The President Gets Hands-On
A recent issue of the Economist ran the argument that President Obama, while having lead a sensible course in his first year, ‘has too often remained above the fray [and] has not been tough enough.’ They advised ‘firm talk’ in his first State of the Union address to help set a new, grittier tone that would get more things done in Year Two. It could have spoken for the rest of the opinion media, who’s urged much of the same.
They ought to be happy with last night’s address, then. Not only did Obama enter the fray, he dug into it: hands-on, jocularly, physically molding the situation into his argument. Gone were the graceful cadences. In came, as Jonathan Chait called them, the populist tropes:
‘It was about as popular as a root canal.’
‘We don’t quit. I don’t quit.’
‘I do not accept second place for the United States of America.’
And they were effective, judging by the liveliness of the chamber’s response. I suspect it was the same with viewers at home. (Early punditry suggests the chattering class also agrees. Judging whether the public buys into the narrative is weeks away, of course.)
Obama’s countenance matched his rhetoric. His eyes showed glints of mischief and competitiveness when he poked at Republicans for disbelieving climate change and for botching their chance to do anything worthwhile under President Bush. He mocked the void of substantive opposition to healthcare reform: “if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know”. His tone evinced a sense of screw-you nonchalance as he gestured to the opposition.
Of course, there was nothing nonchalant about it. The President knew that focusing his speech on economic salves for the middle class wouldn’t be enough. He’d have to ‘get angry’, and that meant tone and posture and everything.
I’d say he pulled the package off. But it remains to be seen whether he’ll follow up on that rhetoric with the arm-twisting he’s previously left to committee chairs and leadership. (Who knows: maybe Axelrod has decided appearance alone will do the trick.) Keeping with the liberal flow of truisms Obama started last night, only time will tell.
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