World

Journalist startled by Obama's faux pas in China

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | November 28, 2009 at 12:10 pm

334 views | 20 Recommendations | 7 comments

What if Obama is not FDR, but Hoover?, a Nation columnist asks. . .

Journalist William Greider of The Nation magazine was startled by a faux pas Obama made in China; moreover, he was scared: That Obama may be a Hoover, and not a Roosevelt, after all . . .

The ambivalence and confusion of purpose which was a distinguishing feature of Hoover - who never found the will to follow through decisively , and could cling to failed market strategies - Geider find rightfully worrisome. The wisdom of non-action is not always wisdom.

Obama's logic and his approach have been dyslexic and backwards, says Geider, and members of Congress are slowly beginning to grasp this, as Obama's words fall like drops of acid into the rotting situation.

Like Hoover, Obama is pulled between opposing imperatives and conflicting ideologies, within himself, and in those who surround him: Something is afoul, says Geider, and the fault lies not within the stars but within Obama himself, is the conclusion which he does not want to reach, but cannot help but do so.

"While he was in China, Barack Obama made a bizarre declaration that the US government must reduce its budget deficits in order to avoid "a double-dip recession." The remark was alarming because it suggests the president may not fully understand the country's economic predicament. Deficit spending is a cure for our troubles, not the cause. If Obama follows through and actually reduces the red ink, the Great Recession could be born again with new fury." . . . his backward logic gave me a chill. If Obama acts on it, he will be walking in the footsteps of Herbert Hoover, not Franklin Roosevelt, and I fear his presidency could be doomed as a result. "

~William Greider, The Nation

In an interview with Fox News, the president said: "It is important to recognize if we keep on adding to the deficit, even in the midst of this recovery, that at some point people could lose confidence in the US economy in a double-dip recession." Maybe he didn't mean it. Or was merely nodding to Chinese leaders, our leading creditor, who had scolded him for profligate spending.
I know that sounds too strong and brutally unfair, given the president's energetic vision for the country and his early efforts to stimulate economic recovery. But history is often unfair to leaders who do not get their priorities straight and fail to deliver what they promise.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

stejeb

at 12:47 on November 28th, 2009

A display of confidence in the USA and it's efforts would have looked better on the international stage.

YankeeJim

at 13:47 on November 28th, 2009

President Obama and George W. Bush share something in common, a failed management approach. I write about this in my soon to be published book, Smart Data, (c) 2010 James A. George and James A. Rodger, Wiley Publishing. There are two things wrong with Obama: 1) no CEO experience, and 2) failing to focus on the data -- the facts and actionable information associated with producing desired and required outcomes.

Outcomes with metrics and with a process trail that demonstrates how outcomes will be produced is essential for success. Obama's outcomes sound great, but they often lack metrics and most assuredly are flawed in the process.

I am going to try to get his attention.

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 13:14 on November 28th, 2009

Wow, YJ, did not know you were publishing a book!!! :) congrats

YankeeJim

at 13:48 on November 28th, 2009

200,000 words OMG

Hugh Askew

at 13:45 on November 28th, 2009

Given that FDR mostly took Hoover's programs and expanded them, i don't see a lot of differences in comparison - except in popularity and how they are presented by history.

Fair example of perception becoming reality.

Very good article, by the way, smk.

Babel-Fish

at 14:15 on November 28th, 2009

Obama may need to sack his speech writer or his advisory, lets put that another way Obama like all presidents can not be a master of all trades, he certainly is not a top economist nor an accountant he has advisors he has speech writers.

He also is not a genious, thankfully he is human and humans do make mistakes. So far Obama's done quiet well even Russia and China are on the band wagon to stop Iran's mischief. Obama is certaily not like Bush all though he has took on the mess that Bush and cronies left behind. He has to find away to hand over Iraq and win a war so as to hand over Afghanistan. He is not a general and has no real clue about tatics he has to rely once again on advisors.

Obama,s weakest points are the fact he is a man and how he has been corrupted and who is pulling his strings. Thankfully its not the same people that pulled Bush's strings.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 16:16 on November 28th, 2009

The vote yesterday was by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). That doesn't meant that Russia and China will come on side when it comes to a Security Council Resolution. In response, Iran today gave the finger to the IAEA and said that they might get out of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty altogether.

The response of the security council will show who is on side.