Obama at the crossroads

When President Obama took office in January, he had an incredible approval rating. Nearly 70 percent of the public approved of him. People wanted him to do well. Seven months after taking office, the President is hovering in the upper forties or lower fifties, depending on the poll. President Obama is in worse shape than Jimmy Carter in 1977, and in about the same shape as President Bush in 2001 before the terrorists attacks.

Democrats want to believe such is the case because President Obama is tackling big things. Republicans want to believe such is the case because President Obama is spending too much money. Both sides might have a point to be considered, however, the biggest reason that President Obama’s standing is slipping is the weak leadership he is exhibiting.

Take the health care debate as a prime example. The President stated he wanted health care reform, but offered no specific package, instead he let Congress come up with the details. As such, when the President is out on the stump for health care reform, he can defend no specifics and looks like he is waiting for someone else to do the heavy lifting of leadership. The President increasingly looks like a man who is all hat and no cattle on health care. Trial balloons are sent out by his administration and he looks like a man who has no hard beliefs he will draw a line on.

Making matters worse for the President is how his White House has handled the growing angst in the nation that questions his actions. Instead of appreciating free speech and engaging people, the President’s supporters have spent their time attacking average Americans, without political power, who dare to question. That is a sign of weakness.

In sum, the Obama Administration has lost 20 percent in approval ratings in seven months because it appears to be indecisive and reactionary to those who dare to question. President Obama is at the point in which he must realize that he is the President of the United States. Perhaps that seems silly to some. But, the President of the United States does not wait to say what he believes until Congress tells him. The President of the United States does not fret the comments from those out of power who exercise their rights of free speech.

The next few weeks will be telling for President Obama. Forget the health care debate and partisan politics for a moment. If President Obama does not start acting like the President of the United States and assert his leadership, right or wrong, his Presidency will be a weak one. If President Obama continues to allow Congress to decide his priorities on major issues, the institution of the Presidency will be weakened. Thus, President Obama is at the crossroads. Is he going to be a President or a glorified prime minister?