The Fourth Mystery of Barack Obama

by Richard Kostelanetz (May 2014)

To my mind, the greatest miracle of Obama’s presidency was that he was reelected over growing national indebtedness caused by the dumb wars and continuing unacceptable levels of unemployment. What made his reelection possible was an opposition candidate who, notwithstanding previous successes, turned out to be unelectable and, separately, the perfect hoax in claiming to eliminate Osama bin Laden, who had probably disappeared a decade before. (For more about this hoax, see me in New English Review on line [May, 2012].)

His greatest failings have come from inexperience. For all his skill at winning elections, Obama doesn’t know how to lead, beginning with working with Congress, setting aside the schemes of billionaires, or feinting off the military-industrial complex that President Ike warned more than sixty years was a major internal threat. Obama’s glib confidence in talking himself out of problems of his own creation has tried the patience of the American public. He has disappointed, because in too many respects he has been scarcely different from his immediate predecessor, who incidentally resembles Obama in his physical frame. Those most disadvantaged by Obama’s failure are those other than state governors aspiring to the presidency, beginning with senator Rand Paul, whom I regard as a very attractive candidate (much as his father was, if only to force consideration of issues otherwise smothered).

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