Obama Can De-Bully The Bully Pulpit

I always heard the phrase the Bully Pulpit without hearing the word "bully" in it.

The phrase, of course, simply means that the president has easy and frequent access to the American people to make his case. It seemed a logical and useful thing for the country's leader to do, to use the Bully Pulpit.

But during these incredibly horrible years under George W. Bush, it became clear the American people were being spoken to in a very different manner than previous presidents. For the first time in my lifetime, we had an actual bully in the Bully Pulpit; and this tool of the president started to mean something else entirely.

Bush has had no interest in explaining himself to the country, and certainly not to people who didn't already agree with him. He doesn't persuade, he merely declares and decrees, usually with that annoyed tone in his voice I recognize from his father as well.

Bush's communications have almost never been straight-forward, reasoned or truthful. He has offered talking-to-idiot-children remarks like "They hate our freedom" to stand in for a discussion of the real problems we face from Islamic fundamentalism, and how some of it has to do with our policies. (And has to do with our history; we gave Saddam weapons to use against Iran, for instance, which wouldn't endear us to that country, would it?)

He lied and manipulated us into war with Iraq. When discussing things like his breaking the FISA law by NOT getting warrants before wiretapping American citizens, he never actually discusses the real topic -- he says instead (repeatedly) "when someone is talking to Al Qaeda, I want to know what they're saying."

Fine, so do the rest of us. But explain, please, why the FISA law stops you doing that. That was never addressed, and that was the actual question.

(As most Huffington Post readers know, the FISA law even allows the government to begin wiretaps IMMEDIATELY if they want, and to get the actual warrant days later. So it's not putting anybody in danger. And if there are variations that need to be addressed -- such as you find a computer of a suspected terrorist, and you want to wiretap every person on his computer -- well, Congress would certainly amend the law to take that into account, especially if it had been asked close to 9/11 when he first began breaking the law. But he clearly believes he's above the law.)

Etc., etc. I have felt fury and despair being bullied by President Beelzebub over the last 8 years. And I have distressed my dog several times by shouting at the television. In the second half of Beelzebub's reign, I couldn't listen to him talk live, I had to listen to the excerpts on the news; or maybe read his manipulations as text.

And even since the 2006 elections, when his approval ratings fell so very low, he nonetheless STILL gets his way on most everything.

And he continues with his habitual misleading and distorted descriptions of problems facing all of us -- it's a Rovian-taught trait: redefine the problem as something else, and then explain why the Democrats are wrong or stupid to want to address this inaccurately described problem.

And for those Americans who only watch the main networks briefly for their news, they hear these little sound bytes from the president's Bully Pulpit proclamations, and they never hear the rebuttal, and so they live with incorrect assumptions. That Bully Pulpit lets him say his carefully chosen and slanted sentences on the news whenever he wants.

The only two issues he's ever lost on are Social Security -- where most Americans realized that the stock market remains volatile, and not where to put your "security" money; and on selling our ports to Dubai, which felt so, so nutty. Bush spent so much of his presidency terrorizing us about the Muslim world, and then he wanted to actually sell our ports to a Muslim country.

Hmmmm... why not let China run our ports? Or Martians? Needless to say, we wouldn't want Americans to do it. We only consume. And we don't make anything anymore. We just wait to see when our children are poisoned by the next Chinese toy with lead paint in it, or our dogs are killed by poison dog food, or our relatives die from faulty ingredients made in China put into blood-thinning medicines. But God forbid Americans actually MAKE anything anymore. (That's a little free associative rant, but it's one of the reasons so many Americans polled think the country is on the wrong path, right?)

So for eight years, the Bully Pulpit has been used for propagating lies and distortions.

Barack Obama could change that. (Hillary Clinton could not, especially listening to her manipulative jabber the last several weeks.)

Thomas Friedman wrote on this topic -- of talking straight to the American public -- in a New York Times op-ed called " Who Will Tell the People?" the other day. Here were his main points:

[note: I have put the major points that I think are truly important in bold]

Much nonsense has been written about how Hillary Clinton is "toughening up" Barack Obama so he'll be tough enough to withstand Republican attacks. Sorry, we don't need a president who is tough enough to withstand the lies of his opponents. We need a president who is tough enough to tell the truth to the American people. Any one of the candidates can answer the Red Phone at 3 a.m. in the White House bedroom. I'm voting for the one who can talk straight to the American people on national TV -- at 8 p.m. -- from the White House East Room.

Who will tell the people? We are not who we think we are. We are living on borrowed time and borrowed dimes. We still have all the potential for greatness, but only if we get back to work on our country.

I don't know if Barack Obama can lead that, but the notion that the idealism he has inspired in so many young people doesn't matter is dead wrong. "Of course, hope alone is not enough," says Tim Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics, "but it's not trivial. It's not trivial to inspire people to want to get up and do something with someone else."

