President Obama has in the past reprised Lincoln and FDR. Now he’s apparently emulating Reagan. There is something odd in this continuous shedding and donning of masks. “Let Reagan be Reagan,” it used to be said. The question today is, “Why can’t Obama be Obama?” Why the need for masks, screens, teleprompters?
I think it's an open question whether there is a core identity, or whether his entire political life is a search for authenticity or meaning.
Politically, though, he's a stealth radical: by emulating past presidents and pretending to be consistent with the pattern they established, he's doing exactly what a stealth radical would do in the White House. He cannot possibly afford to drop the stealth and be open about the radicalism -- not to us, the American public.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe Emperor has no clothes.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGeez, how many times do we have to blaze this trail. Nothing about him is real, and I hope the GOP 2012 contender has a field day showing in Obama's own words what a faker he is.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIs our Commander in Chief a Zelig or a Chance?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI hope Americans are not asking to be fooled in a more expert way.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSaruman of Many Colors...?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's easy to don another's mask when you are but a canvas on which everyone has projected what they want you to be.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusethere is no Obama ... he does have goals but he has no firm principals to achieve those goals ...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf there is another president in our history that served with a name other than the one of his birth I am not aware of it.
He cannot figure out if he is Barry Obama, Barry Soetoro, Barack Soetoro, Barack Obama, Barack Hussein Obama or something else we have not learned of yet.
No matter, I don't approve of any of them as my president.
And unless I am mistaken, Reagan didn't go around casting allusions that he was like someone else.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGerald Ford. Just hit me...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe can NEVER state his actual goals ... he wouldn't get elected to dog catcher if he did ...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's a pretty sad commentary when you say nice things about your country and the knee-jerk reaction (even among your supporters) is "he's sounding like __________" it's like we've got a coverband for president.
FREEBIRD!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou ask "Why can’t Obama be Obama?”
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI answer "Go ask Stanley Kurtz. You know how to contact him" ;)
"Why can’t Obama be Obama?"
Because he hopes to get reelected, that's why! After his performance over the last 2 years, who would vote for him?
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