You hit the nail on the head.
For eight solid years I seethed with fury whenever Dubya refused to defend himself against the attacks from Hollywood, the Media, Academia, the Left, and people even within his own party. By not defending himself, he was actually not defending his supporters. It was very infuriating, and it created a atmosphere of dejection that paved the way for the vacuous “HOPE AND CHANGE” meme.
Part of being a leader is realizing that it's not just about you.