It is especially not trivial now, because millions of Americans are dying to be enlisted -- enlisted to fix education, enlisted to research renewable energy, enlisted to repair our infrastructure, enlisted to help others. Look at the kids lining up to join Teach for America. They want our country to matter again. They want it to be about building wealth and dignity -- big profits and big purposes. When we just do one, we are less than the sum of our parts. When we do both, said Shriver, "no one can touch us."

I agree passionately with what Friedman said above, and it relates to my belief that Obama can use his gift for reason and inspiration to TALK TRUTH to the American people, to change the Bully Pulpit to a.... Persuasion Pulpit, an Inspiration Pulpit.

Almost all of us in the country feel we have been moving in the wrong direction. It is tricky and hard to change direction, and we can't do it alone. We need a leader. We also need a leader who can tell us the truth about the dangers and problems we face. Who can be truthful about the sacrifices we must make. And who can be creative and canny about how to deal with Islamic fundamentalism, not just go down that same Bush bellicose path (such as saying "we'll obliterate Iran.")

I admit it, Obama isn't perfect. But Lord, the other two -- McCain and Hillary -- frighten me. The whole thing about the suspending the gas tax is shocking pandering, and destructive. Hillary so proudly says she will get the oil companies to pay for it -- really? Now, with the Bush veto still keeping anything from passing that he doesn't agree with? She knows that perfectly well, but she's just pandering for votes. She's not telling the truth, she's manipulating the public.

(If you have need of hearing why the gas tax summer suspension is a bad idea, here's a good posting fromRobert Creamer. And here's his quote on the issue:

Whether or not it's entirely justified, most Americans believe that the Clintons will themselves say pretty much anything to win. Remember that many thought of Bill as "Slick Willie." The Clinton-McCain "gas tax holiday" is a good example. Economists say that most of this "tax break" would actually go to the oil companies who would have no incentive to lower gas prices and pass it along to consumers in the tight summer driving season. At the same time it would cost the Highway Trust Fund $9 billion -- which translates to about 300,000 lost construction jobs. No matter, it sounds good on the stump and at first blush it polls well.

Whatever else you think about Obama, he believes that if you tell the voters the truth, they have the intelligence to make the right decisions. )

Obama said this about the gas tax in this news article:

"Listen, these gas prices are brutal on people," Mr. Obama told voters Thursday in Columbia City, Ind. "Now, John McCain decided that he would solve this problem after being in Congress for 25 years by suspending the gas tax for three months. What that would do is save the average driver 30 cents a day -- a nickel and a quarter, 30 cents a day. It would save you a total of about $28 for the entire year -- $28."

I don't even drive a big car, but $28 would only fill my tank three-quarters. So that is the relief Hillary and McCain-but-not-Able are so excited about? And which won't pass President Bush's veto anyway?

Obama has been battered. And I hope I never hear from Reverend Wright ever again (though I'm sure he'll have his own sitcom by September, funded by the Republicans).

But battered though Obama may be, he is still standing; and he's standing taller than the other two.

Comments

[Insideout143]

I agree. Wake up America!!!
We have been hoodwinked and bamboozled for decades...
which I knew, and is why I haven't had any interest in the presidential elections since reaching adulthood. Until now. The choices were always the same politics as usual. This time is different. There is someone who really has integrity, who really has lived like one of us, who really wants everyone to have a chance at the American dream, who really has a sense of the world, who really will help heal, help bridge divides, help uplift our nation, and thereby help uplift the world. Why are many Americans afraid of that?? I just don't get it. Have the basics of being truthful and doing unto others as we would have done unto ourselves disappeared? Have people become so ingrained with the usual politics and government that we no longer know what's right? Has the "me" philosophy made us cold? For me, this is a simple decision, to vote for the candidate with inspiration, integrity, inclusion and always bending towards justice. Someone who isn't basing their stands on what people want to hear, but instead by hearing us. Hillary Clinton and John McCain are deceitful, pandering, saying what they think will win people over at the moment, instead of talking straight. To me they are the same, neither would truly represent us, and neither would include us in the process. They don't want change, they want to maintain control over us. Obama is the only choice.

[Moose49]

In a very big way, this is a test of the American people. Do we want a president who talks with us like intelligent adults who are capable of understanding nuance and complexity, or do we want one who talks to us like we're stupid immature children who only see black and white?

The mainstream media, looking down its truly elitist noses at the American people, thinks it's the latter. Will we prove them wrong?

Ultimately, we'll get the president we deserve. For better or worse.

[SouthFloridaDem]

We'll know today whether the people of IN and NC want a president who talks truth, or if they'd rather pocket their $28 and take four more years of madness.

