Twenty months into his Presidency, many folks still believe President Obama is a gentleman and a scholar but now question his ability to lead. This administration’s failure to show tangible results on jobs and the economy is a serious problem, for Americans in general and the Democrat Party in particular. With a huge House majority and a filibuster-proof Senate, Democrats have passed massive legislation that shifts unprecedented power into the hands of Federal bureaucrats. The majority of Americans are not comfortable with these policies and many Independents and Democrats are wondering who and what they voted for two years ago.
Good leadership involves far more than reading campaign-like speeches from teleprompters. It requires communicating a coherent vision to gain broad support for effective policies. Instead we’re getting a plethora of multi-thousand paged bills on topics like national health care, auto bailouts, and massive stimulus packages. The recent financial regulations inexplicably ignored the significant role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the housing crisis! Deliberating on weighty issues has become passé. We were told these bills must be passed immediately with no time to even read them!
The administration has adopted “Obama-Speak” to cover their ineffective programs, such as “jobs saved or created.” Remember the Obama mantras, “shovel ready jobs” or “Recovery Summer?” How did those work out? The President’s most consistent response to the economic crisis has been to blame his predecessor, or even the American people. This continued tone of denial doesn’t set well with most Americans. If you drive your car into a ditch, you pull it out, fix it, and keep on going. American ingenuity has done this time and again. But if you push it over the cliff, it’s lost! We’re not off the cliff – yet. Why go there? Vote for a change in November.
Jim Littlejohn
