Say It Ain’t So, O-Bama

Our President is the most popular man in Europe. Unfortunately, that is not in the oath of office for the Presidency of the United States. President Barack Obama, in a stated effort to "rebuild" the American image abroad, called American policy toward Europe "arrogant" and "dismissive", implying that past Presidents followed a policy that did not win friends and influence neighbors, regarding Europe.

I listened to the speech, trying to frame the context of our President's remarks, and making the effort to give him the benefit of the doubt. As I know that being President must be a tough job, I also am sure that the Presidency of the United States requires the officeholder to place the security and interests of this country above all other issues. What I am less sure of is whether President Obama fulfilled this sacred duty.

Listen, the President is right about one thing. The America is a different place, but not in the manner in which he seems to believe. Global terrorism and the attack on our soil likely forever changed the nature of our relationship with enemies and allies alike. We can no longer afford to sit back and allow the virulent rhetoric of nations we support, with our generosity, to shape our global policy.

President Obama calls this strategy "arrogant" and "dismissive". The definition of arrogance is "an offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride". Is he kidding? The key words in this definition are "offensive", "superiority", "self-importance" and "overbearing". One would have to either have their head in the sand for the last forty years, or simply be an American hating, unpatriotic blurb to call America arrogant in relation to the rest of our wonderful planet.

In my lifetime, no other country has lived the biblical creed, "to whom much is given, much is required" more than the United States. Nearly singlehandedly, we respond to the world's crisis with the utmost urgency and diligence. The tsunami in Indonesia is a perfect example. Two ex-Presidents came together and raised hundreds of millions of dollars from hard-working Americans; some rich, others middle class and many economically challenged, gave to the effort. Is this what our President says is "arrogance"?

No doubt, President Obama believes that we are "arrogant" and "dismissive" because we demand cooperation from those we support. Hello! How many of you currently have or have had adult children living at home? I know you feel some sense of responsibility to set direction for them. Of course you do, you are paying the bill. Why then is it wrong for the country that supports most of the free world, either directly or indirectly with cash and protection, to set direction? It is neither arrogant nor wrong for us to do so.

As Don "the Hair" King would say, "only in America" could we have a President apologize for our leadership when we are paying the bill to lead. The words of French President Sarkozy who says, "The world does not boil down to America and its borders", demonstrates an accurate view of a European sense of superiority. Of course, this position slaps the face of an America that carries the security, financial and economic burdens for the world.

Our President demonstrates and uncanny sense of guilt for a country that gives away more on foreign soil than perhaps it spends domestically. The French President, sensing this weakness in our President, lectures us on our tactics concerning Guantanamo Bay Prison. How did we position ourselves to get a lecture on values from the French? Just when you think it is safe to go back to calling those fried potatoes "French Fries" the French president scolds us on how to treat enemies who cowardly flew planes into our buildings, killing innocent people.

Therefore, it is critical that the Obama-nation know that our president demonstrates the vast difference between popularity and leadership. While the crowds adore him, leaders like Sarkozy think he is "immature" and "arrogant". One sure lesson for every leader, do not let popularity and public opinion guide your thinking. Real leaders lead, regardless of what others think. This was a quality belonging to George W. Bush, even when we disagreed with him, we could not accuse him of riding the tide of what was popular over what he believed in the best interest of this nation.

Of course, the Obama faithful will say that it is early, less than 100 days in office and that sort of thing. Sure, but they also claimed their man ready from day one to lead the free world. They scoffed at those of us who said executive experience was important to succeeding as President of the United States. Yet if this overseas trip is an example of our President's foreign relations, and I believe it is, then we should all just get to Wal-Mart and buy our "Give Me Metric or Give Me Death" T-Shirts before it is too late.

Seems like Hillary might be right about whom you would want to take the late night call.