A couple weeks ago, I noted Sarah Palin’s pointed comment in her RNC speech that “the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of ‘personal discovery,’” and spent a while musing in light of that comment on our enigmatic President. A few days later, the Anchoress added a few comments of her own on that, which I’ve been mulling since:
The Office of the Presidency can either make a man great, or break him, but it will not allow him to coast and remain undefined.
But a lack of definition is what Obama has cultivated throughout adult life. From what little we know of his college days to his Inaugural speech, others have defined Obama for him, going mostly by what they saw—which was usually a reflection of themselves. He has kept himself safely tucked away, voting “present,” both early and often.
The forced definition of the American Presidency is sitting very uncomfortably with Barack Obama. There is nowhere to hide; there are no further personae to be invented and presented. The Jekyll and Hyde who has been singing endless encores of “This is the Moment” to America for nearly three years, has finally come upon a real moment, an authentic crossroad: he must now materialize into a defined entity with a known vector. Will that entity choose to define himself by a willingness to help a nation of free and energetic dreamers sustain the most exceptional and productive dream in history? Or will it choose to remain the poorly-marked outline of an aching, light-consuming void, delivering nothing but silence?
Until Barak Obama decides who he is, we cannot know him, and he cannot know America. And until he knows America, he cannot begin to understand the good-faith majority of us, who are longing not for a god, not for a king, but for a president worthy of our trust.
Whatever you may think about the Anchoress’ analysis of our President, what she says about the presidency is spot-on; and as regards Barack Obama, her main point (that he has largely made his way through life by letting others see in him what they want to see) is not a new or stunning observation. I don’t know that we can conclude from that that he himself doesn’t know who he is—one could also see his lack of public definition as a deliberate (and effective) political tactic, and simply ascribe it (as Shelby Steele did) to “a lack of strong political convictions”—but it’s certainly one possible interpretation; and it’s one which does seem perfectly possible in light of his rather unanchored childhood, as it’s the sort of approach to life which a child who has to keep fitting in with changing circumstances, places, and groups of people would be likely to cultivate as a defense and coping mechanism.
If the Anchoress’ read is correct, the President has a major personal transition ahead of him which he’ll have to make if he wants to do well by himself and his country during his time in office; if so, for his sake and all of ours, here’s hoping he’s able to do so.
Left something out, lol. sorry.
This may have nothing to do with what you were thinking, but as I read, the image came to my mind of a dog who chases cars finally catching one – what does he do with it?
By no means calling the president a dog, though. 🙂
I can see the connection. I do think, though, that he has some definite ideas as to what he wants to do with the presidency; I've seen some folks suggest he mainly wanted the office for the perks and the honor, and I don't believe that. It's pretty clear to me that he has an agenda, that he has ideas as to what is best for this country which he wants to implement. I don't agree with most of the substance of that agenda, but I do believe he has one.