Mr. President, Leadership is Not an Option
by Rob Schwarzwalder
January 5, 2010
Franklin Roosevelt is not a hero of mine. Arguably the father of today’s big government and a president who never let the Constitution get in the way of his political agenda, FDR summoned a weird confection of Leftists, liberals and disaffected, vulnerable citizens to obtain election to the presidency no less than four times.
His legacy has led to serious problems in the courts, the economy and the way Americans understand their federal government. Yet there is still much to admire about the Democratic Roosevelt – the way he heartened Americans with his optimism, the masterful manner in which he spoke to the hopes and fears of ordinary people, and even his unabashed invocation of the God of the Bible in times of national need.
FDR was also nothing if not decisive. He did not dawdle in times of crisis. For better or ill, he acted. People knew that they had a leader in the White House.
Knowing he was nearing death, he jettisoned starry-eyed Vice President Henry Wallace for sharp, crisp and purposeful Harry Truman. When we entered World War II, he shelved the New Deal and put his full energies into winning the conflict, even appointing Republicans as secretaries of War and Navy. And when eight German spies were found in the U.S., they were not tried in civil court. They were taken before a military tribunal appointed by FDR himself; six were hung, one imprisoned for life, and the eighth sentenced to 30 years. The time between when the spies landed and the hangings: less than two months.
Mr. Roosevelt’s most recent successor could learn a thing or two from him. Barack Obama took three months to decide on adding to America’s troop level in Afghanistan. It took him three days to reassure a shaken public that his national security team would work to better safeguard the country from terrorist attacks.
On health care, the President seems content with getting something — anything — as long as it is slapped with rubric of reform and contains federal funding for abortion. He has not led in crafting the legislation. He has led only in demanding a finished product, and then too often, and when legislative deadlines have been missed, he has done nothing about it.
There have been moments when Mr. Obama seems to understand he is not a global citizen or a national academic-in-chief. When, early last year, he ordered American sharpshooters to kill the pirates who had seized U.S. sailors, he rightly won plaudits, including from my organization, the Family Research Council. But these moments have been more incidental and dramatic than consistent and dependable.
In the name of caution, he dallies. For the sake of consideration, he procrastinates. On behalf of prudence, he dissolves into quietude.
“One thing is sure,” said FDR. “We have to do something. We have to do the best we know how at the moment.” Is this a perfect way of addressing crises? Certainly not, especially if the “something” that is done is animated by emotion and directed by panic. But upon obtaining the best counsel possible, the job of a President is to act quickly and firmly when urgency requires it.
Time is a luxury upon which the security of the United States cannot wait. Al-Qaeda, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the tyrants of North Korea and their assorted allies in the international fellowship of evil know this. Do you, Mr. President?
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Comments
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I most heartily agree with Mr. Garfunkel.
Look at what Obama has accomplished in the first 11 months: limiting the extent of the recession,1) economic indicators are turning upward — things are still bad, but not nearly as bad as what seemed reasonable to expect in the nadir of the fourth quarter of 2008 (when Bush still reigned), 2) the heinous crimes of state-sanctioned torture (which are illegal, immoral and objectionable from the perspective the US military brass) has stopped 3) and against vicious, irrational attacks both house have passed health care reform legislation — something that has eluded American presidents since Richard Nixon’s attempt in 1974. There are a number of other accomplishments, but it is best to be succinct.
Coming into office in the midst of the worse financial crisis since the Great Depression as well as inheriting two wars is an incredible set of challenges to face. Obama has rated himself about B+ and that seems about right. Scope for improvement for sure, but definitely more than a passing grade.
Richard’s question about criticism of Bush is interesting. The financial crisis unfolded on Bush’s watch and was worsened by unnecessary deficit spending on a illegal war. Imagine how much better the US economy could have withstood the economic shocks if the Bush-era deficit hadn’t soared (remember, Bush inherited a massive surplus).
Is everyone who supports a mixed-economy a socialist? Have you forgotten history or are you people just poorly informed. Have the years since the 2nd World War taught you nothing? Up until 1929 we went through boom and bust cycles, culminating with the Depression. The regulation and the safety nets brought in many successive governments ended that vicious cycle of speculative bubbles until the Reagan era where government encouraged deregulation, debt and investing gimmicks. This is something you cling to and want to protect? My sense is that the use of socialism is a code word for a return to Jim Crow and the end to women’s rights, among other revisionist changes. As to me, I have had a long career in business for 40 years and you can Google my background. I am not a shill for anyone, but I believe in a level playing field for all Americans. Equal opportunity under the law! Have you heard that one before? I am amazed at the crass feelings that abound in the land. But I would not focus on Obama for my distain and hatred. Look to the speculators and the phonies that talk of the free market and support monopolization at every turn. Remember there is more money stolen on Wall Street in one day than all the muggings in history. I worked there for one year after college and I learned all about the scams involving Four Seasons Nursing Homes and others. The bottom line is that throughout the 20th century, boom, bust and scandal cycles have brought in Democratic administrations, (Wilson, FDR. JFK, Carter, Clinton, and Obama) which have had to pick up the pieces, serve bitter and unpopular medicine and have paid the price as reformers. The public is desperate for solutions, but often kills the messenger. Business adored FDR in 1933, but the Securities Acts of 1933, 1934 and 1940 turned the monopolists into vicious enemies. But was American prosperity hurt by high taxes on the rich and regulation? No, no and no! Obama is trying to accomplish needed reform, and return a somewhat level playing field to the marketplace through transparency, and fairer taxation. Will he succeed? It is up to the American public to start looking critically at who is sponsoring his opposition. From January through November of 2009, 3300 lobbies spent $600 million against health care reform. I rest my case.
Richard J. Garfunkel
The Advocates
WVOX Radio
http://advocates-wvox.com
By: rjgarfunkel | January 5, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Your views on FDR are quite distorted from my perspective, but let me say that he appointed Republicans to the cabinet positions of War and the Navy, not State. State remained under Cordell Hull, a long-time democrat from Tennessee. As to the German spies/saboteurs who came from a submarine, they were tried in secret because of the threat of war-time reprisals and were hung. Times are different, and President Obama, with zero cooperation from the GOP and the right, and withering criticism from the flat-earth, luddite thinkers out there, is doing a great job. He has saved us from rolling over into a depression and that has cost big money. Where was the criticism of GW Bush? His own Secretary of Treasury couldn’t get his own party to save the investment community. Shame on the hypocrites. All the indicators are moving north and he’ll do fine in November of 2010. By the way 1 million people lost their health care last year, was that sustainable?
Richard J. Garfunkel
Host of The Advocates
wvox 1460 am radio, NY