More Than a Touch of Hubris

Even to his most ardent supporters, President-elect Obama is not one to whom the terms modesty and humility immediately come to mind. Since his election, Obama has been a fixture on national television, as is his right. There are several incidents that come to mind, however, where I hope Obama is up to the task of actually being president rather than merely acting presidential.

First up, of course, is the odd placard Obama places on the lectern prior to his televised events. “Office of the President-elect,” it reads, with a stern eagle astride the top. As I travel to Boston this morning, calls to directory assistance in both Chicago and Washington yielded nothing — no numbers were found in either city when I called looking for said office. Putting aside the fact that Obama has created an office for himself that does not exist in the Constitution, he could have at least cloaked over his fiction by having an Office of the President-elect listed in the phone book. Must have been an oversight.

Next up is the constant invocation of Obama (by Obama) as the next coming of Abraham Lincoln. Yes, both the 16th and 44th presidents will hail from the great state of Illinois. But Obama’s constant reminders, along with frequent references to the Team of Rivals book by Doris Kearns Goodwin are a bit much. And to all of the Obama and media types who incessantly bring up the book, did you actually read it? If Obama seeks a Team of Rivals-style Cabinet, it will be one that meets infrequently, is marked by constant bickering and is largely a failure; this can’t be the change and hope Obama has promised, can it?

While on the topic of Lincoln, The Washington Post obediently notes this morning that: “Like Lincoln, Obama will Ride the Rails to DC … now he plans to arrive in Washington the same way Lincoln did in 1861, with a train trip that will include stops, speeches and crowds along the way.” Stops, speeches and crowds? Obama is set to become the most powerful man on earth, faced with two wars abroad and an economic recession at home — and he comes to Washington not sober, rested and reflective but focused on stops, speeches and crowds?

I genuinely hope the incoming president’s energy and focus are centered on moving this great country forward rather than burnishing his own legacy — even before he enters office. Once in the Oval Office, Obama can serve the American people and history may judge him against his predecessors. Until then, we need a leader focused on our challenges rather than his interest in imagery, symbolism and power.