|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Obama not leading, even from behind
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Candidate
|
| Contributor | Jason |
| Last Edited | Jason Jun 02, 2011 01:20am |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | Opinion |
| News Date | Wednesday, June 1, 2011 11:05:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | President Obama has returned from his grand tour of Europe that took in Ireland, Britain, France and Poland. While overseas, he was feted by large crowds and fawned over by European political elites.
Even in London, he was given a hugely warm welcome. Despite an embarrassing track record of insulting America’s closest friend and ally, he was rewarded with a state visit and the honor of an address to Parliament.
Despite all the fanfare, Barack Obama still doesn’t come across as an American leader of weight, principle or conviction. His flagship speech in Westminster Hall was full of soaring rhetoric and forced platitudes about the importance of the Anglo-American alliance, but was ultimately empty when it came to policy. There was no clear vision for U.S. leadership in the Middle East, including the war in Libya, the crisis in Syria and the growing Iranian nuclear threat. On Afghanistan, where more than 100,000 U.S. troops are fighting the Taliban, there was only talk of an endgame, and no sense of striving for victory.
And there was even less detail on offer in the president’s joint press conference at Downing Street with David Cameron, where the British Prime Minister spectacularly outshone and outclassed his dull and uninspiring U.S. counterpart. Without the presence of his beloved teleprompter, Mr. Obama was left floundering in the face of straightforward questions from the American and British press. When asked about the budget deficit, the president delivered an embarrassingly muddled response that hardly exuded confidence. On Libya he was even worse, forcing Mr. Cameron to explain America’s role in the campaign to oust Col. Moammar Gadhafi. What the White House appropriately calls “leading from behind” was amply on display in London last week for all to see. |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
