Principal Obama's Lessons for America

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By Michael Gerson (Archive) · Friday, January 29, 2010

WASHINGTON -- The most revealing congressional reaction following President Obama's State of the Union address came from Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina: "He sort of took us to the principal's office, didn't he?"

And not just Congress, but all of us. The nation's principal was calm but firm. Democrats were scolded for their resemblance to frightened rabbits. Republicans were reprimanded for obstructionism and betraying their responsibility to govern. Washington was rebuked for its partisanship and pettiness. The Supreme Court was taken to task for favoring special interests. The American people were praised for their resilience, and gently chided for their cynicism and misunderstanding of policy. Everyone was left with a pat on the head, a lesson or a detention.

From the text of the speech itself, it was difficult to discern an ideology -- not because of its moderation but because of its contradictions. The president took credit for the stimulus package, demanded another one -- and called for budget restraint. After a year of delaying other legislative priorities in his single-minded pursuit of health reform, Obama challenged Congress on fiscal reform and other matters: "How long should we wait?" Obama attributed the hated bank bailout to his predecessor -- then insisted it had saved the economy, which he chalked up to his own everlasting credit. There were policy proposals along the whole ideological rainbow: tax increases and tax cuts, new spending and a budget freeze, cap-and-trade and oil exploration.

These tensions were reflected in the president's tone. He showed Reagan-like optimism about America's future, and Carter-like worry about America's "deficit of trust" and "deep and corrosive doubts." He urged our politics to get beyond "the same tired battles," while repeatedly returning to those battles in his self-excusing blame of the past. He "will not give up on trying to change the tone of our politics," while making liberal use of partisan sarcasm.

There was only one theme that united all these various arguments and attitudes -- the president's unshakable self-regard. He admits miscalculations, but he is never wrong. He changes his strategy, but not his mind. On health reform: "I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people." If only Obama had made a few more speeches, Americans would have been delivered from their misconceptions. Even Obama's apologies are unapologetic. He is like the job candidate discussing his flaws during an interview: "I have to admit, I work too hard. I'm too detail-oriented."

As should be obvious, I find this attitude grating. I'll take my share of the blame for reacting harshly to politicians who treat citizens as misguided children. Others find Obama's manner mature and reassuring -- convinced the nation needs both president and principal.

I'll also admit that in some important areas Obama is right. He has outlined a reasonable compromise on energy policy: promoting nuclear power, expanding oil and gas exploration and moving toward a cap-and-trade system that helps take America beyond a carbon economy. It is an approach that would eventually reduce the strategic influence of nations such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and Venezuela -- a truly bipartisan goal. And the president is right to push for reform of an immigration system that is economically counterproductive and morally unsustainable.

But the State of the Union raises serious concerns about Obama's economic approach. From either a conservative or liberal economic perspective, his proposals seem timid -- insufficient in scale to encourage a swift return to job creation.

The speech should raise questions among elected Democrats about the quality of Obama's party leadership. Obama used the Democratic majority as a foil. On the uninsured, he said, "I will not walk away from these Americans," implying that less-virtuous Democrats might be tempted. And he offered no path for congressional Democrats out of their health reform maze -- a maze that seems to have no exit. On health care, Obama preened at the expense of his party.

And the speech raises concerns about Obama's capacity to be a unifying national leader. An effective leader usually shares the passions and purposes of his countrymen. Rhetorically, Obama attempts to stand above the political process, above his own party, even above the country. He seems isolated in the tower of his own wisdom and purity. He judges. He lectures. We must strive to be worthy of him, not he of us.

Americans, no doubt, deserve some of Principal Obama's reprimands. But once scolded, will they follow him?

Third-party content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Patriot Post.

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Comments

veritaseequitas

The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, Isaiah 2:17

BO's day is coming.

Posted January 29, 2010 at 6:55:03 AM

jaxhwak

Obama showed NO Reagan-like qualities. Obama's only goal is the redistribution of wealth as his mentor Alinsky proposed through the destruction of the capitalistic system we now have. He is a progressive liberal. And his method for achieving economic "utopia" as envisioned by Marx is to destroy our present system of Capitalism by spending us into bankruptcy, and then replace it with the government being the dominating influence over every aspect of our lives from cradle to grave. No matter what pious platitudes he speaks regarding the fixing of our economy and getting the unemployed back to work. His idea is that we all eventually work for the government not the private sector. He told "JOE THE PLUMBER" that is what he intended to do!

