Why Judd Gregg's Change of Heart Was a Birthday Present to Lincoln's Protégé
The president's magnificent speech last night in honor of Abraham Lincoln did exactly what he has been needing to do, and did it artfully and disarmingly: to begin re-branding government as something other than, as Reagan branded it, "the problem, not the solution." Behind a memorable branding campaign is almost always a memorable story, and the story the president told was precisely the one that Americans across the political spectrum have needed to hear, particularly those in the political center, who have developed a deep distrust of the only institution that can now save their jobs, health care, unemployment insurance, homes, and retirements. The story he told is of how government can sometimes err on the side of stepping in where it doesn't need to or in ways that are ultimately counterproductive, but that the pendulum has now swung so far in the other direction that we have forgotten that citizens joining together for the common good -- which, last I remember from the Declaration of Independence, is what democratic government is supposed to be -- is often the only force powerful enough to do what individuals cannot do for themselves. The speech masterfully blended together values shared by people across the political spectrum -- individual autonomy and responsibility, and collective effort and common bonds -- but that have often been touted as values of the right and left, respectively.
In a brief moment, the president also disarmingly dealt with what appeared to be the latest black eye on his administration, Senator Judd Gregg's sudden recognition that he doesn't really believe in things like regulation of commerce, stimulating an economy on the brink of collapse, or making sure everyone is counted in a census, and hence withdrew his nomination to serve as Secretary of Commerce. Toward the beginning of his speech, President Obama set the scene, with a twinkle in his eye that turned into a broad smile, of an Abraham Lincoln before he became Abraham Lincoln, wondering if he'd receive a phone call offering him the position of Secretary of Commerce.
Although another cabinet member biting the dust was probably not welcome news for the White House, this one was actually a Lincoln's Birthday present. President Obama has taken Lincoln as his role model and has tried to emulate his "team of rivals." However, as pointed out by my colleague Joel Weinberger, Lincoln didn't invite Robert E. Lee to give him advice on his war plans or ask Jefferson Davis to serve in his cabinet. If the President wanted a rival on his team for commerce, he might have chosen Nobel laureate and progressive economist Paul Krugman, who would be part of a team of rivals who are, at the very least, on the same team, wearing the same-colored uniform on the battlefield at Elkhart.
But Gregg was a problematic choice long before his views on the census or his non-vote on the stimulus became apparent, for reasons that reflect the way our minds and brains work. Much of our thought is unconscious and associative, not rational or linear, and shaping those associations -- as Reagan did with "government" -- is central to moving public opinion. For years, Democrats have led Republicans in the polls on most of the issues tracked by pollsters except two: national defense and commerce. This administration has an historic chance of changing that, as long-term advantages for Republicans of 30 or more points in the polls when respondents are asked who they trust more, Democrats or Republicans, on both protecting the country and working with business to create prosperity, dropped to single digits in 2008, and for good reason: when the Republicans finally held the reins of power for the last eight years, they destroyed their credibility on national security by waging wars unnecessarily and incompetently while simultaneously precipitating not only the worst year for business since the Great Depression but the greatest economic crisis this country has faced in a century. By choosing Republicans as Secretary of Defense and Commerce, the administration sent out an unintended meta-message to voters: you can trust us Democrats on a lot of things, but when it comes to defense and commerce, let's bring in the Republicans, because they really know something about keeping us safe and prosperous. The last thing the White House needs to do -- even in its unrequited spirit of bipartisanship -- is to reinforce Republicans' historic advantage on these issues at a time when voters are rightly beginning to rethink it.
Drew Westen, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Emory University, founder of Westen Strategies, and author of The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation.
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the president should have chosen a real bipartisan republican ARNOLD the govenator for commerce secratery he's more bipartisan that any of them plus he's married to maria a dem.Come on Mr.president if want a republican for that seat arnold should be your man
Dr. Westen: You hit the nail on the head. As much as we admire and respect President Obama's heartfelt attempts to be bipartisan, your observation that 'President Lincoln didn't ask Robert E. Lee or Jefferson Davis for war advice ...' was perfect. Sometimes we Progressives want to tear our hair out watching him reaching that hand out, only to be ungraciously bitten by those on the other side! Thank you!
THANK YOU. I've felt like a lone voice in the wilderness since November; there's no profit in reinforcing the GOP-is-stronger-on-defense meme by appointing a Republican SecDef.
