Obama is an Amateur

by: Onan Coca
I don’t think this will come as much of a surprise to most readers of Eagle Rising, but President Obama is an amateur. I guess that’s what happens when you elect a one-term Senator with no work history and a shady education to be the leader of the Free World.
For years, I have advocated for citizen activists to lead our government, meaning that farmers, teachers, lawyers, doctors, journalists, engineers, garbage-men and lawn-care professionals should all take time out of their professional schedules to serve in government. Spend a term or two in the capitol and then come home to resume their careers. But I never meant for a man who never had a real job to try to do this.
It’s vitally important that our leaders -- our representatives -- be able to identify with us. How can they understand our struggles, our thoughts, our beliefs and our desires if they’ve never stood in our shoes? The only shoes that President Obama has ever stood in are the shoes of a politician – his entire life’s experience until the day he was elected President, was about being a politician. This is the worst way to develop a leader.

Whether it’s on the world stage or crafting domestic policy, the President has failed in every endeavor. Need to talk tough on the Middle East? What happens when you have to back up your tough talk? Failure. Equivocation. Death, destruction and weakness. Want to pass massive healthcare legislation that the majority of your population doesn’t want? Blame it on messaging when the poorly crafted train-wreck of a bill starts falling apart. If that doesn’t work, blame it on Republican opposition, even though the Republicans in Congress are busier fighting each other rather than focusing on stopping the worst legislation to hit the country in 80+ years. (Thanks Messrs. McCain, Graham, Burr, et al)
Hey, but there is one place that our amateur President excels -- and that’s in pop culture! Which is what you want out of your leader, right? You want your leader to at least be successful when dealing with adoring fans, pop music and daytime television… who cares about the other “incidental” stuff like the economy, terrorism, healthcare, education or foreign policy?
Here’s our President “retweeting” that important world leader Katy Perry.

Barack Obama        ✔ @BarackObama

Thanks for spreading the word. #ROAR MT @katyperry: RT @BarackObama: Get affordable coverage starting Oct. 1 http://OFA.BO/Healthcare 

7:51 PM - 25 Aug 2013 

 

And here he is going toe-to-toe philosophically with the great thinker of our day, Jason Derulo. 

Jason Derulo        ✔ @jasonderulo

2night the #VMA’s, 2morrow #marryme released on iTunes...who can tell me what's dropping Oct 1? Hint: go 2 http://healthcare.gov 

Barack Obama        ✔ @BarackObama

Tattoos not included. MT @jasonderulo: 2night the #VMA’s... who can tell me what's dropping Oct 1? Hint: go 2 http://healthcare.gov 

4:33 PM - 25 Aug 2013 

The best (or worst) part of this is that the only people who confront our amateur President anymore also happen to be pop-icons…or their children. Jay Leno was the first tough investigative reporter to corner the President on some of the biggest issues facing his administration, and his softball interview is still the toughest questioning the President has faced to date.

Rob Lowe’s College-age kid even notices the disturbing trend towards amateurish behavior emanating from the White House.

Matthew Edward Lowe @RealMatthewLowe

Since when has it been acceptable for a sitting US president to go on the Tonight Show and the View? We need a new icon in America. 

What does it say about your administration and the culture of your media when the toughest critics of the President come from the entertainment industry?
Face the music America – President Obama is an Amateur and a charlatan. He won the White House using smoke and mirrors, and we’ll be lucky if we make it out of his second term with American resembling anything close to its former greatness.