Obama isn't Superman (about time someone said it)

[Nancy Waterman]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/10/AR2010061002635.html

Obama, it turns out, is not Superman. In (unhappy) truth, no president is, no matter how politically gifted and no matter how many people, in this country and around the world, root for his success. Americans like to read politics and history as a tale of the Great Man -- they are eager subscribers to the Hercules myth of how the world works. Obama in particular plays to this seductive but fanciful notion. In electing him president in 2008, Americans seemed to think that "yes, we can" would become, almost overnight, "and so we have done,"

snip

Few people want to hear this, but he's doing the best he can, considering the difficult circumstances that he and the nation face. And what he needs most from the public is a quality that distinguishes adults from children: patience.

Or, put another way: America, grow up!

[WI_DEM]

1. It isn't America that needs to grow up but the media. Most Americans understand that a president

can only do so much, but it has been the MSM who creates these "talking-points". A few nights ago Rachel had a great commentary on the MSM and wondered if they get together at a convention and come up with the stuff they try and push.

[Nancy Waterman]

4. Smerconish wrote in the WP today about the polarized press

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/10/AR2010061004118.html

Hard to believe there were two good editorials today in the WP by anyone but the few good regulars (EJ Dionne and Meyerson)
but this one was very interesting. He shows how the pundit shows won't let you on unless you agree to take the extreme position they want for their ratings.

Opinions from the middle are underrepresented, even shunned, in the modern debate. Consider: In May 2008, a few weeks after Pennsylvania's presidential primary, I was scheduled to appear on CNN's "Larry King Live." During the customary pre-interview with a program producer, I gave a summation of how I saw the presidential race. The producer was satisfied. At the conclusion of our chat, I asked how I would be identified.

"As a John McCain supporter," I was told.

"But I'm not sure I will vote for McCain," I responded.

Silence.

The producer asked whether CNN could identify me as a conservative. "Well, if someone who supports harsh interrogation, thinks we should be out of Iraq but in Pakistan, doesn't care much if two guys hook up, and believes we should legalize pot and prostitution is conservative, fine," I replied.

More silence.

Why not just introduce me as a radio host, columnist and author, I asked. I was told to await a call-back to see whether I was still needed. (Ultimately, I did appear on the program, under the heading of "talk-radio host, columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer. He is a Republican.")

Another time, a Fox News producer invited me to appear on a program to discuss then-candidate Barack Obama. I was told they were "looking for someone who would say he's cocky and that his cockiness will hurt him, if not in the primary, definitely in the general election against McCain." I declined. A few hours later, the same producer made a new pitch: "What about a debate off the top of the show on whether or not Hillary is trustworthy? We have someone who says she is and we're looking for someone who says she isn't."

[Jennicut]

8. Memes pushed in the media. So blatant.

[tranche]

10. Thanks for pointing this one out. I think these types of things are important to be aware of.

It's all a show. I mean, it's cable, what should we expect.

[tridim]

2. This is why Rush always referred to Obama as the messiah

As long as the meme is out there, the MSM will happily make the comparisons regardless of the truth.

I've never heard anyone who voted for Obama call him a god or Superman, only hate radio people and the MSM do that.

[SoFlaJet]

3. That Nancy

is what I'm sad to say I see from way too many people on this site lately-they are expecting some superhero and can see nothing good or any positive change he has affected-only what he HASN'T been able to do-yet. There was a lot of damage down to this country under Bush/Cheney and some expect some magic wand that can change everything back to some Utopian vision of what they wish would be-like a children's fairy tale.

[Nancy Waterman]

5. SoFlaJet That is why this article is so important

It reminds us to curb our unrealistic expectations. I was both surprised and grateful to see it today.
We were so downtrodden after 8 years of Bush, we just wanted to be rescued from the darkness. We did not want to compromise and we did not want to hear that things are complicated or difficult. Unfortunately, we have the filibuster to contend with which waters down everything in order to get it passed. Unless the Dems can figure out a way to change the rules of the Senate in the beginning of January at the start of the next session, this will continue.

[Political Tiger]

6. TRUTH: "America, grow up! " n/t

[vaberella]

7. A lot of people on DU have said that....I was one of them.

But many many many many people I can list have said that.

[TheWraith]

9. Kicked and recommended to counter the unrecs.

We need this back on the Greatest page.

[Phx_Dem]

11. It's about time.

And what he needs most from the public is a quality that distinguishes adults from children: patience.

Or, put another way: America, grow up!

[AtomicKitten]

12. K&R

[okieinpain]

13. i find it really ironic that he is getting pounded over the oil spill,

but I have to admit he has really blown the pr part of handling the crisis. I'm pretty sure everyone is doing the best they can with what they have at hand. but president obama has really blown the pr side of this.

[nichomachus]

14. Then why did he run as Superman -- with all the hope and change bullshit?

Nothing has changed.

[sam kane]

15. Please! He is president. Grow up, WP. nt.

n.

[Tailormyst]

16. What happened to "Chill, I got this"

New talking point?

First it was: Obama is smarter then us so sit down and shut up cause he knows best.

Now it seems to be: Obama isn't superman, it takes a long time to change (especially when moving in the opposite direction)so sit down and stop your whining.

I would like to say this to the Obama administration: If you continue to shit all over the grass roots liberals who worked their asses off for you and the other Dems in DC then do not be surprised when we n turn tell you to go fuck yourself when you come around next with your hands out looking for money or volunteers.

This is not a fucking sporting event where its all about your team winning. This is about real issues that effect real lives.

[Go2Peace]

17. +1

This administration reminds me more and more of George Bush I (not II). Very similar. I know people here don't like to hear it, but it seems like a "Kinder Gentler" version with many Republican core values involved (just with different tax policy).

Sure that's better than Bush II, but far from what was sold to us.

Maybe the entire country is indeed moving to the right, because they seem to accept a lot of things in Democratic President that would have been seen as un-"Democratic" in the past.

[backwoodsbob]

18. how about he does ANYTHING on the oilspill

We were offered skimmers..refused...booms are sitting in warehouses...not used. There are literally TONS of oil eating bactireia we can use...not used

How about we get some fucking response other than *who's ass I'm gonna kick* from the WH?

we were offered skimmers 53 days ago..they were turned down.

This is becoming a nightmare

[Pisces]

19. Don't be ridiculous. I want to know why he hasn't flown counterclockwise around the earth to turn

back time and stop the gulf spill. It sure feels like this is what most are expecting.

[treestar]

20. All those years of letting the Decider say he was taking care of everything

Seems we are not ready to let that go - and that was the change Obama was talking about.