Tellin' the truth is a dangerous business
Honest and popular don't go hand in hand*
Back in the summer of 2008, the "silly season" of politics, then-presidential-candidate Senator Barack Obama made a risky choice, to trust in real Americans' ability to recognize b.s. when they see it. And that gamble paid off.
While the front-runners fell over themselves arguing for a "gas tax holiday" that made little fiscal or policy sense, President Obama dismissed it as the political gimmickry it was. "The easiest thing in the world for a politician to do is tell you exactly what you want to hear," he said.
Instead, he opted to tell the truth. I'd like to see him return to that strategy now. The chips are down, and the stakes are high. Is he prepared to keep telling the country the truths it needs to hear? His political future (and that of his party) may depend on it.
At the time, pressure was on for cutting the gas tax. Both the Democratic and GOP front-runners tried to sell the idea to consumers as a cure-all for consumers in a time of need. Obama flatly rejected that strategy.
"We're arguing over a gimmick that would save you half a tank of gas over the course of the entire summer so that everyone in Washington can pat themselves on the back and say they did something," said Obama.
"Well, let me tell you, this isn't an idea designed to get you through the summer, it's designed to get them through an election."
This is the Obama I've been missing in recent months. Oh, I've seen a glimpse of it here and there, but it gets buried in negative media spin.
For example, on the day after the recent "shellacking," the press was focused on his humble, chastened demeanor. But I saw something a bit different. During the press conference, he was asked whether he thought the GOP would be successful in repealing health reform. He responded, dryly, by pointing out that the GOP's repeal argument runs counter to the real needs of the people:
I think what's going to be useful is for us to go through the issues that Republicans have issues on -- not sort of talking generally, but let’s talk specifics. Does this particular provision -- when it comes to preexisting conditions, is this something you’re for or you’re against? Helping seniors get their prescription drugs -- does that make sense or not?
It wasn't much, but it showed that he was ready to point out their b.s. and fight it out on the issues. It was a spark of the political savvy that brought him to the White House. I'd like to see more of it.
The problem is that the media is now in love with the "chastened-Obama" narrative. Truth-telling can be a powerful strategy to cut through. People respond positively to hearing things they can verify for themselves. And the media will be looking for a new narrative in a short period of time.
The truth is that we can't afford to extend the tax cuts for millionaires. It will cost us $60 billion a year. Can't be done.
The truth is that Wall Street reforms have begun to make a difference.
The truth is the stimulus averted a worse economic catastrophe.
The truth is that health insurance reform has helped a lot of people--particularly young people--be more creative and mobile than would otherwise have been possible.
We elected President Obama because at times he exibited a no-nonsense, cut the b.s., common sense approach to solving problems. People respected that honesty.
President Obama, tell us the truth. In no uncertain terms, remind us who is fighting to keep tax cuts for the super-wealthy when the nation is going into tailspin. Remind us who benefits when elections can be bought. Cut through the GOP/BS noise machine.
The gas tax holiday was a farce. So is the current argument for tax cuts for the super-wealthy. Tell it like it is.
Telling the truth is risky, but in the long run, truth is a powerful persuader.
*Ishtar Lyrics by Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty.