Is Barack Obama Too Perfect?

Sometimes it seems that the writers of Politco just love to create controvesy. Today they raise the question of whether Barack Obama is too perfect:

Let’s be honest: Barack Obama is better than you are.

He’s a better father — taking breaks from running the world to cheer on his daughters at soccer and basketball games.

He’s a better husband — zipping his wife off for dinner in New York and Paris.

He’s got a better diet — nibbling on vegetables from his homegrown garden to keep his love handles in check.

And he’s got a terrific jump shot.

You? Not so much.

Call it the politics of personal perfection. The Barack Obama brand is as much about being a personal example to the nation as it is about being a political figure. But the danger of that frothy mix of glamour and domesticity is that President Obama could become in the public mind something he never sought to be: the Martha Stewart of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

And political veterans say the fine line between what’s inspiring and what’s annoying can be difficult to spot in advance.

Obama veered further toward Martha Stewart Living territory in an interview with a Pakistani newspaper on June 21. He told the interviewer about his college travels in Pakistan and talked about the exotic dishes he learned to cook there.

“Keema … daal … you name it, I can cook it,” Obama said.

Also, the president noted, he reads Urdu poetry.

All this is driving certain people — mostly Republicans — nuts.

13 Comments

  1. 1
    Christoher Skyi says:

    Obama’s a cool guy, no question about  that, but you’re exactly right: if the economy is still “cool” in 2010 or (god forbid) 2012, it won’t help him.

  2. 2
    Carole S. says:

    He’s becoming a big let down, real fast.

  3. 3
    Ron Chusid says:

    Let down? He might be “too perfect” but most people sure are glad he is now president instead of Bush.

  4. 4
    Fritz says:

    Well, sure.  Because if Bush were still President that would mean the Constitution had been suspended.  Which would be a Very Bad Thing.

  5. 5
    Ron Chusid says:

    It is a good thing Obama is president as opposed for Bush for many reasons beyond the fact that Bush could not remain in office due to the Constitutional restrictions. (Is there any point to in going back and laughing at the nuttier people I’ve run into on the left who claim that Bush stole the election in 2004 and would suspend the 2008 election to remain in power).

  6. 6
    Fritz says:

    There is the strong possibility (considering TARP) that Bush would have been no better than Obama (and possibly even worse) in the current situation.
    In my opinion, something close to inaction would likely be the best course and Republicans would be philosophically inclined to that course.  But Bush probably would have flailed around.

  7. 7
    Ron Chusid says:

    There are many reasons why Obama is far preferable, even beyond the economy.

  8. 8
    Ron Chusid says:

    Getting back to your comment on the economy, I think that regardless of which party won in 2008 we would have seen a continuation of massive government spending in response to the financial crisis. Bush started it, and virtually any Republican who took over, if the Republicans could have held on to the White House, would have done the same.

    It is one thing for conservatives to sit on the sides and energize the base by talking about opposing big government. Once in office the situation changes and the Republicans support big government every bit as much as the Democrats (with greater intrusion into the lives of individuals), even when not in a time of financial crisis. Virtually nobody Democrat or Republican, would have gone along with inaction in response to the financial crisis.

  9. 9
    Mike Hatcher b.t.r.m. says:

    Ron-…Republicans support big government every bit as much. Point well taken, sickening to me, but point well taken. My condolensces to the Jackson family and fans. Michael was one amazing dancer. I was going to tell a joke about Obama, but I think I’ll save it for another day.

  10. 10
    nomoreGOP says:

    Yea.. Let down? How so Carole? Please elaborate…

  11. 11
    Mike b.t.r.m. says:

    Well it is a new day, time for that Obama joke. What a PERFECT set up but an article about Obama being PERFECT! It is a joke about comparing Obama to God. **Warning, the following joke comes from Limbaugh, so most, if not all here will not find it funny. Further disclaimer is that Rush ment it as a joke and does not actually believe Obama is equal to God.

    Q. How are God and Obama similar?
    A. Neither have birth certificates
    Q. How are God and Obama different?
    A. God doesn’t believe that He is Obama.

  12. 12
    Ron Chusid says:

    “Rush ment it as a joke and does not actually believe Obama is equal to God”

    I can believe that, but does Limbaugh still believe the nonsense that Obama isn’t a natural born American? It is plausible that he doesn’t believe it but used this line in a joke, or it is also possible that he believes this. (Another possibility, which might be true of much of what he says, is that he doesn’t believe it but wants to act as if he does to promote right wing lines.)

  13. 13
    Mike Hatcher b.t.r.m. says:

    Since the election, the whole birth cert. issue has virtually disappeared except for the occasional pot shot. Prior to the election is was definately tried to be used as a political weapon. Speculatively, I would say,virtually all the talk people care little about the birth issue. One that I really don’t care for; “Mike Savage” might see something like that as more of an issue, but I don’t want to turn this post into a Critic of Savage. Rush harps much more frequently about Obama’s brother in Kenya, trying to paint Obama as lacking compassion since Obama has funds but gives no visible support to his own blood relative living in poverty.

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