The race issue aside, political commentators were quick to point out something very important after Election Day –– the election of Barack Obama means liberals are once again viable candidates for the highest executive office.
Change had been promised, and change is in the process of being delivered. Look no further than the President-Elect’s almost daily press conferences last week. But, after seeing some of his picks for cabinet positions, one must ask –– is this just more of the same?
With advisors, aides and cabinet members coming from administrations ranging from the Carter era to the present, including such luminaries as Robert Gates and Hillary Clinton herself, many have started to doubt the President-Elect’s sincerity in his campaign promises. He has already mentioned he may not repeal the Bush tax cuts for high-income folks, and the retention of Robert Gates may be a signal that he is not willing to immediately alter the current Gates/Petreus strategy in Iraq. For some, the honeymoon may be already over.
Cynically, one could say that Obama has already started to abandon his own ship, bailing on some of his most ardent campaign pledges, such as promising swift change to the tax codes, to the handling of the war in Iraq, and most of all, to bringing a fresh approach to politics in Washington. With the inclusion of centrist and even right elements in his administration, he has arguably alienated a key part of his electoral base –– the far left. His most ardent campaigners feel betrayed by the re-appointment of Gates, but even more so by the appointment of the foe they so vigorously campaigned against most of this past year: Hillary Clinton. Some feel that he’s already become a standard, run-of-the-mill politician.
Ever the optimist, I choose to take a different outlook on President-Elect Obama’s decisions. He’s being utterly pragmatic in an attempt to salvage the economy and nation in general.
He is doing exactly what he promised: bringing in different points of expertise into his administration, regardless of political orientation. In his own pragmatic way, he’s attempting to do what Roosevelt did decades ago –– calming the public, and re-assuring them that strong leadership is at hand.
Reading both conservative and liberal blogs and news Web sites, it’s been interesting to see reaction to cabinet picks. The conservative reaction (of what I’ve read and seen) is generally something of relief that Obama isn’t appointing “uber”-liberals to his cabinet. Conversely, the liberal reaction is generally something of acceptance that the appointments made were out of necessity and in line with his promise of greater political representation in Washington.
As Obama said himself, when asked about some of his insider picks, “Understand where the vision for change comes from –– first and foremost, it comes from me. That’s my job, is to provide a vision in terms of where we are going, and to make sure, then, that my team is implementing.”
Let’s be clear about this –– Obama is a politician.
I have no doubt he will be a great politician and a great leader, but he is still a politician. He will make mistakes. He will make choices that will inevitably alienate certain American groups and sects. He looks up to those great Americans like Lincoln, FDR and Kennedy, who, yup, also made mistakes while in office.
Obama supporters need to know that they should be in this for the long haul. Change can’t come overnight, and it can’t come without the support of the people. Furthermore, we cannot be disheartened by a few offenses to our own personal values. We must follow the example of the President-Elect, to work together with all Americans, in order to continue the perfection of this union.
