Opinion: It’s time for Obama to redefine his presidency
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President Obama’s jobs speech Thursday evening will give him the opportunity to ‘draw bright lines’ so that Americans know what he stands for -- other than compromise. In a column about Obama’s new tone, Doyle McManus points out that Obama has also become the president of ‘yes, buts.’
Yes, federal spending needs to come down, but not yet; yes, some regulations are bad, but not all regulations. His positions are sensible, but complex; the Republican message -- hammering on the president’s failings — is much simpler.
Of course, it hasn’t been an all-out Obummer. Obama’s just not very good at touting his achievements.
The biggest surprise of Obama’s presidency, especially after his brilliant 2008 campaign, has been what a poor politician he turned out to be once in office, especially after the wind turned against him. Perhaps his biggest shortcoming has been his failure to sell his achievements. He gave most voters a massive tax cut, but then neglected to tout it, leaving many recipients unaware they’d gotten it. His healthcare law included something most voters wanted -- access to insurance for people with preexisting conditions -- but he didn’t highlight the change.
Bright lines aside, what do readers want from our president? A few share on our discussion board:
A departure from the blame game
I’m glad the President is finally coming around to some better ideas to help our economy instead of continuing to play the blame game.
Sure he came in at a bad time, but he had a chance to make some positive changes. Instead... The Obamacare bill, extreme federal spending when we couldn’t afford it, catering to Europe’s banks and America’s biggest corporations, when he should have been focusing on our real problems, have wrecked the economy.
Obama’s current environment, including the threats of socialism, high taxes on small businesses and the Dream Act (letting millions of illegals compete for our jobs) are keeping stocks bad and businesses wary of investing in growth and more employees.
Hopefully, this isn’t just a stab at raising his rating and we’re finally going to see the change he touted about to get elected. He needs to stop blaming Republicans and start working with them to get some positive changes in Washington, or we’re going to end up with a lot more Republicans voted in next year.
--theboom13
Results
Results matter. The only party less productive than Obama has been the congress. They’re mostly a bunch of corporate shills, regardless of D or R label. We have a bought congress and it’s time all of the sycophants commenting on this board wake up and pull your heads out.
You’re being used.
--trust no one
Leadership
If the Labor Day speech was the President’s new tone, he’s again just passing off blame on others. He is the chief executive, and if he lacks the leadership to enact his ideas, it is his demonstrated lack of ability. Beyond that, we can’t keep spending money we don’t have on programs that have already been proven to not work. If the President wishes to accomplish, he needs to roll back the massive government regulatory machine that stifles progress and employment.
--TimBowman
Acceptance
So, you admit that this is a political (vs. policy) speech designed to get himself re-elected. Shame on him. Joint sessions of Congress should not be cheapened so. When the GOP won the House in 2010, the POTUS failed to give it the respect it deserves. The House controls the purse of the U.S. govt. All the tantrums in the world are not going to change that simple fact.
--rat.race.escapee
And what do Obama’s supporters want?
For Obama to be heard
How can Obama have a new tone if no one hears it?
--hilo de Pancho Villa
For Republicans to stop driving up unemployment numbers
Republicans do nothing but campaign, attacking the president, running the economy into the ground and doing everything they can to keep the unemployment numbers high. That is no way to win an election.
--ScootWalker
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