[cryingmoon]

Perhaps one way "we" can prevent being talked to "like idiots" is to stop acting like idiots. Maybe it's human nature, or just too busy trying to do what we have to do to make it through the day, but all too often the mind set is...."You had me at TAX BREAK, I think I'm in love". Absolutely no patience to hear about the "unintentional consequences". No time to ask, can it pass? will oil companies raise the price, off-setting any gain? what about the possible loss of 300,000 jobs? increased consumption? less incentive to curb dependence? Blind and deaf trust in "someone who cares about us" and "protects us" by not listening to "elitist economists". Does that mean "we" could look forward to "advisors" from the blue collar, lunch bucket demographic? PLEASE....this is not slam against the backbone of our nation. But....do we not need some "meat" on that backbone....It takes a village....and the "whole body"....and all the kings horses to get us out of the total mess we're in.

[newpantaloons]

Unfortunately, I believe the United States of America is a nation of 'baby souls' who do, in fact, want "someone who cares about us and protects us". The whole reason we are in this mess to begin with, is most citizens cared nothing about the progress or regression of our 'government' unless it directly affected them. Most didn't even take the time to listen and learn what bills were being passed in Congress that directly affected their lives. Or, what the president and vice-president were up to. Most don't even know that for the last 30 years the Democratic party has drifted to the right in order to get elected. Those same sleep-walking citizens demanded it of them, mostly because they wanted to join up with the Republicans so they could 'get rich and live the good life' just like the Republicans that they 'idolized' and emmulated as if they were some Hollywood stars instead of the people leading us down the path towards George Bush and his criminal cabal. Now, we have reached the nadir of politics, with partisanship and bitterness, law-breaking, wars, lies, contempt for the "people", the trashing of our Constitution and the loss of freedoms and "the people" are beginning to wake up. We have the opportunity to stop this momentum to the right and start to again have a government "of, by and for the people". Will we do it? Do we have the intelligence to make a clear choice?

[Eoin45]

Please learn to use quotation marks properly. Who was it who said all the things you've put quotes around?

[denimtruth]

Thank you for this profund article, I hope all of my fellow Hoosiers take it to heart.....and take their hearts to the voting booth today and cast their vote for Obama. We need a leader who is smart, thoughtful, resourceful, a good manager....and yes, inspirational.

Just as you would hope that a parent, a coach, a department manager, a CEO would have all those qualities. We all know that if the person at the top of an organization has many good qualities, but cannot motivate and inspire people in the organizati­on......th­at group will not prosper.

[Obamamo]

"I admit it, Obama isn't perfect. But Lord, the other two - McCain and Hillary - frighten me"

HilLiar has lost the nomination unless she uses the nuclear option and even that won’t guaranteed. This woman is not only dangerous for America but she is a menace to the rest of the world. It makes me wonder why HilLiar is turning to a Republiscum but then again she has always been a war monger and a LIAR. I can honestly admit that I HATE that woman.

[harriscrl3]

He is an effective communicator movtivator and he speaks to people with empowering language. He makes them believe that they can affect their own lives that they dont have to be powerless and watch other people make decisions for them. Thats one of the differences between the candidates that I dont think gets examined enough.

Carol

[SkimaskBob]

well said.

[debwarot]

Thanks for the great post - I agree with everything you have said. Why is it then that so many Americans don't mind being talked down to and told how to think?

[blaqntelligence]

Excellent post, I also agree. I'd like to address debwarot's question....
IMHO I believe it's sheer laziness.
Another blogger made the distinction that Clinton tells you what she'll do FOR you. Obama tells you what he'd like to do WITH you.
"For you" mean she will do the work akin to the shrub telling us to spend, spend while "the others" go off to war. It also keep the country distracted and questionable actions aren't examined too closely.
"With you" mean we all share the responsibility for the outcome....good or bad. It also establishes balance. With involvement (empowerment) comes close scrutiny and speaking out if something smells.

[debwarot]

Thank you. You have made some strong points - as has everyone commenting so far.

Listen to Obama speak and count the number of times he uses the word 'we'. Now listen to Hillary and you will hear the word 'I' a lot. This alone says volumes.

Naiveté, laziness, greed.... perhaps just not being familiar with a politician who speaks honestly and treats the public as an adult partner - those are all likely reasons Americans accept being 'led' by traditional political rhetoric and promises.

But the big question, as I see it, is whether our nation will wake up and accept this challenge to participate in self governance. As Moose49 said, "Ultimately, we'll get the president we deserve. For better or worse." I believe we all deserve better & hope enough of us will agree and make this happen.

It is primary day today here in North Carolina, where I now live, and in Indiana, where I grew up. I voted early last week and will be driving voters to the polls later today. I have contacted family and friends back in Indiana. I am hopeful.

[Gma11]

Absolutely!! Thank you for your post. I hate it when the American public is treated like idiots. And I hate it that so many are suckers enough to believe the lies. I do not want another liar-in-chief. I want a president with the ethical cajones to lead.