The Center-wing Phenomenon

May 1, 2009

I'm reviewing the situation....
There is no in between for me
But who will change the scene for me?
...I think I'd better think it out again!
--"Reviewing the Situation," sung by Fagin in "Oliver"

In observation of his first 100 days in office, President Barack Obama held a press conference. If someone had watched it without sound, it would have been hard to tell from Obama's cool demeanor that he was in the midst of juggling a double-handful of major crises that were on the White House steps the day he took office. This guy is smart, well-briefed, and talks straight in understandable language. Clearly at ease in fielding the media's questions, Obama seems to be enjoying his new job. It was hard to avoid a comparison to the conscious avoidance by Obama's predecessor of any unscripted moment with the media. What a welcome relief to have a president who understands the questions and who answers thoughtfully.

Public opinion polls consistently show a high confidence level in Obama--nearly 75%--and similar to opinions that the country is moving in a positive direction. Obama called for vaguely defined "change." Many of his positions were considerably to the left of his Republican opponent. He made no bones about supporting a woman's right to choose, he called for far-reaching reforms in health care and education, embraced science, and did not shrink from addressing global warming and energy conservation. He also opposed the invasion of Iraq as unwarranted. Most of Obama's campaign positions appeared to be unabashedly left-leaning. Yet, once at the helm, he has taken pains to steer the boat straight down the center, attempting to reach across the aisle while resisting the demands from more extreme factions of his own party, making compromises and strategic moves that position his programs for the next round and beyond. In fact, he is governing neither as a left-winger nor as a right winger; let's just call him a center-winger. It seems to be working, in spite of his expressed surprise at how slowly the wheels turn.

In contrast, the post-election Republicans are hunkered down, seemingly unwilling to accept that the politics of polarity have been rejected. November brought a dramatic political sea change, reflecting the electorate's hunger for less ideology and more pragmatism. Adrift in their isolation, the Republicans appear determined to drive away all but the most loyal devotees of exclusionary conservative extremism. Demands for philosophical purity have led to purges of moderates whose views represent centrist thinking. Instead, the outcome from systematically recruiting candidates who appeal to the hard-line conservative Republican faithful "base" in the primaries has been losing to pragmatic Democrats in the general election. The GOP languishes at the bottom of a long political cycle. The defection of Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter to the Democrats is but the latest result of the Republican proclivity for self-destruction.

Even as heads spin with each new crisis in the economy, the public seems to perceive Obama as a man of action who is willing to make tough choices on their behalf. The interesting thing to observe is that although there is widespread concern about the reeling economy, the public has bought into his calm, no-nonsense approach and the level of confidence remains high. Thus, Obama can threaten to take over General Motors, tongue-lash the credit card companies and run off the chairman of Bank of America, and yet he comes across as someone who can't wait to get the government's paws out of the businesses it has had to take over.

While his detractors paint him as a big-government socialist, Obama seems undaunted by the accusations. Instead, he has shown a capacity for activism, taking giant steps, acting on the fly if necessary, while circling back around when he has moved too fast. Once again, the contrast with his predecessor serves him well. Memory of the Bush administration's failure to act in a timely fashion in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina symbolizes bureaucratic incompetence and political ineptitude. Obama moved immediately when the banking system was about to fail, credit was collapsing and millions were in danger of losing their homes. Given the country's dire straits, he probably could have nationalized all commercial banking. Instead, he chose to re-direct the rescue efforts of the outgoing administration with even more dramatic action, moving to shore up the existing banking system. Strangely enough, while the undercurrents of deep concern still run deep, neither the stock market nor the investing public has indicated impatience with the steps that have been taken.

Although he is still in a shakedown mode, Mr. Obama has shown a capacity for quickly getting down to serious business, preferring to keep near the middle of the road wherever possible. There is no reason to doubt his sincerity when he began his tenure by appealing to Republicans in Congress to join him in finding bipartisan solutions to the most serious problems. Rather than accepting the invitation, the Republicans have clung to the bitter partisanship that has been so divisive and damaging to the country.

The public is fed up with leaders who will not lead, and Obama is responding. More and more people have come to reject single-issue politics in favor of electing persons who will listen, study and act on the best ideas, regardless of party. At one point not long ago, the electorate seemed ready to throw up its hands at both parties and look elsewhere. What seems to have happened instead in November is that they went for a man and his party who could articulate solutions for what the voters saw as urgent needs long neglected or ignored. The longer the Republicans dig in their heels as the "Party of No," the weaker will be their appeal as a bona fide political alternative.

It will indeed be interesting to see how the next few months play out. The recent crises have generated an urgency that represents both danger and opportunity--danger of overplaying the hand, and opportunity to seize the momentum and make needed fundamental change. Avoidance of extremism, genuine efforts toward consensus and governance from the center--while avoiding political paralysis--would seem to offer reassurance in such unstable times. Time will tell whether Mr. Obama's political ecumenism will lead the country out of the dark forest and into brighter days.

Charlie Crow © May 1, 2009