The President is almost always aiming to unite others when he speaks, unlike Mr. Trump, who without question is the most polarizing figure in the 2016 race for the presidency.
—
New York Times columnist, Mr. David Brooks today took the words right out my mouth with his Op-Ed entitled ‘I Miss Barack Obama,’ which focused primarily on the decline of behavioral standards across the board in this year’s presidential campaign and how it highlights Mr. Obama’s leadership, cachet and, moreover, his class and dignity. A few of my associates have said, when reacting to Mr. Donald Trump’s antics—his most recent is repeating on stage an audience member’s claim that Mr. Ted Cruz is a pu**y—that the more the brash billionaire acts uncivilized in public, the more presidential Mr. Obama appears to the nation and the world.
Mr. Obama, a black man elected twice to the country’s highest office, has plenty of critics, but even they would be hard-pressed to find a time on the campaign trail or in the White House when the father of two was not refined and composed, calm and smooth, and careful with his language. The President is almost always aiming to unite others when he speaks, unlike Mr. Trump, who without question is the most polarizing figure in the 2016 race for the presidency. Mr. Trump’s national spokesperson, Ms. Katrina Pierson, today defended her boss’ profanity by suggesting that the candidate, who’s self-funding his campaign thus beholden to no one, has single-handedly resurrected freedom-of-speech.
Over the course of his campaign, Mr. Trump has said he’ll bomb the sh*t out of ISIS; mocked a reporter with a disability; joked about shooting someone without fear of condemnation from supporters; encouraged an attendee to engage in a physical altercation with a protester; and openly participated in the discrimination of others based on their religion or ethnicity. Mr. Trump, no matter the negative feedback he receives, remains largely unapologetic about his behavior and language. He believes, as do his followers, that being braggadocios, loud, obnoxious and insulting is somehow a trait of masculinity and, more so of leadership. But, of course, it’s not. The aforementioned traits are, however, characteristics of a narcissist and bully, neither which are acceptable in a leader whose job it is to care and protect others.
In contrast, Mr. Obama, as a candidate and as the nation’s chief executive, has remained a gentleman, especially to those who disagree vehemently with him. He’s been humorous but never hurtful; sarcastic yet avoiding caustic; opinionated though not offensive. The regal image of the Office of President has remained intact because of Mr. Obama’s demeanor and actions though it’s threatened now with Mr. Trump’s candidacy, which many pundits and media-makers wrote off as a sideshow only to be caught off guard by its mainstream positioning. Mr. Trump, the front-runner among Republican candidates, has already de-aggrandized the presidential campaigning political process; his election to the White House would cause the dilapidation of the Office of President.
Being the President of the United States should be equally about behavior, values and attitude as it is about political competence. Voters aren’t just electing a policy wonk and doer.They are electing a national spokesperson who should represent values and beliefs the country embodies, most notably inclusion. Not only is Mr. Trump, who wants a temporary ban on Muslim entering America, not the right guy to deliver that message, but his time on the campaign trail should result in an additional strict qualification for President: temperament.
♦◊♦
CLICK HERE to listen to ‘Why the Black Vote Matters,’ a podcast from The Dr. Vibe Show featuring a panel of black male thought-leaders, including the co-founder of the ‘Vote or Die’ movement.
Thanks for reading. Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® & I’m Drumming for JUSTICE!™
—
Photo: Getty Images
What Democrats should be doing at this stage of the game, especially in a left leaning site like this, is addressing the issues that pertain to their own candidates rather then worrying about what the opposition is doing at the moment. Those who are leaning toward Trump that read this site, will most certainly not pay any attention to what’s said. Basically, these articles are only speaking to the choir. Personally I’m undecided at the moment, I will not depend on op-eds from these kinds of sites to assist in my decisions. There are far to many credible news feeds… Read more »
If you really think Obama has brought people together over his presidency then you haven’t been paying any attention to what’s been going on in the country during it. There’s more to establishing a sense of unity among people than just speaing calmly.
Although to be fair to Obama, it’s pretty much impossible not to be a divisive figure as president with the us vs them mentality in place among members and supporters of both parties.
Well, each side has its own opinion on this. I guess I’m fortunate, as being an old time Kennedy Democrat grants me opportunity to see from the middle outward. With that, one has to ask if it is polarizing, or being open and honest as to the reality we face? Sure one can pander and placate, grant the illusion of solidarity while dealing from the bottom of the deck-quietly raising such as the estate tax to 55%, capitol gains from 15% to 28%, and more, thus crushing our prosperity in order to support Obama care (did we actually believe there… Read more »
The political world is a stage, you are idolizing a marionette over a vantriloquist dummy
I will not miss the obama when he leaves office; it will take a generation to fix what he has brought on to the nation.