for the Daily Kos blog, warned that Obama's base is eroding as he seemingly dodges the issues that energized voters who initially elected him.

We're all Democrats, and we understand the importance of making sure Democrats are in power, she said. But they might not turn out in the same way that they did in 2008.

For his part, Pfeiffer acknowledged frustration with some of the decisions made by the Obama administration but maintained that the administration had accomplished an historic amount despite Congressional obstructionism. When he mentioned the administration's push for the Lily Ledbetter Act, which protects workers against wage discrimination, Gray replied that progressives were tired of being offered that example.

Pfeiffer also fielded questions criticizing Obama's failure to explicitly back gay marriage or a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and his failure to advance legislation to address climate change or overhaul the immigration system. Pfeiffer repeatedly fell back on the defense that although Obama has been less than hoped for, he is better than the alternative.

I would not begrudge a single person who feels strongly about this for being upset with the president about it, Pfeiffer said in response to a question about Obama's foot-dragging on LGBT rights.

But what I can promise you is that if someone else is president, all those other things are going to go away.