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A Further Perspective
He Won’t Be Moving to the Center
File it under the “do ducks swim…babies crawl” category.
President Obama told students in India that the 2010 election “requires me to make some midcourse corrections and adjustments,” but Americans are wondering whether he really understands that voters rejected his policies in the early-November midterm elections. Instead of acknowledging that his policies are behind the defeat, the president blames “faulty communication,” as though the election massacre were just a public relations miscue. Even Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post scoffed at the president’s claim that the public “failed to grasp” the reasons for his actions because he didn’t explain “clearly enough.” Other Democrats question the president’s “act of contrition” and acknowledge that the hard part will be to actually change direction and move to the center. Many Democrats believe such changes are impossible because the president has alienated many of his closest political allies. “He’s isolated himself from virtually every group that matters in American politics,” reported Politico. Those close enough to receive White House invitations complain that those prestigious, and formerly personal, visits are now nothing more than campaign events where guests are kept behind the ropes or never even see the president.
As the saying goes, with friends like these, who needs enemies? Even Congressional Democrats blame the president for the “shellacking” the party suffered in losing the House to the GOP. They see a “tone deaf” and “distant” president who is “inattentive” and runs a “hapless political operation.” Some Democrats get highly personal in describing their president’s “holier-than-thou” attitudes and posturing. On November 8, Politico reported, “Many Democrats privately say they are skeptical that Obama is self-aware enough to make the sort of dramatic changes they feel are needed — in his relations with other Democrats or in his very approach to the job.” This view is supported by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-California) refusal to step aside for new leadership and her public assertions of pride at their “historic achievements.”
In short, few people see a humbled Obama; instead, they see a man who “learned the wrong lessons.”
The Obama administration’s inability to cope with the grave implications of the Democrats’ “stinging defeat” at the ballot box was summed up by two who survived the onslaught, Reps. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and Peter DeFazio of Oregon. As reported by ABC’s “The Note,” they wrote: “Following the loss of our majority, we should fully understand the causes of our historic losses before we begin the process of rebuilding. If we do not to learn from our losses we will remain in the minority until we do learn.”
More and more observers are concluding that the president is incapable of understanding the reasons for the public repudiation of his policies; further, they think he is unable to learn the lessons of 2010.
In an editorial closely scrutinizing President Obama’s trip to India, the Washington Times characterized the trip as an announcement of “the decline of the United States as an economic power.” Mr. Obama, according to the Washington Times, “ignores the fact that it was American invention, innovation and competitive spirit that gave the country its economic pre-eminence in the first place. Rather than lecturing Americans to get in the game, he would do better to reverse the anti-business political climate he has helped foster.” Further, the Times wrote, the president “has never been comfortable with American global pre-eminence.” The Times summarized their analysis:
In place of liberty, [Mr. Obama] substitutes redistributionist notions of social justice. Rather than a single American nation, he institutionalizes differences for political gain. Instead of patriotism and pride, he promotes internationalism and guilt. America’s decline is not the result of historical forces out of our control, but of condemning the history that brought the United States to its position of leadership. America will only resurge when it recaptures the moral image of the country as a land of individualism, opportunity and patriotism. That is an America Mr. Obama would rather do without.
Ben Shapiro, in a Creator’s Syndicate article, describes recent photos of President Obama as alarming, “They depict a man boiling over with rage. Have we ever witnessed a U.S. President so pugnacious, so incensed and inflamed by his own people?” Answering his own question, Shapiro declares that we are not the president’s people; instead he sees Obama following his mother’s isolation. His mother, according to Shapiro, “reinforced and celebrated their misfit status” and did not socialize with other Americans in Indonesia when Barack was a boy because “they are not my people.” In addition to all of the non-American, “hate-America” people who had influence on the president during his formative years, Shapiro also notes the socialists and other “hate-America” mentors that the president chose as his friends and associates later in life. America’s supposed decline, Shapiro believes, is for our president — in accordance with all he was taught by his hate-mongering pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright — a matter of the “chickens coming home to roost.”
