It has been very interesting watching American political discourse after Obama’s inauguration from the comforts of the United Kingdom. I think that its just beginning to sink in to most people in America that Obama is not the mythical superhero that he portrayed himself to be during the Decision 2008 election assault course, but he is in fact (shock horror) a politician.
Let me add that I believe he is a very good politician, but you wouldn’t have known it listening to US cable chatter and ideological blogs. The fact that both sides of the isle have something against this man draws me to make the conclusion that there is something odd about Obama.
The Republicans have been beating the long warn fear drum on issues such as national security (“Obama will let terrorists into you’re neighbourhood”), social issues (“Obama will kill you’re babies”), religious issues (“Obama is a closet muslim”) and patriotism (“Why does he apologise for America so much”).
What the republicans forget is that right about now, almost six months into his presidency, Obama has not strayed too far from the ideological ‘conservative’ values on security such as using military force sparingly, using all diplomatic options available to you and defending your self when necessary. Obama has managed to revive America’s diplomatic arm with incredible ease that I am left to ask the question, what did Condi Rice actually do during her time as Secretary of State?
I also believe that Obama’s Cairo speech has done more for America’s security than anything the previous two occupants of the Oval Office ever accomplished. You could make the argument that the speech encouraged the young people of Iran to gather in great numbers and vote in their own national elections with enormous pride. You have to ask yourself the question; would we be seeing the extraordinary scenes in Iran if Obama did not give that speech? A speech which many ‘conservatives’ deem un-American because of its positive tone towards the Islamic people who came to represent the enemy during the past eight years.
It is also interesting that Obama has drawn such harsh criticism from his own flank of the party. There are some who accuse Obama of being too centrist and not liberal enough (the irony is too much for me to handle sometimes).
This is a president who has passed legislation for fair pay (Ledbetter), healthcare for children and has put into action the closing down of Gitmo. Let’s also not forget that he has managed to pass an astronomical stimulus bill (a bill which I thought the Republicans had every right to scrutinise) and has a real chance passing a historical healthcare bill. Did I mention that he has only been in office six months?
It is also said that Obama wants to tackle energy reform, immigration reform and education reform all in his first term, so I understand why he is keeping away from the hot button, divisive social issues which disabled the first Clinton term.
I find just as incredibly short sighted that many liberal activists have started to sharpen their knives for Obama after only six months. Liberal blogs who mocked the right claiming that conservative voters have almost become single issue activists can be accused of the very same crime today. The left have lost sight of the long game and have reverted to the short sighted political gains which have guided republicans to their downfall today.
As I said in the introduction, Obama truly seems like a breath of fresh air. A change if you will.
But a leopard is a leopard and Obama is a politician. He may not be the ideological yang to the Conservative Reagan Ying but he is an extremely fascinating public figure, not because of his much publicised life story, or the historical nature of his presidency but I truly believe that he could be the first moderate president America has had since George Herbert Walker Bush. Only time will tell whether his moderate nature is a gift or a curse.
