Julian Zelizer: Obama Must Define Himself
[Julian E. Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. His new book is "Arsenal of Democracy: The Politics of National Security: From World War II to the War on Terrorism," published by Basic Books. Zelizer writes widely about current events]
In his first year in the White House, President Obama has proved to be an elusive figure. This is ironic given that his campaign to win the Democratic primary in 2007 and 2008 had been premised on the idea that voters preferred a candidate who stood for something....
Several times, the nation has seen Obama take a firm stand but then back off. Most recently, the president has wavered on his decision to have one of the masterminds of 9/11 tried in a civilian court in New York. When a backlash developed from New York officials, the Obama administration backed down and said it was reconsidering....
When presidents fail to define themselves, they can find themselves in political trouble. To be sure, it is essential that a president avoid being so ideologically rigid that he circumscribes the opportunities for productive negotiations.
But at the same time, a president needs to let voters and fellow politicians know what he is about. Lyndon Johnson frequently spoke about his broader vision for a Great Society, even while accepting significant compromises on the particulars of bills.
Ronald Reagan stuck to his arguments about the dangers of too much government and the need for an aggressive stance against Communism, even while accepting policies, such as arms negotiations with the Soviets in 1986 and 1987, that signaled very different goals.
Even Bill Clinton, who was notoriously opportunistic, was able to define himself as a centrist Democrat who would defend the social services provided by the federal government since the New Deal while pushing for market-based reforms and market deregulation.
Then there were presidents who proved much less popular.
Jimmy Carter ran into trouble in 1979 and 1980, as critics from all sides of the political spectrum saw in him a lot of what they didn't like -- conservatives saw a left-wing Democrat, liberals saw a hidden conservative -- while few people found something in his presidency for which they were willing to fight.
Similarly, George H.W. Bush saw his political standing plummet after a high point during Operation Desert Storm for, among other things, refraining from dealing with the "vision thing" on domestic policy during a recession. As a result, he found himself under attack from multiple angles....
The president must do better at explaining just what his presidency is about. This does not mean abandoning a strategy of negotiation and compromise and ideological flexibility, but it does mean better defining the person who will be at the negotiating table. Otherwise, everyone else in the room will do that job themselves.
Read entire article at CNN
In his first year in the White House, President Obama has proved to be an elusive figure. This is ironic given that his campaign to win the Democratic primary in 2007 and 2008 had been premised on the idea that voters preferred a candidate who stood for something....
Several times, the nation has seen Obama take a firm stand but then back off. Most recently, the president has wavered on his decision to have one of the masterminds of 9/11 tried in a civilian court in New York. When a backlash developed from New York officials, the Obama administration backed down and said it was reconsidering....
When presidents fail to define themselves, they can find themselves in political trouble. To be sure, it is essential that a president avoid being so ideologically rigid that he circumscribes the opportunities for productive negotiations.
But at the same time, a president needs to let voters and fellow politicians know what he is about. Lyndon Johnson frequently spoke about his broader vision for a Great Society, even while accepting significant compromises on the particulars of bills.
Ronald Reagan stuck to his arguments about the dangers of too much government and the need for an aggressive stance against Communism, even while accepting policies, such as arms negotiations with the Soviets in 1986 and 1987, that signaled very different goals.
Even Bill Clinton, who was notoriously opportunistic, was able to define himself as a centrist Democrat who would defend the social services provided by the federal government since the New Deal while pushing for market-based reforms and market deregulation.
Then there were presidents who proved much less popular.
Jimmy Carter ran into trouble in 1979 and 1980, as critics from all sides of the political spectrum saw in him a lot of what they didn't like -- conservatives saw a left-wing Democrat, liberals saw a hidden conservative -- while few people found something in his presidency for which they were willing to fight.
Similarly, George H.W. Bush saw his political standing plummet after a high point during Operation Desert Storm for, among other things, refraining from dealing with the "vision thing" on domestic policy during a recession. As a result, he found himself under attack from multiple angles....
The president must do better at explaining just what his presidency is about. This does not mean abandoning a strategy of negotiation and compromise and ideological flexibility, but it does mean better defining the person who will be at the negotiating table. Otherwise, everyone else in the room will do that job themselves.