I've noticed on this list that the columnists are always combative - Obama is not doing a good job, conditions are bad (which we know), etc., etc., etc. Then I read the comments made by the individuals which have a right to their opinion. As it is, many of them are very critical of Obama and the stimulus package, and are sure that he is going to fail. That's all they seem to be hoping for. It's not that you haven't got a right to an opinion, both columnist and individuals but it seems that this entire list is this way. You know, I'm about ready to ship out. I'm thinking of it. do I get anything out of this? I certainly don't get anything that makes me feel good. I wonder if Obama was a Republican, would it be different? I know if the reps were still in office, that anything a Dem even thought, much less said, would be countered with: "You are unAmerican."
I am not sure why Republicans have had the edge on national security and the economy. Democratic Presidents FDR and Truman successfully waged the second world war, Republican President Eisenhower got us into Korea and we were fought to a stalemate, which still exists today. He also initiated Vietnam by sending in military "advisors". The Republican Nixon later lost that one. Democrat JFK quickly saw that Russian missiles 90 miles from the US was a clear and present danger while a variety of Republican pretenders were waffling left and right.
And don't talk about the economy the record there is just astounding. Time and again Republicans promised streamlined government, but have never delivered. They have been supreme at leaving us with massive deficits and crumbling infrastructure. The only "fiscal responsibility" they have shown was to leave the wealthy wealthier and the middle class and poor poorer. They have little to recommend them save for their nice sounding dogma. Oh, yeah I forget, Linclon was a Republican. The Dems did not exist then so I am sure if he had that choice he would have been a Dem.
Prof. Westen is a bit too fawning and rationalizing and certainly partisan.
First, Obama's crack about Lincoln was uninformed since the Commerce Department didn't exist and wouldn't for three quarters of a century.
Second, Westen's statement about Lincoln not asking for advice from Robert E. Lee is just wrong since Lee "declined an offer to command all Union forces in 1861 in order to ‘go with his people’."
It is unprecedented for the White House to assume direct control of the census especially under an extreme partisan like Rahm Emanuel. It reminds one of the first Mayor Daley's stacking the ballot boxes in favor of JFK in 1960 and Joe Stalin's remark (only slightly paraphrased ): It isn't the voters who count; it's who counts the voters.
oh, wow.......
of course the Commerce Dept. didn't exist back then, neither did telephones!
that part of it was a JOKE, blatantly obvious to anyone who isn't still blinded by the right and probably to most who still are.
Obama was bringing up a current issue in a brilliant way.
uninformed. please, don't throw this tripe at honest thinking people. it's insulting.
To try to change the political climate in this country seems to be harder then one thinks no matter how bad this country has set backs it's still politics as usual. It is time to move on for the better of this nation if this plan moves forward i'm sure Republicans will spin it to there benefit not for the American people but for there own capital. I have no idea how long this will continue but i'm damm sure people are getting sick of it. So to summ all this up honker down American it's gonna be a miserable 2 years of partisam bickering at least till 2010 untill next election.
Some serious partisan spinning is apparent here - "Gregg's … recognition that he doesn't … believe in … regulation of commerce, stimulating an economy …, or making sure everyone is counted ..." given Gregg's statements explaining his withdrawal.
I am also concerned that the professor believes Republicans held the reins of power for the last eight years, waged wars unnecessarily and incompetently while precipitating the worst year for business and the greatest economic crisis. The professor seems unaware of the Congress elected in '06, that presidents at least since Carter – Iran U.S. Embassy hostage crisis - have dealt necessarily in varying degrees of competence with Islamic jihadists, and no credit is given to Democrats for the worst business year and economic crisis.
In view of the Stimulus Package votes and both Pelosi’s and Rahm’s denial of bipartisan spirit, bipartisanship is unworthy of mention. Likewise Obama’s mishandling of Guantanamo, suspension of the jihadists trials putting both the facility and trials in limbo with no apparent end plan, insulting Afghanistan’s Karzai who has turned to the Russians, “civilian” deaths in Afghanistan and Pakistan plus suicide bomber successes in Iraq since January 20, and Obama’s overtures in a letter to Iran’s Ahmadinejad and on Arab TV apologizing for the U.S. to Muslims and their reactions in those instances.
In a bipartisan way no rethinking is in order, and both Democrats and Republicans are about even when it comes to defense and commerce right now.
Westen: "Senator Judd Gregg's sudden recognition that he doesn't really believe in things like regulation of commerce, stimulating an economy on the brink of collapse, or making sure everyone is counted in a census, and hence withdrew his nomination to serve as Secretary of Commerce"
How exactly does Gregg's withdrawal establish the fact he doesn't believe everybody should be counted?
So Obama takes over the census and that means that GREGG believed everybody shouldn't be counted? That would seemed to be Obama's goal to manipulate the census from this act.
His withdrawal means he DOESN'T believe in ANY stimulus package? How?
