Critical Political Effectiveness

A few days ago, my wife and I visited the Lyndon B. Johnson museum and Library at Austin'sUniversity of Texas campus. We saw a detailed history of Johnson's  life and political activities from childhood to death. What struck us was the thoroughness of his apprenticeship and life's training as a political figure and campaigner, his long-hours of work (often from 4 A.M. to midnight),  his extraordinary Congressional career which earned him respect, and political chips, from Representatives and Senators on both sides of the aisles, and his principles concerning civil rights which dated to his early career as a teacher in a Texas Mexican-American primary school.

When Lee Harvey Oswald murdered President Kennedy,  Vice President Johnson had the energy, talent, politcal experience, credibility, focus, commitment and contacts  to become an extraordinary President, actively involved in passage of  revolutionary civil rights  and health care reforms, including the establishment of Medicare.  However, his commitment to continuing the Vietnamese war eroded  public support and led to his decision not to seek reelection.

In my opinion, President Obama lacks a number of the presidential  qualities of President Johnson. Obama's decision to flee Washington to pursue the illusion of a Chicago Olympics, rather than to provide needed leadership to ineffective Harry Reid in the Senate battle over health care reform, demonstrates a lack of  focus and a failure of staff  to work with him to set an appropriate agenda. Obama abandoned the appearance of serious comitment to health care reform to chase after international games. Like the Olympics, his actions suggest amateurism.