Clearly, the election of 2010 was a rejection of Mr. Obama’s ideology and agenda — a matter of the president’s chickens coming home to roost. The Obama presidency — with its anti-exceptionalism, anti-capitalist, anti-freedom emphases — is a wake-up call for America. The president’s rhetoric may continue to resonate with those who want big-government solutions to all of their wants and needs, but if we have learned nothing else, we now know that our nation will survive and thrive only with a fully informed and actively engaged electorate who can tell the difference between truthful analyses of the challenges facing America today and mere demagoguery about “enemies” and divisive appeals to emotion.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (28) | Leave a comment
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ggoblue| 11.11.10 @ 6:36AM
it will be easy to expose faux "moderate" democrats in 2012. when you get them in debate simply ask weather or not they intend to vote for the re-election of barak obama. some will say yes but some will say no. this man will destroy the democratic party unless they get rid of him.
Appleby| 11.11.10 @ 7:12AM
Obama only learned one side of the story, and if he learned that from his Mama, he is very unlikely to deviate an iota, because that would mean saying Mama was Wrong.
I have heard it said (most recently by former race driver Jacques Villeneuve, who knows it firsthand) that when something very traumatic happens to a child, he remains at that level until he has dealt with that trauma. Only then can he move on. If anybody were allowed to know the truth about Obamas family background, one would soon discover something wrong happened when Obama was just finishing high school, and until he deals with that (and revealing it would be a good start), expecting him to move on is useless.
Of course, Daddy would have said, *Ignorance can be cured. Stupidity goes on forever.*
USSAlabama| 11.11.10 @ 9:00AM
It is true about being stuck at that level of mental development, I only disagree in that it would have been earlier. Probably between 9 - 12 due to the level of narcissism.
Curly Smith| 11.11.10 @ 7:19AM
I'm a bit puzzled by the notion that Obama's policies are behind the defeat. AFAIK, Obama's roll in ObamaCare was signing the bill, Congress wrote the odious legislation; Obama's role in the Economic Stimulus was signing the bill, Congress wrote the odious legislation; Obama's role in the BP disaster is rightly described as "faulty communication" because there was largely nothing that he could do and every time he opened his yap he said the wrong things.
In other words, Obama has no real policies. When he hasn't been the tail wagging the Congressional dog he's been implementing a far-left agenda that is part and parcel of the Democratic Party agenda. The ideas aren't his, they're 100 years old for Obamas sake!, so why should he accept any responsibility or blame? It's not like he's really in charge.
coal carrier| 11.11.10 @ 8:30AM
Sounds like the Nazi’s at Nuremberg. They were only soldiers following orders. He knows exactly what he is doing.
Steve G| 11.11.10 @ 7:48AM
Curly,
Do you mean that when Obama stood in front of a joint session of Congress and told all of the assembled senators and representatives, as well as a nationally televised audience, what was in "his" health care bill he was not being truthful as he had no bill.
davelnaf| 11.11.10 @ 7:51AM
Obama will continue to be the gift that keeps on giving to people who earnestly desire to see the country righted (literally). He may find it within himself to move to the center. But if he does not it is still a win-win situation for the country. One almost pities the saner Democrats contemplating what this president might do to their party. Almost, that is.
martin j smith| 11.11.10 @ 8:01AM
Get ready for the next phase of "political war fare for it will be a doozy". This is my best guess based on observation fo Obama and various commentators such as Rush L. The issue of wether BHO gets has been answered in his foreign adventures so far. No, he will not move to the center--an if he did--give me a pill quick !!!!!!!!!!./
I agree with these premises about BHO:
He hates the fundamentals of this nation's politcal basis--Free Market Capitalism and the Constitution.
He despises the American People even those who agree with him ( except for his closest politcal allies )
He is a racist,bigot and a thug--he fits the mould of a dictator of some foreign country--he does not act like a president of the United States.