He stated WHERE exactly in his resignation or anywhere he doesn't believe in regulation? Seems Obama is a fool if he considered him knowing THAT!
What amazingly flimsy logic Mr. Westen!
The actions of Obama DON'T establish ANYTHING about Gregg! Your words are a pathetic attempt to clear your messiah from the fact he got caught being hyperpartisan.
Gregg's position on decreasing funding for the census, and thus ensuring that difficult to count minorities will likely be skipped, is what Mr Western is referring to.
Good Lord! I am hardly a minority or difficult to find ever in my life - listed in the phone book and other public records - but i was not counted in the most recent census, well-funded or not.
The census takers came to my home on the boat where I lived for 14+ years. They took off like scared rabbits when they saw the water moccasin I had shot and left on the boat ramp to show to a friend as prove of the need to be careful when visiting the boat.
It was a big but best kind of aggressive, poisonous snake - a dead one.
It looks like you were trying to make some point like the usual charge that Republicans do not care for minorities. If so you need to refresh on history, like Lincoln's, one of Obama's several exemplars, and on Eisenhower, a Republican President, for that matter all Republican Presidents right up to GWB and his Cabinet appointments.
Those are Gregg's on-record positions, which are directly opposed to Obama's stated positions. I think you've established that YOU don't know anything about Gregg.
Bonobo I believe you've established YOU don't know much about anything if you believe what Westen said is Gregg's on-record positions, unless you can provide a source for your belief other than Westen.
Just for fun let us know what Gregg's actions and viewpoints were on the Commerce Department as a member of Congress. I doubt you know them, also that Obama did. Obama's vetting on Gregg is right down there with Obama's vetting of his other appointees, especially in view of Gregg's actions and viewpoints on the Department.
re long333: "How exactly does Gregg's withdrawal establish the fact he doesn't believe everybody should be counted?"
A lesson that come from living and learning in these United States.
Republican history is to re-draw congregessional districts for the exclusive purpose of denying black and hispanic citizens the right to vote. Republicans want control of the census so that they can decide whom to exclude from the count in various voting districts arount the country, primarily in the southern states. This has been their practice for all of my sixty-seven years.
Gregg offered himself up to be the Secretary of Commerce because the republicans, through him, wanted to control the next census. But after Hispanic groups complained to the President, he moved the census count under joint control of the White House and the Commerce Dept.
This is when Gregg decided that he did not realize that he had differences with the White Hous that he could not support if he were to remain himself - Judd Gregg.
Hogwash.
He and the republicans realized that they would not be able to use yet another means to deny American citizens the right to vote.
Education is a wonderful thing. Take advantage of it.
Regulation has to do with rules of being resonable, decent and fair. What we call Democrats is
what Britan calls Labour. We have forgot about what real reporters and investigators used to
do.
Take Upton Sinclairs book "Jungle" which brought about a need for food and drug safety because
if unregulated, greed, selfishness and meanness can pervail. If you want wrong-doing, then let
those who do wrong get away with it
Wall Street has been doing the BONUS thing for a long time (pronounced Bone for Us) but shine a little light on them and their works and WOW, we need to make changes
,,, no matter how many olive branches are refused ...
Obama's mission of BI-PARTISANSHIP - that is,
trying to get people out of the OLD
"Us against THEM" mentality (& behavior) -
is like a raindrop looking at a piece of concrete saying,
"I know there's a flower under there.
I'll just keep watering it until it breaks through."
Not many people have that kind of vision, dedication,
and whole-hearted belief in that flower!
Wouldn't a sledgehammer work a lot better?
Apparently not. A sledgehammer and ramrods have been used to get the Stimulus Package through so quick no one person has read all of it. No one has had time to dissect and study its beautiful flower petals or huge potholes.
The Republicans have slapped away Obama's hand and they only care about corporations and the rich, as they always have. This is what they are and they don't deserve any more consideration from those who want to govern for the common good.
The Republicans slapped away Obama's hand? Pelosi, Reid and Rahm slapped away hands and kept Republicans out of the loop as much as possible. Three Republicans - Spector, Snowe and Collins made passage of the package possible. It's okay to face a little truth, facts and realism, really.
"Pelosi, Reid and Rahm slapped away hands and kept Republicans out of the loop as much as possible."
Translation: They didn't try to appease arrogant Repubs who are used to getting their way.
During the past eight years, the Repubs didn't make any compromises with Democrats, and Dems were often excluded from Bush White House briefings. Payback is a [female dog].
Besides, who besides Repubs say they were kept "out of the loop"? News flash: Repubs lie.
