Last week, I wrote about Barack Obama’s February 5th speech at the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference. Instead of using this opportunity to inspire the House Democrats to reach out to the Republicans, the President lauded their partisan work. He also ridiculed anyone who dared to have an opposing view. I am not giving up on Obama, but he promised us exactly the opposite of this type of behavior. Though alarming, that which I covered on in the Obama Condoning Politics as Usual post was not my biggest concern. Here is the quote that bothered me the most:
If we do not move swiftly to sign the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, an economy that is already in crisis will be faced with catastrophe. … This is the assessment of the best economists in the country. This is the assessment of some of the former advisers of some of the same folks who are making these criticisms right now…. Millions more Americans will lose their jobs. Homes will be lost. Families will go without health care. Our crippling dependence on foreign oil will continue. That is the price of inaction.
This strikes me as intellectually dis-honest. By inference, Obama is implying that the version of the bill that the House passed is so obviously right for the country and that quick passage is so obviously necessary that every expert agrees. Anyone who so much wants to discuss it is causing extreme hardship to Americans. Don’t you see the dangerous irony in this? Isn’t this the same myopic and stubborn thinking that caused our country to jump head first into Iraq?
I believe I am open minded, have a good head on my shoulders, and genuinely want President Obama to lead us to economic prosperity. I believe aggressive but wrong actions might deepen the downturn’s severity while prolonging its duration. I view the economic problem as extremely complex and the form of solution as anything but obvious. I find it a bit too coincidental that the massive government spending on programs that the left-wing Democrats would want to fund in ANY economic climate so happen to be the solution to our current ills.
Nonetheless, President Obama’s comments leave little room for thoughtful analysis and legitimate debate. The answer so obviously lies in the House bill that all experts agree, or so the President tells us. And the experts universally concur that we must act immediately. President Obama might believe this, but to tell us that it is so obvious that every expert concurs with him is not honest and not responsible. It makes me wonder whether President Bush left his blinders to the new President.
Mr. President–why not use your great communication skills to explain the risk and perils that are inherent in a massive spending bill? Instead of telling us that it is so simple and basic that every expert agrees, seek out those who have legitimate questions and concerns and hear them out. Genuinely consider if a more bi-partisan approach would result in better outcome. That is what you promised you’d do. I am only asking you to live up to your words.
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Live up to your words? Unfortunately, that is a foreign concept to most politicians. So is accountability. The next 3-5 years will be very interesting for the USA.