BHO does want to destroy this country and purposely acts in ways that sabotage economic recovery. He sets foreign policy in a direction that supports anti-democratic ideals.
It is imperative that many of his behaviors and policies should be investigated. And, If he ignores our view of what the election means then really watch him for unconstitional behaviors going outside of the elected politcal process to get his agenda thru.,
It will be necessary to monitor the behavior of all politicians-regardless of party--who supports our country--and who does not.
It is important to identify all those foreign financiers who influence our political landscape --such as George Soros.
This will be a politcal battle that could very well end up in the streets. I sincerely hope that those forces that we voted for understand this and are ready nip quickly nip trouble in the bed --before they get out of hand( The UK student riots, Greece- and lets not forget Paris ) should be lessons to be learned-not emulated.
This is a very scary time and speaking of uncertainty-there is a lot of that. We will need very brave and morally sound leaders.
No, BHO will not govern from the center.
He will feint here and there but in the end--far left is who he is abnd where he will go.
And, most importantly you cannot negotiate with him except under these conditions: " Speak softly, but carry a big stick".
Deborah D | 11.11.10 @ 8:18AM
He won't move to the center, and really, is there any compromise with a leftist?
"In any compromise between food and poison it is only death that can win. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit." Ayn Rand
coal carrier| 11.11.10 @ 8:40AM
We can rid ourselves of Obama in 2012. The problem is what do we do about all of the characters left behind in the shadows that we do not get to vote for. And of course the organizations that have funded this regime from the start. They will not be going away. Including the puppet master.
Louis Jenkins| 11.11.10 @ 8:47AM
Could you see Obama meeting with the common everyday people of this nation? Like A. Lincoln did? I cannot. Even though he wants to be like Lincoln? The author hit the nail on the head. The American people are not his people. We might as well have three heads and six limbs. Obama's people are the close friends around him, and every SE asian, or African. A foreigner lives in our White House. Obama my pay lip service to the center, but forget it.
Helen| 11.11.10 @ 8:48AM
I am weary of the speculation on the early roots of Obama's madness. I no longer care why our President hates America. It is enough that he does.
Oldefarte| 11.11.10 @ 9:37AM
Some [but unfortionately not enough] of us generally recognized Obama's disguised personae long before November 2008; and the latestest elections demonstrate that now, many more citizen-voters are truly aware of same. The sad sad shame of it all is that he has been granted the political power of the most important job in the world, and the potential damage that he can render is unlimited [for the next two years at least]!!!!!
Rmm| 11.11.10 @ 9:40AM
I'm with you Helen. How many ways can one express their dislikes and the reasons behind them. For me though, the O is like a head ache that won't go away.
Old Joe| 11.11.10 @ 10:19AM
None of Obama’s actions should come as a surprise to anyone who did the minimal research that a citizen should do before voting for a President. His books clearly pointed out that he sought the company of Marxist and black radicals. Everyone knew he had a Muslim background. We all knew that for 20 years he attended a church that hates America. His record showed that he had never had a job. We all knew he started his political career in the home of an American terrorist. And yet sane, educated, hard working Americans voted for this man. What were they thinking? Everything he has done and said and everything he does and says from this point forward should be of no surprise to anyone. He will not move to the center because it would go against his core beliefs. Remember his interview where he said something to the effect that he would rather be a “good” one term President that a two term President that did not accomplish much. He feels he can destroy America in just one term and he may be correct. And you can blame the Democrat Party for giving us Obama helping him accomplish his goals.
One final thought. Think about our last two Democrat Presidents. The first was an absolute sleaze-ball who slimed the presidency. The second is a narcissist who doesn’t understand the difference between good and evil. They have one thing in common; they came from broken homes with no real father figure and an unstable mother. Next time can we elect an All American with a background of family stability, please?
Shamus| 11.11.10 @ 1:46PM
Will Obama be moving to the center?
Does Dolly Parton sleep on her stomach?
Does the Pope work Sunday?
Are bears using our national parks as toilets?
Did King Mausolus have a snazzy burial plot?
