President Obama At His Best

In his White House address to the nation last night, President Obama once again returned to the virtues that secured his election in 2008 — moderation, optimism, and a modicum of charity towards those that disagree.  Because the main topic of his address was the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq — a war which President Obama consistently and sometimes harshly opposed — this was an event sown with political land mines.  Would the President use the opportunity to play to the most virulent and hateful elements of the Democratic political base by “bashing Bush”?  The President declined to do so, preferring instead to graciously compliment Mr. Bush’s patriotism at the same time he acknowledged their strong differences on the war itself.

In doing so, the President was, well, presidential.  He displayed an ability to acknowledge good will among those that disagree with him that is almost entirely absent in the political commentators that dominate his party’s message as well as that of Republicans.

As we move forward to address the economic issues that the President highlighted as the next great struggle for the United States, it is quite unlikely that many will rally to the President’s call for greater moderation and tolerance.  In a White House largely run by the likes of Rahm Emanuel, it is even doubtful that the White House will honor the President’s message in its political behavior.  And with an extraordinarily difficult election season approaching, many Democrats and their supporters have already strongly signaled their intention to pursue “scorched earth” politics against any and all on the other side.  We will likely continue to hear outraged tall tales of how Republicans all want to starve and murder the poor while burning crosses made out of endangered trees.  Most Republicans are hardly likely to be any better.

But the President’s message was a welcome note of charity before the coming storm of political hatred.