Posted January 29, 2010 at 9:26:04 AM

Marcus

He is still acting like an Alinsky community organizer. It is not an organizer's job to bring the community together except to achieve a singular goal. He's acted true to form, most notably with health scare, and nobody should be suprised by this. It is all he knows!!! His problem is that the United States is not south Chicago. Congress and the states can't be bullied like local politicians. obama is almost 50. it is unlikely that he can be reprogrammed to be a national leader in the next year or two. in my opinion, his moment has come and gone. the opportunity he had to build trust and respect has been squandered.

Posted January 29, 2010 at 9:45:28 AM

Ruth Ann Wilson

I am reminded of Psalm 2:4,5, "He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall HE (GOD) speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure."

God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap."

The END is not yet. God who established this Beloved Country has not "run out" of resources to bring down the high and exalt the low. He is the Creator and the Lord does "rule and reign in the affairs of men" and just at the time, when He will get great Glory to his Glorious Name, He will "settle the score". Be sure your on the Lord's side, for He said, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." It is God that is omnipotent, not mortal man.

IN GOD WE TRUST

For God & Country

Ruth Ann Wilson

Posted January 29, 2010 at 10:59:02 AM

Eileen Pinder

If Obama was a "Constitutional Scholar" he should have received a Failing grade! He had better take our his copy of the Constitution -- if he knows where he can get one -- and read it again -- and again. I only hope that the people of the USA are waking up to Mr. O's underhanded dealings. He is still a "community organizer" and nothing else. He is not my President! And never will be. The night he was elected, I had a premonition that he would bring dishonor to our White House, and he has been doing his best to make that come true!

We have to wake up and smell the roses before we do not even recognize our government!

Posted January 29, 2010 at 11:10:24 AM

Susan

Thank you for your clear and accurate assessment of the self-serving barrage of words we heard from the State of the Union Speech.

How kind of you to find areas in which you agree. HOWEVER: ONE SERIOUS ISSUE you mentioned, with which I DISAGREE, is that ANY FORM of CAP & TRADE would serve any positive purpose! More power to the ever larger government would be certain. The cost to our citizens and damage to Freedom and to the economy FAR outstrip even the wished-for but not provable change in CO2 emissions!

1. There is NO concensus among scientists that CO2 even causes problems.

2. It is NOT in the government's area of responsibility.

3. We step into unsustainable agreements with nations who stand only to gain at our expense, giving away our self determination as a nation!

4. A coal plant now furnishing fuel to consumers at 2.5 cents per unit of measure would go to 17 cents if the cataclismic Cap & Trade went through. THAT MEANS A FAMILY WOULD PAY SEVEN TIMES AS MUCH TO HEAT THEIR HOUSES. I ask, TO WHAT PURPOSE?

Please re-think your stance on this potentially devastating program!

Posted January 29, 2010 at 1:51:51 PM

Anton D Rehling

Lets define where all our elected currently lead by Obama Bin Lyin in their attempts to subvert our freedom need to go. Number one, there is no adjustment that the Democrats or Republicans can make to the so called health care legislation before our congress and senate that meets any true constitutional test. The only legal course is to eliminate this unconstitutional governmental grab at illegal tyrannical power. Our elected have forced us down a path that is being reveled in our protests at Tea Parties, Town Halls and the recent elections in VA, NJ and MA. There is still time for all those pukes in congress and the Senate to fulfill their oath of office and begin acting more like the representatives of the people in a free republic and acting within the limits defined in the constitution instead of what they are doing now acting like dictators in a socialistic tyrannical state. I say get a clue before we are forced to bring out the guillotines.

Posted January 29, 2010 at 6:19:15 PM

Jeffery Thayer

Here is a lesson:

Executive branch concentrate on national security and international relations and get out of the private business sector.

Legislative branch ratify what the Executive branch negotiates.

Judicial branch stand firm and make sure the other two branches don't go off track.

Big government needs to stay out of private business.

Posted January 30, 2010 at 4:11:03 PM

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