For the last couple of weeks the media have marveled over President-Elect Obama’s rapid & seemingly well considered Administration creation. We have been treated to countless comparisons between Obama’s timeline and past president’s and the group think consensus was that this maneuvering was ample evidence that the chosen one was in fact the change “we have been waiting for” even while most of his picks were anything but. This week, it was the story that changed.
Governor Bill Richardson had to withdraw his name after it was revealed an investigation of “pay-to-play” accusations was turning into something more than typical oversight. Obama’s vetting team, who didn’t see this as a stumbling block, accused Richardson of not being forthcoming. The Governor’s people pushed back. I have to ask, “If he wasn’t giving the requested info why was he cleared by the vetters?”
While it probably won’t stop her confirmation similar accusations of “pay-to-play” surrounded Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton. Recent financial disclosures from Bill Clinton revealed some suspicious things involving an Upstate, NY developer, Sen. Clinton’s dealings & President Clinton’s charity.
The latest tribulation concerns former Clinton Chief of Staff Leon Panetta; it was revealed Panetta who has no intelligence experience had been tapped to head the CIA. This lead to outrage from influential Dem Senator Diane Feinstein who will be overseeing America’s intelligence in the Senate. Obama & Biden are now apologizing for not consulting leaders before the name leaked to the press.
Of course at the center of this is Obama’s vetting and political team both of which failed miserably to foresee problems with Richardson and Panetta. Obama’s desire to look like he was in command may have overshadowed the delicate nature of handing out leadership positions.
All along this has been the worry about an Obama presidency; a man whose presentation was stellar but whose depth was undefined;
It seemed likely to result in major missteps during a crossroads when our nation cannot afford any more lost time.
No observer can reasonably expect perfection but they can demand their elected representatives not curtail necessary deliberation and due diligence in exchange for a fluffy marketing ploy. Make no mistake that nearly everything we have seen from Obama has been just that, the calculated presentation of reality and not necessarily a representation of reality. It’s politics obviously but from a man whose marketing slogans told voters he was more than marketing slogans.
There is a reason incoming administrations take time to make these decisions. Even the most calculating will run into issues with vetting or fall to political pressures. The Obama team was so eager though to present a magical image of competance & stability they did not spend the time to actually do the job.
Many will argue these are isolated incidents but they come after a campaign filled with warning signs Obama was not the man of depth or “change” his people had portrayed. As a nominee for his party or a candidate for president the dangers from that truth was limited. Now Obama is the leader of our nation in a time of War and economic peril and that requires more than a marketing slogan and a job half done.
Comments