The Obama Transformation: Pragmatic Progressivism and the New America

Bill Burton, senior strategist with Priorities USA and former deputy press secretary for Obama Administration

Larry Jacobs, Director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance

Franklin Delano Roosevelt forged the "New Deal" by building a broad coalition of dispossessed workers and farmers. President Barack Obama is building a new Democratic majority by forging a pragmatic progressivism. This new approach opens doors of opportunity to a changing America by reworking the old left-right paradigm of markets versus government, military vigilance versus diplomatic partnering, and impartiality versus affirmative action. Longtime Obama adviser Bill Burton discusses America's new directions under President Obama.

Bill Burton is a senior strategist with Priorities USA Action and Priorities USA, political organizations focused on advancing policies and candidates that provide the strongest and most sound outcomes for middle class families.  Most recently, Burton served as deputy press secretary at the White House under President Barack Obama. He was among the first hires on the Obama for America campaign, where he was national press secretary.  In the 2006 electoral cycle, Burton worked as communications director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee under the direction of Rep. Rahm Emanuel in a year when Democrats won a historic number of seats to retake the majority in the House. Before that, Burton was Iowa communications director for the Gephardt presidential campaign and then the Midwestern communications director on the Kerry for President campaign. Burton worked on Capitol Hill for Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and former Minnesota Congressman Bill Luther.  Burton is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He currently resides in Washington, D.C.

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