My Hope for President Obama

What a difference a year makes.   January 20th, 2009 was a day filled with hope and unbridled expectations as the nation's first African American President would take over the reins from a President who left the nation in near financial ruin, and at history's first judgment one of the worst President's in US history.  

The last day of the first year of Obama's administration was marked with a stunning defeat for Ted Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts eliminating a filibuster proof Senate.  The election may not have a repudiation of health care reform (Massachusetts already has reformed with mandates and supports for working families) or the President himself, but it certainly captures the general mood of the country given 10% unemployment, a housing market that has yet to right itself in many areas, and a continued fear that big corporations and big government are in cahoots draining the treasury to maintain the lifestyles of the few on Wall Street. 

I share many of these sentiments as an American.  I can't help but feel a bit disappointed in the progress that's been made to date.  Obama ran as a progressive and yet governs like a centrist.  He ran against Iraq, but has up the ante twice in Afghanistan.  He ran largely against the divisiveness of Washington, yet let the health care debate dissolve into raucous town halls and legislative sausage making.  He ran promising green jobs, but has spent more time helping Wall Street recover. He ran promising change, but is now talking about fiscal austerity in a time of high unemployment. 

During the State of the Union tonight and for the rest of his first term, its time to see President Obama measure up to the Candidate Obama. 

- Re-establish moral leadership in the issues of the day.

Obama needs to seize the moral high ground on issues ranging from health care to the economy to climate change.  For example, the health care debate should have been framed as health care is a human right.  Those working against the goal of universal coverage are working against human rights.  When an insurance company denies coverage for a pre-existing condition they are denying a fundamental right to health that all Americans have.  How much different would the debate have been if Obama took the moral high ground?  Rather the right seized moral argument by "fighting socialism" and "big government".  Obama can't cede the moral high ground on jobs and the environment like he has done on health care. 

- Capture the populist sentiment of the day, while not abandoning the brainiac that he is. 
The "We Want Our Money Back" taxing of the banks seems a bit hollow frankly, after the enormous sums of money given to Wall Street without forcing fundamental changes in reforming the economic system.  The President should provide full-throated backing consumer protection agency and if he wants to shame the financial industry he should start with their behavior in regards to credit cards which will resonate with a much larger part of the population. 

Another part of the reason the anger at the banks seemed hollow is that it seemed out of character for Obama.  We've come to know Obama as the calm, deliberative type rather than shoot from the hip Bush or the emotional roller coaster of Bill Clinton.  Nonetheless we need more a lot more inspiration and energy from Obama.  Leave the deliberative self for behind the scenes, not air it in public like the 3 month Afghanistan decision making process.

- Pass Healthcare and Focus on Jobs.  
Obama still has a few days to get it right on healthcare by having the House pass the Senate bill and trying to get further concessions in the reconciliation process.  There will never again be an opportunity to be this close to real reform.  Its not a touchdown, but we'll settle for the field goal.  The President has already begun to make a pivot towards jobs, but without a significant jobs program and a commitment from the Fed to address jobs issues, the President will have little control over the unemployment rate.  The stimulus was good, but did not have the necessary job creation components to have the effect at the scale that is now required.  The call to fiscal austerity seems to be contradiction and a distraction toward a jobs effort at the proper scale.  You can wait another year for deficit reduction packages, once people are back to work. 

The President has said he would prefer to be a good one term President.  Progressives are calling your bluff.  My hope for you, Mr. President, is that you govern by doing the right thing and like you really don't care about re-election.  Doggedly pursue progressive policies on health care, climate change, and jobs.  Govern with a bit more passion and moral certitude. And if that means calling someone out for their greed, disdain for the less fortunate, or ignorance, than do so.  There is no use in playing it safe.  The other side will call you a socialist and worse either way.  Why not get back on the path to bold change?  Even if you fall short, you'll inspire millions for generations to come.