Posted by
Kenneth Hanson on Thursday, March 19, 2009 4:03:17 PM
Think about the “optics” of the following in light of the current economic crisis:
- The Obamas have already thrown lots of parties at the White House and have had Earth, Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder each perform at separate events.
- Obama has already signed a major book deal regarding his presidency.
- He flies Air Force One out to California so he can schmooze with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show.
- Michelle dyes the White House fountains green.
- Yesterday, while “Rome burned”, Obama filmed a special for ESPN filling out his NCAA tournament bracket in real-time.
- He proposes vast social spending and tax increases in the middle of a horrific recession.
- He rushes around announcing program after program that have nothing to do with the immediate crisis. He tries to convince the country that electronic medical records are the key to recovery. He is focused on everything but the economy.
- He bizarrely “outsources” the substance of the “stimulus” bill to Congress, providing almost no detailed input until it is too late. Pelosi rolls him like a lumberjack on a log.
- Tim “Brownie” Geithner is still all alone at Treasury.
- The White House constantly seems to be stumbling in politically and operationally inept ways.
Jon Stewart made fun of the above last week saying that President Obama looks like a kid that never had any toys and was never allowed to have any fun and suddenly has unlimited resources and no adult supervision. I’m not saying he should be immobilized in the White House like Jimmy Carter during the Iran hostage crisis. But I wonder if all of this won’t catch up with Obama. The optics are not good given the economic troubles and challenges for many Americans.