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Adventures In Pundit Delusion

By Big Tent Democrat

Eugene Robinson:

This is a radical break from journalistic convention, I realize, but today I'd like to give credit where it's due -- specifically, to President Obama. Quiet as it's kept, he's on a genuine winning streak.

No, he is not joking. But let's examine his argument.What constitutes "Obama's winning streak" to Robinson:

(1) Last U.S. combat troops leave Iraq. Robinson argues that "Obama did as well as anyone could have with the situation he inherited." Note that argument. Cuz it's going to be the key to defending Obama on every issue in 2012. It's sort of true as far as it goes on this issue. But the inverse is also true - not many would have done anything different. The Iraq Debacle happened and we'll be reaping the consequences for some time to come. More . . .

(2) General Motors to launch stock offering. This is obviously not bad news, but that Robinson sees this as a win is part of the myopia of his analysis. The mere fact that a company called General Motors still exists is pretty meaningless. The point of saving General Motors was to save jobs. And to an extent, saving General Motors has saved jobs in America. But not as many as it should have. General Motors has been exporting jobs. Thus,much like saving Wall Street has been good up to a point, it has not been particularly good for the country, because Wall Street is not lending. Would nationalizing General Motors and failed banks have been a better policy? Almost certainly yes. These institutions could have been vehicles for job creation. This was a missed opportunity to stimulate the economy.

(3) Obama persuaded BP to put up $20 billion for the Gulf spill. Ok, I guess this is a win, but it is a fairly puny and insignificant one. BP was not going out of business and would have been paying a lot of money, whether there was a 20 billion dollar escrow account or not. Weak tea.

(4) "President wades into mosque controversy." My view on this has been made clear on this site. But let's examine Robinson's argument in a bit more detail:

Supporting the mosque in Lower Manhattan didn't score any political points. But Obama saw his duty to uphold the values of our Constitution and make clear that our fight is against the terrorists, not against Islam itself. Instead of doing what was popular, he did what was right.

(Emphasis supplied.) Obama did not "uphold the Constitution" here. He said some words. Upholding the Constitution is what Obama could do on illegal surveillance by the government. Obama could prohibit what he has authorized regarding spying on Americans. Upholding the Constitution would be Obama insuring the military commissions he has directed comply with the Geneva Conventions and the UCMJ. Those are ACTIONS that Obama could take to uphold the Constitution.

Reciting the First Amendment is not upholding the Constitution.And the reality is the President has NO ROLE, absolutely none, regarding upholding the Constitution regarding the Cordoba Center. I can admire his impulses in this matter and still criticize him for lack of wisdom in wading in the issue, since his incursion did no good in this matter. Indeed it did a lot of harm.

But what is most striking tome about Robinson's argument is how he simply ignores the economic crisis in the country, where Obama has simply not been up to the job. He is failing on the economy, to the detriment of millions of Americans.

Yes, it's the economy, stupid.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 20, 2010 (boomark / email).