Because America (thankfully) has no monarchy, and its leader is simply a citizen elected for a four-year term, the office of President has only the dignity bestowed on it by history and by the behavior of its inhabitants. Something intangible but nonetheless real is tarnished when the President puts himself on a par with a movie star trying to promote a new release. It suggests that an economic plan can (and should) be sold much like a new blockbuster – and that the job of the President himself is simply to curry public favor, much like a charming, handsome leading man.
Of course, most Americans would agree that a President has to do more than mouth the words written for him by others, as an actor does. That’s why it was particularly unfortunate for the administration that this was the week that a funny new blog, purportedly written by “Obama’s Teleprompter,” came to widespread public attention. It’s based on reports that President Obama is unusually dependent on the use of a teleprompter for his public appearances, having even used one for a simple address in a rodeo ring. One can hardly blame Republicans – after eight years of a tongue-twisted Bush presidency, and all the now-discredited charges that President Ronald Reagan simply “read lines” that were given to him – for embracing a meme that so perfectly crystallizes their concerns about President Obama. What’s remarkable is that others less partisan are laughing along.
That’s a dangerous development for a new president – especially one as young and inexperienced as Barack Obama. He was presented to the American electorate – by his own campaign and by the press, as well – as a person of intellectual substance. Even his critics have credited him with an impressive intellect. But now, the doubts are increasing, and more and more Americans are beginning to wonder whether Obama is really up to the job.
How ironic that the President decided to portray himself as “the common man” just as an increasing number of Americans begin to suspect that, truly, that’s all he is.