Presidents come to the job with a kitbag of personal strengths and weakness that together determine, in part, their effectiveness on the job. President Obama stands high in many of the core characteristics of a successful President. He has a clear vision of what he wants to do, a moral compass that guides his actions, is a strategic thinker who listens to various sides of an argument, and is not subject to emotional distractions. So far so good, you may say. But this President has shown to have an Achilles Heel as well, one which precludes his ability to leverage his strengths to lead America through these troubled times.
During the presidential campaign, Sarah Palin made the observation that she had more leadership experience as a town mayor than Obama would have ever gained as a community organizer. The observation seemed politically self-serving at the time; in retrospect she may have been on to something big.
In his seminal text, Presidential Power, Richard E. Neustadt addresses the means by which the chief executive can put his stamp on public policy in the readily stalemated American political system. To do so the President has to assertively use the powers of his office to build and maintain public support, and to hone a reputation among fellow policymakers as a skilled, determined political operator.
No one doubted Lyndon Johnson’s ability to close the deal, and Ronald Reagan’s ability to mold public opinion was second to none. George W. Bush, despite his poor public speaking skills, marshaled broad public and legislative support for a pre-emptive strike in Iraq.
In contrast, President Obama has allowed the right to define the public agenda time and time again. Rather than build on his considerable accomplishments to instill American confidence in his leadership, he has sat quietly on the sidelines as the airwaves are pummeled with stories over federal death panels, the rising threat of illegal immigration, European socialism and the like. Instead of driving home the impact of his stimulus program on limiting job losses, he has allowed the program to be characterized as a failure and eroded requisite public and political support for further economic injections. In his dealings with Congress he has alienated many Democratic supporters, making more difficult the job of the House and Senate leadership to move legislation.
To be sure, the President will take to road to build up political support over the coming months but it will likely be viewed as the very politicking that he promised to rise above when running for office. Cool and poised to a fault, and uncomfortable in the often bruising political ring, President Obama has failed to live up the promise of leadership that engaged so many voters.
Winning the White House without even a plurality of voter support, George Bush was quick to speak about and act on his ‘mandate’ for change. President Obama, elected to office by a significant voter majority, seems to lack the will to lead and fight for the principles that propelled him into office. His popularity has plummeted along with prospects for maintaining a Democratic legislative majority. Whether he has the fight in him to preserve is problematical.
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