photo: New York Daily News On a show broadcast on Sunday, President Obama graded his first eleven months in the White House. Speaking to Oprah Winfrey, he gave himself a “good, solid B-plus."
When the President said that passage of Health Care Reform would improve that grade, he missed the point. If Healthcare is one of the major (if not the major) initiatives of his Presidency, doesn’t failure to pass it at this point constitute a failure? It could pass, of course, and that will change the situation, but until such time, doesn’t he deserve at best an “Incomplete” on Healthcare?
Further, with President Obama’s commitment of 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, it is fair to say (and it has been said) that this war now becomes “his,” and this major initiative also remains Incomplete.
Eleven months into his term, I would argue that everything is now “his.” No more blaming the previous administration for bills in the bottom drawer or mistaken policy decisions. The buck stops with Obama.
Once upon a time, the President taught at the University of Chicago, and I can’t imagine Professor Obama would objectively reward 10% unemployment with a B+. If so, I wish I had taken his course!
I can’t help but wonder if the President’s ego and/or enthusiasm is getting the better of him. Just as the Nobel committee rewarded him for promise and potential, he seems to be grading himself on his hopes and dreams for America rather than on actual accomplishment. As Dr. Curt Connors said to Peter Parker in the movie Spider-Man 2, “Planning is not a major at this university.”
Speaking politically, it was foolish of the President to give himself a high grade with the economy the way it is. He just handed fodder to his opponents. He would have been better off tacitly acknowledging that Americans are worried, hurting, and concerned. He could have said “You know, Oprah, some of the things we’re doing take time. I’ll grade myself after a full term, not just one year.” In this case, Mr. President, a humble “Incomplete” would have been the path to choose.
When the President said that passage of Health Care Reform would improve that grade, he missed the point. If Healthcare is one of the major (if not the major) initiatives of his Presidency, doesn’t failure to pass it at this point constitute a failure? It could pass, of course, and that will change the situation, but until such time, doesn’t he deserve at best an “Incomplete” on Healthcare?
Further, with President Obama’s commitment of 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, it is fair to say (and it has been said) that this war now becomes “his,” and this major initiative also remains Incomplete.
Eleven months into his term, I would argue that everything is now “his.” No more blaming the previous administration for bills in the bottom drawer or mistaken policy decisions. The buck stops with Obama.
Once upon a time, the President taught at the University of Chicago, and I can’t imagine Professor Obama would objectively reward 10% unemployment with a B+. If so, I wish I had taken his course!
I can’t help but wonder if the President’s ego and/or enthusiasm is getting the better of him. Just as the Nobel committee rewarded him for promise and potential, he seems to be grading himself on his hopes and dreams for America rather than on actual accomplishment. As Dr. Curt Connors said to Peter Parker in the movie Spider-Man 2, “Planning is not a major at this university.”
Speaking politically, it was foolish of the President to give himself a high grade with the economy the way it is. He just handed fodder to his opponents. He would have been better off tacitly acknowledging that Americans are worried, hurting, and concerned. He could have said “You know, Oprah, some of the things we’re doing take time. I’ll grade myself after a full term, not just one year.” In this case, Mr. President, a humble “Incomplete” would have been the path to choose.
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