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The President vs. Barack Obama

Clark Stooksbury’s comments below are on target. But I think there is a dimension of Obama’s speech to the schoolchildren today that is worth remarking upon: is it the president who’s addressing them, or is it Barack Obama, celebrity? That is, does Obama think he’s going to inspire young people to wash their hands and […]

Clark Stooksbury’s comments below are on target. But I think there is a dimension of Obama’s speech to the schoolchildren today that is worth remarking upon: is it the president who’s addressing them, or is it Barack Obama, celebrity? That is, does Obama think he’s going to inspire young people to wash their hands and work hard because he’s the president, and they’ll respect his authority, or is he thinking that he’s personally such a remarkable individual that they’ll listen to him — rather as they might listen to Michael J. Fox or Michael Jordan?

I suspect it’s the latter. If, say, George H.W. Bush had given a national public-school address, everyone (except the president himself) would realize that little Timmy and Susie aren’t going to take the doddering principal-in-chief too seriously. It might as well be the school guidance counselor up there lecturing. But Obama is not just the president, he’s Barack Obama. He’s cool. The kids will listen to him.

During the 2008 election cycle, Obama’s celebrity and charisma eclipsed that of all the other contenders, as well as that of the sitting president. He may still view himself as the man who stands above the office. As far as I can tell, though, that mystique has worn off: the Left is disenchanted with him, moderates are skeptical, and the Right is firmly opposed. Barack Obama’s star power has actually diminished since he took office, though he apparently doesn’t know it.

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