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Obama, The Leader

6/10/2011

 
I recently read an op-ed that Obama was a lousy leader. He was a nice guy you’d like to have at your barbeque, careful not to offend anyone, but he wasn’t a leader.

The piece went on to describe how leaders have to make decisions that sometimes step on people’s toes, but Obama by contrast seems weak, indecisive, and slow-to-act.

This is not the first time I have heard this complaint, but it makes me wonder: if Obama is making so many upset by being indecisive, perhaps he is a leader after all – a leader of a different sort, maybe? Perhaps he is being an example for the rest of us, forging the way towards being thoughtful, measuring twice and cutting once, and looking before he leaps.

Maybe he’s actually doing exactly what he always wanted to do, but the situation requires grace, finesse, and patience. Then again, perhaps the situation requires confusion. This may be why he sometimes seems to send out mixed signals. Maybe he’s playing a deeper game, and he’s not doing what we think he’s doing.

I don’t know. I just know that Obama doesn’t seem all that indecisive to me, and he does at times seem offensive. At least he offends me. He doesn’t strike me as the type that tries to avoid stepping on other people’s toes at all. I’m not sure I’d want him at my barbeques, either – if I had any.

Not all people who oppose Obama fit the same mold. Some dislike him because he seems indecisive, while others oppose him because of the decisions he has made. The world is a complex place, filled with all types, so don’t be quick to judge where people are coming from. This is yet another reason that describing where people fall on the political spectrum is a tricky, and probably counterproductive, task.

Ana Well link
6/10/2011 10:41:08 pm

I like Obama's leadership! He is diferent tip of leader, btw world is going forward and I think Obama is modern leader up to date.

Kirk
6/11/2011 03:50:32 am

I've never thought of Obama as indecisive or not a leader. Actually I quite admire his demeanor and articulation of his thoughts, especially compared to the previous President. I don't always agree with Obama. Often I'm angry that he and other Democrats don't seem to stand firm on liberal policies and appear as total wusses. I voted for someone I thought was going to represent a progressive agenda. To me, and admittedly I'm much more liberal than most Americans these days, the Democrats are now middle of the road Republicans of a decade or two ago and the Conservatives (and a most of the public) has moved so far to the right that they only existed as a fringe element before Reagan. I even see this in Church. When I was growing up, the priest and ministers seemed to talk much more about helping the poor and underprivileged. Now it seems that church is more like a party-event for the political social conservatives that just want to tell people how to live and take away other people's freedoms. Sometimes I feel like I'm one step away from the Christian Taliban completely running this country.
In any case, I've gone way off topic and I apologize for that. What I really wanted to point out is that it's curious to me that people are saying they wouldn't mind having Obama over to their barbeque but not as a leader. (Also, I have to say this is the first place I've heard that statement about Obama.) I know that a common refrain about Bush (Jr.) when he was in office is that he's a really nice guy, someone you'd enjoy having a beer with, but definitely not someone you want as President.
Forgetting for the moment whether you agree or disagree with this statement, what do these comments say? Are they insidious passive-aggressive statements meant to attack without appearing to, or are they mixed emotions that say I don't like this guy's policies but I really can say there is any heat behind it. It's not personal. Or is there heat behind these statements but still a deep infusion of respect for the office of the Presidency that most Americans still have that won't let that anger come out as harsh as some talk-radio shock-jocks?

daniel noe link
6/14/2011 12:15:12 pm

Good question.


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