Posted by
Patrick Henry on Friday, April 17, 2009 6:29:21 PM
Military officers are taught that their subordinates are trained to respect their rank,
but are unlikely to respect the officer as a person unless that officer demonstrates
sterling character, fairness and outstanding leadership. The same goes for presidents.
As Americans, we should respect the office of the presidency. Presidents themselves,
however, need to earn that respect.
I respect the office of the presidency, but I lost respect for Richard Nixon because
he was a paranoid delusional who fancied himself above the law. I respect the office,
but I did not respect Jimmy Carter because his spineless personality, socialist agenda
and total lack of courageous leadership left my country damaged and open to attack,
and because his disastrous policies set the stage for today's subprime mortgage
meltdown. I respected John F. Kennedy, until it was learned that he was a serial
philanderer. and Bill Clinton until he was too busy fingering his zipper when he
should have been pushing the button on Osama bin Laden. I respected George
W. Bush, until he forgot his conservative roots and began spending taxpayer money
like a drunken sailor, and ignoring what the American people wanted. I've always
respected the office, but a number of those who filled it have sadly failed the tests
of character, honesty, integrity and leadership.
Now we are faced with President Barack Obama, the first African American to
have ascended to the Oval Office. Mind you he loses no points with me, nor does he
gain any for being black. But the tests of respect for him are exactly the same as
they were for the others. So, if you want my respect, Mr. President, listen up. Here's
what it will take.
1. Don't follow George W. Bush's lead and institute policies that the American
people clearly don't favor. Imposing costly universal healthcare and a questionable
cap-and-trade energy policy in the deepest recession many of us have lived through
can be no differemt from going to war over imaginary WMDs. Let all the stakeholders
speak, listen to the people. When Bush blindly and arrogantly pursued his own agenda
Americans began to lose respect. The same can happen to you.
2. Don't go overseas and trash America again. Americans have already suffered a
series of heavy blows. If you don't have anything good to say about America when
you're abroad, then just shut up. Talking one way about people in western
Pennsylvania to their faces, and another when talking about them in California
cost you a ton of votes. (Bitter, clinging to their guns and religion -- ring any
bells)? The next time you wnat to tell the French Americans are arrogant and
dismissive just stuff a sock in it. Such remarks offend a whole lot more than
those in western Pennsylvania.
3. Stop lying to us. When you treat us like we're stupid it only makes you
appear even more so. I heard your policy speech at Georgetown, and it insulted
my intelligence. I'm no whiz-bang economist, but I'm pretty good with numbers.
Yours don't add up. The way you cunningly shifted back and forth between short
and long term investments and impacts would have made Bernie Madoff proud.
If your policies are followed out over ten years America will be an entitlement
dependent nation with no incentive or national will, and we will be so deeply in
debt to foreign interests that we'll never get out. Is that what you want? Many of us
don't. But at least do us the courtesy of telling it like it is instead of trying to dazzle
us with smoke and mirrors.
4. Don't try to reinvent the constitution by making it mean whatever you want it
to mean. You're very good a manipulating words, but with the skill there somes
even greater responsibility. Some presidents have sought to be exceptions to the
law by simply breaking it. On their face, it appears that you intend to beat the
constitution by simply applying your own meaning to it. The constitution,
Sir, has outlasted a number of sorry individuals in the Oval Office, and it is
likely to also survive you. Mess with it, and you will not serve a second term
and be badly remembered -- just like Jimmy Carter, the worst president America
ever had.
5. Ameria made you what you are -- the first black man to have the honor of
leading the nation. It also made Abe Lincoln what he was. So stop trying to re-
make America in the failed image of the European socialist democracies. How
many people do you personally know who go to France, Sweden, Norway or the
U.K. for high quality medical treatment? I'll be surprised if it's even one. America
was built on the backs of people who worked hard and were rewarded for that work,
not those who refuse to work and get refunds (excuse me, "rebates") for taxes they
never paid. Help America, give it a tune-up and a paint job, brakes and new tires.
But for God's sake, don't rip out the engine, discard lessons learned and start over
from scratch. America, like its constitution, will be here long after you are gone.
You can either choose to be proud because you helped it along, or ashamed when
successors undo your legacy while you bear the blame for one failed policy
experiment after another. America's not a high school chem lab, nor does it
belong to you any more than the rest of us.
Learn these lessons, Mr. President, and you can still be not only respected, but
even beloved. Or fail to learn them and watch your trust, respect and legacy cast
on history's trash pile. If you want respect, earn it! There's still time to stop and
think.