Frank Rich: How Obama Became Acting President

It almost seems like a gag worthy of "Borat": A smooth-talking rookie senator with an exotic name passes himself off as the incumbent American president to credulous foreigners. But to dismiss Barack Obama's magical mystery tour through old Europe and two war zones as a media-made fairy tale would be to underestimate the ingenious politics of the moment. History was on the march well before Mr. Obama boarded his plane, and his trip was perfectly timed to reap the whirlwind.

He never would have been treated as a president-in-waiting by heads of state or network talking heads if all he offered were charisma, slick rhetoric and stunning visuals. What drew them instead was the raw power Mr. Obama has amassed: the power to start shaping events and the power to move markets, including TV ratings. (Even "Access Hollywood" mustered a 20 percent audience jump by hosting the Obama family.) Power begets more power, absolutely.

The growing Obama clout derives not from national polls, where his lead is modest. Nor is it a gift from the press, which still gives free passes to its old bus mate John McCain. It was laughable to watch journalists stamp their feet last week to try to push Mr. Obama into saying he was "wrong" about the surge. More than five years and 4,100 American fatalities later, they're still not demanding that Mr. McCain admit he was wrong when he assured us that our adventure in Iraq would be fast, produce little American "bloodletting" and "be paid for by the Iraqis."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[nellie]

"While drama-queen commentators on television last week were busy building up false suspense about the O bama trip " will he make a world-class gaffe? will he have too large an audience in Germany? " few focused on the alarms that Mr. Mc Cain"s behavior at home raise about his fitness to be president."

Finally. Thank you Mr. Rich, for using the phrase "fitness to be president."

I especially like this op ed piece. Rich takes what we have all observed and digs out the underlying truth. Right now the world is following O, and not because of pretty words.

[FaceYourFears]

Excellent piece.

[Jazz42]

Mr Rich.
I usually disagree with you.
I completely agree with your article.
Thank you,

[GeorgiaOrwell]

I'm beginning to think the press is just - stupid, basically. I guess having principles is an old-fashioned trait. I used to think that journalism was a noble profession and there are still those who represent ethics in reporting, but many of the present reporters are incapable of independent thought and are obsequious to McCain's empty rhetoric and chicanery. We're doomed if McC wins in 08.

Thanks, Mr. Rich, for sharing your insight and posting this good, common sense.

[Daly]

Now you've done it; you are off the GOP xmas list PLUS I do not think you will be asked to be riding with McCain soon.


Great Job!

[Kache]

Acting?

No, Frank. The Obama administration has already begun.

Al-Maliki wasn't just choosing sides. He looked around Iraq and realized that any politician not talking in Obama's 16 month frame was going to be irrelevant in the upcoming fall proivincial elections. Yup - al-Maliki's statements were politically motivated - and that better be the only motive of a politician in a democracy.

My guess is that the meeting with Petraeus began "6 months from today you will have on my desk ...."

[jpaultel]

Finally, someone has dared to present a comprehensive analysis. That is the difference between a half-baked attempts to spin a phony, capricious cartoon on a magazine cover and and good reporting. Bravo Mr. Rich!

[MPeter]

I always look forward to reading Frank's article--clearly, the only man with the intellect and honesty--to report seriously. Thank you. I particularly loved the ending: The election remains Mr. Obama"s to lose, and he could lose it, whether through unexpected events, his own vanity or a vice-presidential misfire. But what we"ve learned this month is that America, our allies and most likely the next Congress are moving toward Mr. Obama"s post-Iraq vision of the future, whether he reaches the White House or not. That"s some small comfort as we contemplate the strange alternative offered by the Republicans: a candidate so oblivious to our nation"s big challenges ahead that he is doubling down in his campaign against both Mr. Maliki and Mr. Obama to be elected commander in chief of the surge." MCSame is indeed Commander-in-Chief of the Surge.

[jsinclair]

Rich nails it again. I wish we would see him more in the MSM (I think I've only seen him on Colbert--quite a while ago.) Now that the NYT makes his column subscription access only, his voice in the broadcast MSM is needed even more.

[Davwbaird]

Mr. Rich has a way of putting things that makes a lot of sense and is downright reporting with opinion and he leaves no doubt about that. Its re freshening and should as an example to all who would like to dwell in fact land for a moment as opposed to living in the land of liars and make believe.

[LaFilleEnRose]

What a wonderful article. I, too, have been wondering why McCain seems to so want to make the focus of his triumphs just a low-level tactical victory (the surge) even if the press is temporarily ignoring his disastruous strategic blunders approving the Iraq war. At some point it has to come back to bite him because it's not the commander-in-chief's responsibility to come up with tactical maneuvers but his/her job to set the mission -- as Obama keeps trying to get the press to finally "duh!" on. When things went so badly, the Administration & McCain and other Republicans were happy to hide behind his effective tactical skirts. But that is not the position for a commander-in-chief. Thanks again for a great post.

[gladys46]

I noticed your ad Mr. Rich .... one little thingie I'd like to offer is .... "positive" power begets power! I agree with your assessment in pertinent part!!

And, we and my entire family who are O supporters thank you for your positive assessment!

[fictioneer]

I was wondering when someone was going to notice this. Excellent column, Mr. Rich.

[speakingtruth2power]

Any vacumm will bring in the closest thing to it and our preznut is vacuous!

[Kache]

A vacuum attracts substance. That's why it left your man standing in the cheeze aisle. Even the apple sauce behind him got sucked off the shelf, but your empty suit was unaware of the whirlwind around him.

[apoyo]

"Commander in chief of the surge"

Priceless.

[4wehttam]

Yeah, I loved that part myself. Rich is very artful in his depictions.

[mjc]

That is why so many of us had this sharp intake of breath when Obama actually seemed to take over the photo with Merkel, Sarkosy, and the King of Jordan. Obama may be the best actor we have ever seen, bar none...not even Ronald Reagan, as a politician. Seems he could slip into that enlightened despot mode without even a murmur from the other branches of government. Scary.