Is hurling an Irish sport?
Redstateboy| 11.11.10 @ 5:11PM
We elected a guy who relates to the Temptations: "Papa was a rolling stone"
the guy's frig'd in the head.. and he's the CIC???!!
eric john | 11.11.10 @ 5:49PM
I have no idea , i m nervous
obama
Beer for My Horses| 11.11.10 @ 6:19PM
No, he won't be moving the center, but he will be moving out of the White House in about two years.
Michael L. Hauschild| 11.11.10 @ 6:35PM
Move to the center, hardly. Here is how his stident progressivism will manifest itself first.
Obama is portrayed as a class warfare advocate of the highest order, in reality he is a distributionist in the stealth “means and needs” doctrine. He wants all to pay and only portends care for the middle class. He will use the veto threat to get the Republicans to capitulate to temporary extensions and biding time to close the session claim it was not enough. He will then throw the middle class under the bus, and blame partisanship from the other side of the aisle for the “tax increases.” He wants the money, he wants it from the middle class wages, he wants it from the “rich,” he wants it in the form of non-income (sales, ect.) from the forty seven percent of households that are exempt. He wants most to blame “tax increases” on the legislature, the moderate democrats and the Republicans. He does not even have to say a word, a pocket veto is all he needs. The scope is vast and the blame for the hikes so encompassing that he will “share” responsibility but hope to survive on the forty seven percent that do not pay. The blame can be spun, distributed, and divested by marching orders to the media.
His base in the legislature is firm; the veto will not be over ridden since the ideological shift is actually leftist in the remaining members.
chris| 11.11.10 @ 7:37PM
not that he needs it, but we should encourage the democrats to stay on the obama/pelosi/reid course. this will further alienate most sensible americans from the democrats, and will give us more conservative victotries in the 2012 elections. by encourage i do not mean to compromise our principles to support their agenda, we should just acknowledge that obama et.al. are so much smarter and we are not smart enough to understand.
we do not want obama to learn as clinton did in 1994 and adopt the republicans' agenda. clinton listened to dick morris, and was lucky enough to run against bob dole (a moderate who would not attack clinton) and won.
we want obama out in 2012. let him keep doing what he wants. he is so much smarter than the rest.
BillO| 11.12.10 @ 3:15PM
I don't believe Obama wants to "destroy America". From his point of view, he is "saving" America. He really believes that he was destined for this. "Good" for him means "for your own good, America" in a sort of paternalistic way. He isn't seeking to destroy, but to make better. Now, what he believes to be better is not at all better. What he is doing is, in fact, crippling the American people (who, by the way, are the ones who run businesses, work in factories, write software, and so on) and our ability to manage our own affairs while helping the needy, protecting our environment, and STILL growing a future for our children. He really doesn't believe we can do that without the guidance of "experts" and altruistic elites. He's a snob who doesn't realize he's a snob.
Occam's Tool| 11.12.10 @ 4:45PM
Barack the Chosen
Rejected by His Betters
No Ears to Listen
The Underwearinator| 11.12.10 @ 7:25PM
Your a rasist!
Skippy| 11.13.10 @ 5:02PM
And you're an English Lit. major.
WAKE UP| 11.14.10 @ 4:59PM
Actually, I think Obama doesn't even understand how he got elected. It probably just seemed like a good idea to him.
Rowdy Boots| 2.27.11 @ 10:58AM
Look, People,
It is clear, although many say Obama is a "brilliant" man and that he is "really smart", what I see is the IGNORANCE OF THE AGE.
This third-rate President is so far from SMART, that he is dangerous to all of us. If the media does not stop calling him so "brilliant" I will throw up.
Even I would have made a better President and that is really scary information.
THIS MAN IS AN ARROGANT ASS.
I am not in the habit of insulting my President, but when he was elected I gave in and said "ok, he is now my president, I will give him a year to prove he can do the job..."
YOU SEE HOW THAT TURNED OUT.
ROWDY BOOTS