Critiquing Obama's Style

When I first read this headline, I thought this would be a great segment for a Saturday Night Live skit ["Critics Say Obama Lacks Emotion," usnews.com]. Some of the greatest philosophers in the West, as well as in the East, have lauded the importance of reason over emotion in the search for the ultimate good and truth. And as I recall Christianity does not have a very positive attitude about trying to cast the mote out of one's brother's eye, when our own faults are not insignificant. It seems to me like people who have a different ideology or political philosophy than the president will try to find just about anything to criticize him. This type of nitpicking often becomes so extreme—like in the case of this article, "Critics Say Obama Lacks Emotion"—that it borders on being farcical.

Comment by Gregory Wilczak of GA

Obama does not want to blow his chances to achieve, so he is very guarded and controlled. He is also well aware of racism in America and that is very sobering, I'm sure. There are many people wishing for him to misstep so he is ever mindful of traps and potential areas where he could let his sudden emotion lead him astray. Never before, except perhaps in the case of Abraham Lincoln, has so much weight been on a president's shoulders.

Comment by Beth Boyle of NY

I am thankful that we finally have a president who is presidential, thoughtful, intelligent, analytical, cool under fire, yet warm and jovial when the time is appropriate. Think of the moments of Obama in front of questioning TV personalities, with his wife and children, and even in debates. However, the subjects he is tackling in his speeches are not fodder for comedy relief.

Comment by Clay Berling of CA

Obama is a professor type. One who has never run anything or had to lead, but is always on the sideline second-guessing others. I've seen this type with consultants in business, they know everything, speak intelligently but have never really made any tough decisions. The mistake we have made is assuming speaking intelligently is the same as being intelligent. Appearing calm and collected is not actually being a leader any more than screaming is being one. Simply, the guy is in over his head. We bought his words and never looked at his actual accomplishments. We now are paying the price.

Comment by Mike of PA

President Obama has long expressed his agenda, though few were listening with understanding last fall. He is as focused as a sprinter before the finals and is convinced that his ideas of change and progress are beyond questioning by ordinary citizens. Obama epitomizes a return to the idea that the American Revolution repudiated that "some are equipped to manage the lives of others without their consent."

Comment by Randy of MI

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