Republicans have always been quick on the trigger when it comes to small regional wars fought for the most loathsome and petty of reasons. Meanwhile, Democrats are the ones who get us into world shaking Clash of Civilization wars that culminate in Hiroshima like events.
And as far as commerce is concerned, I think the Republicans have shown their ineptness to all but the most stupid and ideological among us. And unless a voter is crazy enough to trade the gay marriage issue and reproductive rights over to those people responsible for the new great Depression, then the Democrats don't have much more to do than look like they aren't insane.
Dolmance, some specifics please on “small regional wars ... for the most loathsome[,] petty of reasons,” like the Southeast Asia War that JFK and LBJ got us into and grew gradually. That war involved North and South Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia with Soviet Union, Communist China, SEATO allies and others in the mix, like islands all across the Pacific and such as Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Australia. Also some specifics will be helpful on Gulf War I which involved Iraq, Kuwait, all the Arab Peninsula, Iran, Israel and coalition forces from around the world plus others. Please give us some on the world war brought to the world by Islamic jihadists at least as early as Carter’s presidency - Iran U.S. Embassy hostage crisis – with central battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq, again involving countries from around the world fighting there.
On commerce please give some credit to the Congress elected in ’06, Democrats involved in the present financial crisis long before that and rejection by Democrats of warnings from Bush and McCain that problems were looming, not to mention the ineptness of FDR and Carter.
If by gay marriage issue and reproductive rights you mean gay/lesbian agenda, in part rejected in California largely by Democrat voters, and murder by abortion of 1-1.4M babies a year in the U.S. alone since Roe v. Wade, a holocaust exceeding the one of WWII by about 7x, we need to talk more about who is stupid, ideological and insane.
So what about Leo Hindery as Commerce Secretary, or has vetting uncovered something I don’t know about? And, Kenneth Prewitt as Census Bureau Director?
When Sen. Judd was boasting of his conservatism, he obviously wasn't aware of John Stuart Mill's views on conservatives. Mill wrote:
"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives."
Judd can figure out which camp he belongs to.
Vetting? HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!
Sorry. Nice Mill quote.
Hempy/Bonobo, Reagan a bit more recently than John Stuart Mill said: "It's not that our LIberal friends don't know much. It is that so much of what they know is wrong." Winston Churchill some say said, "If you are not a liberal at age 20 you don't have a heart If you are not a conservative at age 40 you dont have a brain." There are other conservative/liberal quotes at Quoteland.com, found by Googling Quote+conservative+liberal.
Also I invite you to Google and read The Man In The Arena part of a speech by T.R. Roosevelt at the Sorbonne, Paris, Apr. 23, 1910.
Hemp, I will appreciate also your showing some respect for a U.S. Senator by using his name properly and correctly. I doubt you would like me referring to Sen. Obama, now President Obama as either Sen. or President Barack, Barack Hussein or Barry.
Finally, President Obama asked all of us to put aside "childish things," his "campaign rhetoric" and to support him as "the one President at a time" in bipartisan ways. I do. Will you and others please join us in honoring President Obama's wishes?
Thank you for this magnificent analysis. I was deeply disappointed in the Judd appointment and the capacity it had to bolster the GOP's hypocritical stance of fiscal responsibility. And I have been wondering why Paul Krugman hasn't been tapped.
Hopefully President Obama will consider the importance of the present and the future as well as his need to emulate those he admires from the past when making policy and building an administration.
We aren't on the brink of fighting a civil war due to our deep differences in economic policies (which was one of the biggest issues in the emancipation) and using the politics of that time to solve the present problems doesn't seem that effective.
I agree with you about Krugman - Put him in.
Krugman's economic model has no room for republican sacred cows. They would be alienated and not vote for Obama's economic stimulus package (oh, wait...).
Obama forgets that Lincoln's attempts at unity didn't really work very well until AFTER he crushed the Confederacy.
Bonobo, Lincoln did start a War Between the States, didn't he? - the most destructvive and deadly war we have ever had in our homeland. That gives me some pause about Obama holding Lincoln up as his model among the several Obama or his staff have floated for Obama to emulate.
Jade, I was disappointed also in the Gregg appointment and most of the other appointments that have given Obama so many headaches. I have also been wondering why Krugman has not been tapped, some of Obama's close friends and co-workers from Chicago, and more of his rivals in the primaries. I hope also Obama will consider the importance of the present and future in all his actions as president.
I’m not at all sure we are not at war among ourselves, in a culture war, a war of ideas and competing ideologies, means to ends, and ways and actions.
But, on the other hand, we are in agreement again. I doubt using a mid-19th C. model will be much effective with 21st C. problems.
One thing I am certain of: united we stand, divided we fall.
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