Barack's Not Honest Abe -- But Neither Was Abraham Lincoln

The assessment of Barack Obama one year after his historic election has been pretty harsh, whether you're on the right or left. Most pundits seem to believe he's already let US down. His teacher would give little Barack a C with a "needs to apply himself more. Much room for improvement."

I've expressed my own ambivalence and even disappointment in my last post, "Barack Obama, The Token President?" But I made a point then -- and I make it now -- the fat lady not only not sung yet, she's barely got her ample posterior on stage.

We like to look back on past Presidents and precedents to compare to current leaders. But when you actually know something about the real history, it seldom compares with our pop version.

For instance, most of us buy the "Honest Abe" myth and the idea that Lincoln was a loved American icon from the start. But remember, within the first year of his election, the whole country was at war. And even though we like to think all Northerners were on his side, many, if not most, did not care about slaves, let alone want to fight to free them. That's why Lincoln had to start the draft.

The New York Draft Riots (which, quiet as it's kept, may have been the deadliest in our history) happened because Irish longshoreman didn't want to help free slaves that would become competition for their jobs.

So, please, please, please, stay calm. Obama still has 3 years to either become a legend or a loser.

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Comments

[NuffHuff]

I very much agree with Holly Pop and would add the following.

One challenge here is that Obama was very good at allowing U.$. citizens to see themselves, their hopes and dreams, in him during the campaign. Unfortunately, too many people thought they were electing a radical progressive, when what they got was an intelligent moderate Democrat. He is a very good moderate democrat and compared to the last 8 years he is a big shift to the left. But he is being judged based upon the left's illusionary candidate, not the person who he was and is.

[Lowell Thompson - Huffpost Blogger]

NuffHuff,

Exactly.

[fritzson]

> So, please, please, please, stay calm. Obama still has 3 years to either become a legend or a loser.

Sure. But the people applying the pressure (say by agreeing to no longer donate money to the DNC or the Obama organization until they start living up to campaign promises) really are calm. They are simply trying to help Obama become a legend and not a loser. He needs financial and vocal pressure from both sides in order to stay "centered".

[Lowell Thompson - Huffpost Blogger]

Fritzson,

Sure you're right.

It's the old carrot and stick technique. As much as purists on either side deny it, only the right balance of both usually works best in the real world.

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[Hollypop]

Some thoughts from an Englishman living in France...... I like this article it's more realistic than many I am reading on Huff these days. I sometimes despair of our American friends... they all seem in too big a hurry to get what they need (or want) and that's when they make mistakes.

One year in office and quite frankly Obama has done more to put America in the right direction again than most other countries premiers do in four years. So yes have patience and get behind your chosen leader it's easy to sit on you 'butts' and complain.... Didn't he say ' Yes WE can .... not yes I can'.

Rome ( the one in Europe) wasn't built in a day and the mess the Bush administration left won't be cleared up in just one term of office let alone in a year.... but with patience it will be.

In the fifties the UK welcomed black people in to the country to do the jobs they felt were beneath them...they didn't want to get thier hands dirty.... is Obama doing you're dirty work ?

The worlds ' Fast Food Nation' needs to get in the kitchen and start peeling the potatoes instead of complaining about the service.

Just some observations from a friend !!

[Lowell Thompson - Huffpost Blogger]

Hollypop,

"Didn't he say ' Yes WE can .... not yes I can'."

That's a good line. Is it OK if I steal it? It expresses the essence of the American Dilemma.

Most of US seem to think all we have to do is let somebody else run things while we make lots of money and engage in "the pursuit of happiness". That's why we had to bail out the bankers.

But real democracy (even republican democracy) is a contact sport. And the more players, the better.

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