NYC Letter: Leadership By Obama

Countdown 34 days to go

It is time again for a new generation of leadership. It is time now for Barack Obama.

Edward "I'll Drive" Kennedy (D-MA),
checking his generational leadership watch
WASHINGTON January 28, 2008 (NYT)

DEMOCRATS CLAIM
WALL ST. BAILOUT BREAKTHROUGH

WASHINGTON September 24, 2008 (Reuters) - Democratic Rep. Barney Frank said on Wednesday Democrats had reached an agreement to stem one of the worst U.S. financial disasters in decades, and that there would be enough votes to pass the measure and send it to President George W. Bush to sign into law. Mr. Frank, chairman of the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee:

We now have between House and Senate Democrats an agreement on what we think should be in the bill, and we have a meeting scheduled at 10 a.m. tomorrow to meet with the Republicans.

Hhmmm, sounds pretty serious, pretty important. [Fanfare from Rocky.] Hold on tight! Here comes the stupefying leadership!

I -- I think the important principle at this point is to send a clear signal to members of Congress, as well as the country, that this is a serious problem that has to be solved and not -- should not be subject to the usual partisan politics. ... You know, what I'm going to do is, I'm going to -- what I have told the leadership in Congress is that, if I can be helpful, then I am prepared to be anywhere any time. ... So, you know, I think the message is, if you need us, if I can be helpful, I'm prepared to be there at any point.

Mr. Obama,
pledging to do all that is necessary --
short of picking up a phone and calling House Democrats --
to get Democrat-crafted bailout legislation
passed in a Democrat-controlled Congress
CLEARWATER, Florida September 24, 2008 (RCP)

HOUSE REJECTS BAILOUT PACKAGE, 228-205;
STOCKS PLUNGE

WASHINGTON September 29, 2008 (NYT) - The vote against the measure was 228 to 205, with 133 Republicans turning against President Bush to join 95 Democrats in opposition. The bill was backed by 140 Democrats and 65 Republicans.

How did what should have been a majority party-line done deal fail -- with the support of a third of the opposition? Apparently Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC, 6th) was clueless that 40% of his party was not on board. Where was Mr. Obama?

Mr. Obama had said he was inclined to support the bill that failed Monday. But it remains an open question how much political capital he will seek to expend, or how invested he wants to become, in helping Democratic leaders win passage of a bill.

The failure of the measure took both camps by surprise. Mr. Obama, who was campaigning Monday in Colorado, had already sent reporters the advance text of a speech he planned to give lauding the agreement.

... [Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain senior economic adviser] said Mr. McCain had made "dozens of calls" on the bill, some to House Republicans who opposed it.

Aides to Mr. Obama said he had not directly reached out to try to sway any House Democrats who opposed the measure.

Yes, that's the "clear signal to members of Congress, as well as the country," that the credit crisis is a "serious problem that has to be solved".

But where Mr. McCain had accused Mr. Obama of taking a hands-off approach to the financial crisis, Democratic advisers said they believed that Mr. McCain now had a role in the legislation’s failure.

Here is the leadership you want, the leadership of blame. Mr. McCain drums up Republican support for a Democrat-crafted junk bill while Demos jump ship on their party leadership. Now it's Mr. McCain's albatross. Democratic bipartisanship in action.

NO SUPPORT FROM THE UNDERPANTS
No Need To Lead The Party
If You Lead In The Polls

Earlier Mrs. Palin, for all her inexperience, read Mr. Obama's pole's length leadership astutely.

PALIN SAYS OBAMA VOTING 'PRESENT' ON THE ECONOMY

LADY LAKE, Florida September 21, 2008 (ABC News) - Gov. Sarah Palin accused Sen. Barack Obama of not aggressively promoting a plan to address the current crisis on Wall Street and compared the situation to his many "present" votes in the Illinois state legislature. Mrs. Palin:

This week, when the economic crisis threatened the livelihoods of millions of Americans, John McCain took a clear stand and he offered his own recovery plan. Our opponent refused to even take a stand on the position.

And that's a lot like his tenure in the Illinois state legislature where Barack Obama voted present about 130 times. This week he voted present on the major economic issues of the day, and that is not leadership, America. It's not leadership Americans can afford.