Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Dem lawmaker blasts ‘Professor Obama’ as arrogant, alienating
The Hill ^ | 12/13/11 | Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)

Posted on 12/13/2011 10:12:37 AM PST by freespirited

After observing President Obama for the last three years, it has become obvious to me that the president might prefer to be a university professor rather than do the job he holds today. While he might not realize that he feels this way, the evidence is very clear to those who work with or watch him closely.

Let me be clear — I’m not trying to disparage professors. But anyone who wonders why the president is not crushing the weak Republican field only needs to examine how President Obama has behaved more like Professor Obama:

‘IDEA DISEASE’

In the president’s first year in office, his administration suffered from what I call “idea disease.” Every week, and sometimes almost every day, the administration rolled out a new program for the country. There was no obvious prioritization and, after the rollout, very little effort to actually pass the latest idea/imperative/plan/edict. Instead, the new programs just kept coming, with the new proposals constantly stepping on the previous day’s message. This rampant “idea disease” squandered the tremendous goodwill generated by the Obama campaign’s message of “hope,” tainting the president’s personal appeal. As Democrats in Congress, we often felt like we were drinking water out of a fire hose, trying to simultaneously deal with past failures of the Bush administration and the avalanche of new initiatives from Obama. This lack of focus also made it easy for congressional Republicans to stall and foil many of President Obama’s best initiatives — which they did with relish!

‘I’M RIGHT, YOU’RE WRONG’

Early in his administration, President/Professor Obama repeatedly referred to “teaching moments.” He would admonish staff, members of Congress and the public, in speeches and in private, about what they could learn from him. Rather than the ideological or corrupt “I’m above the law” attitudes of some past administrations, President Obama projected an arrogant “I’m right, you’re wrong” demeanor that alienated many potential allies. Furthermore, the president concentrated power within the White House, leaving Cabinet members with no other option but to dutifully carry out policies with which they had limited input in crafting and might very well disagree. From my experience, this was especially true in the environmental, resources, housing and employment areas. Not by coincidence, these areas have also been responsible for much of the president’s harshest critiques.

LECTURES vs. LISTENING

One former administration official told me directly that the people in the White House “NEVER TALK TO REAL PEOPLE.” Another former Obama staffer confided to me that it was clear to him that the president didn’t mind giving speeches (lectures), but really avoided personal contact with members of Congress and folks outside the Beltway. “He doesn’t seem to derive energy from spending time with regular people the way Clinton did. He rallies to give speeches for the big crowds, but avoids individual contact,” the former staffer recalled. This “arms-length” attitude extends to top decision-makers in the president’s administration. A senior housing official recently told me that, despite the fact that he was responsible for crafting policies to stem the foreclosure crisis, he had personally never met with a homeowner who had been foreclosed on.

The president’s disinterest in input from those outside his inner circle is costing him many wasted opportunities. Recently, a senator told me Obama went to his/her state, but issued an invitation for the senator to attend the event only the day before. “I represent a must-win state and lead the president in approval ratings by nearly 20 points. He was totally off-message for what my people wanted to hear. Doesn’t the White House get it? I don’t need him, he needs ME!”

Many on the Democratic side wish Hillary Clinton, Gov. Jerry Brown (Calif.), Gov. Martin O’Malley (Md.) or Gov. Andrew Cuomo (N.Y.) were running instead, but the president still has time to learn a thing or two from these skilled politicians. I’ll still take Professor Obama over the “goat rodeo clowns” the Republican field offers, but I fear the overall student body — American voters — will give him a failing grade next November if he doesn’t improve his performance .


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cardoza; obamapersonality
it has become obvious to me that the president might prefer to be a university professor rather than do the job he holds today.

Right. He has so many scholarly publications, he really should be a professor.

/s

1 posted on 12/13/2011 10:12:43 AM PST by freespirited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: freespirited

Yup those than can do those that can’t teach !!!!!!!!


2 posted on 12/13/2011 10:15:13 AM PST by al baby (Is that old windbag still on the air ?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirited
After observing President Obama for the last three years, it has become obvious to me that the president might prefer to be a university professor

Why not? He's not qualified for that job either.

3 posted on 12/13/2011 10:16:17 AM PST by HIDEK6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirited; All
"Dem lawmaker blasts ‘Professor Obama’ as arrogant, alienating"

Arrogant? Really? More like a sociopath.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

4 posted on 12/13/2011 10:27:33 AM PST by Cobra64 (Common sense isn't common anymore.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirited

“I’ll still take Professor Obama over the “goat rodeo clowns” the Republican field”

That’s just pathetic!


5 posted on 12/13/2011 11:04:52 AM PST by jcsjcm (This country was built on exceptionalism and individualism. In God we Trust - Laus Deo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirited
Of course in 2012 they will all be saying that Obama is the greatest President since FDR and that all the country's problems are the fault of the Republicans.

I didn't know that I would live to see the day when Jerry Brown would seem like an improvement over what we've got.

6 posted on 12/13/2011 11:36:42 AM PST by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirited

Anyone wonder why he is not crushing a weak republican field. A question only a socialist democrat could ask. Obama couldn’t beat a dried turd in a tuxedo in 2012. The LIBERAL LIE you frauds live only lasts until it is exposed for all to see. As soon as the american people woke up to who this marxist american impersonater really was it was all over. It will be 50 years before another socialist democrat is trusted to run (ruin)this country.


7 posted on 12/13/2011 11:49:07 AM PST by spawn44 (NSWWER)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirited

“College teaching tends to attract the kind of people who are incapable of making a living with either their minds or their hands.” —Florence King


8 posted on 12/13/2011 4:38:06 PM PST by Huntress ("Politicians exploit economic illiteracy." --Walter Williams)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirited
From what I've seen, anybody can be a professor. I've seen the concept of dual computer monitors kick Ph.D.s asses.

It makes sense, Zero should be at a university. That way, he could:

1. Blame his TAs when he's not prepared for class.
2. Be in a place where he's smarter (in his head) than everybody else and NOBODY will tell him different.
3. Never take responsibility with his colleagues for screwing up. Professors protect each other like cops.
4. The wacky personalities, egos, and office politics is right on par with the upper levels of govt, where everybody is a suit with a Ph.D. From govt. to university is an easy transition.

9 posted on 12/13/2011 5:36:20 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Liberalism is a social disease.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson