Do You Trust Barack Obama?

by David L. Goetsch

Those who are entrusted with leadership positions in our society should never forget the following rule of thumb: people will not follow a leader they do not trust. Consequently, gaining the trust of the American people is essential to any individual who serves as President of the United States.  One of the reasons President Reagan remains so popular with such a broad cross-section of Americans is that people trusted him.  Those on the left rarely agreed with him—but even ardent liberals had to begrudgingly admit that they thought he was honest and had the best interests of America at heart.

Can the same be said for President Obama?  Asked another way, do you trust Barack Obama?  Understandably, conservatives do not trust him but what is more interesting from the perspective of leadership is that many of Obama’s staunchest supporters no longer trust him.  Consider the words of one of his earliest and most vocal supporters, liberal commentator Chris Matthews: “What are we trying to do in this administration? Why does he want a second term? Would he tell us? What’s he going to do with a second term, more of this?” 
The reason that most conservatives and a growing number of liberals distrust President Obama is that he habitually makes promises with no intention of keeping them.  What really rankles is that he does so with such arrogance.  It’s as if he thinks the American people are stupid.  For example, candidate Obama promised his fellow leftists that he would close down Guantanamo as soon as he was elected.  Michael Moore and crowd practically purred with satisfaction at the prospect.  Thankfully, more than three years later Guantanamo is still in business and Michael Moore, Chris Matthews, and a growing list of former worshippers are becoming disenchanted with Barack Obama.
Americans of all stripes are growing ever more distrustful of the president, and with good reason.  He has openly and blatantly lied to the American people about issues of importance to them.  Consider just a few examples of Barack Obama’s broken promises:

• While campaigning in New York in 2008 he promised to “…go through the federal budget line by line eliminating programs that no longer work…” This has not happened.
• While debating Senator McCain in October 2008 he promised to reduce insurance premiums while ensuring choice in selecting physicians.  Is your health insurance premium lower?
• In a campaign speech in 2008 he promised to make government more open and transparent.  Maybe he meant everyone else in government but himself and his administration.
• In a campaign speech in 2008 he promised that as vice-president Joe Biden would play a major role in eliminating the divisive partisanship in Congress.  The Obama administration, with the help of Vice-President Biden, is one of the most partisan, divisive administrations in America’s history. 
• If they do not trust you, they will not follow you.  Let’s hope this leadership maxim proves true in November.  Further, when you listen to Barack Obama, listen carefully.  It’s your future he is lying about