It's Time for Obama to Embrace 'Weak and Feckless'

Obama and Democrats can't be arrogant and ignore public rage
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 22, 2010 9:15 AM CST
It's Time for Obama to Embrace 'Weak and Feckless'
President Barack Obama speaks at an event honoring National Mentoring Month in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Obama and Democrats are getting all kinds of advice on what their next move should be, and David Brooks thinks it's clearly time to adopt a "Weak and Feckless Approach." The title is facetious, but Brooks says the sentiment behind it is sound: Heed the public, scale back reform, work with Republicans, and don't try to "concentrate immense new powers in a Washington the country detests." It's far better than descending into arrogance and demagoguery.

"I support the Weak and Feckless Approach," Brooks writes in the New York Times. "Trust is based on mutual respect and reciprocity. If, at this moment of rage and cynicism, the ruling class goes even further and snubs popular opinion, then that will set off an ugly, destructive, and yet fully justified popular rebellion. Trust in government will be irrevocably broken. It will decimate policy-making for a generation." (More President Obama stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X