The fact is that if someone is running for President of the United States, that person is far from common. No matter the level of success, simply entering the process, boarding a bus and touring the country asking people to vote for you is not a common person's practice. Common people don't just drop everything and campaign around the country.
And, a sitting President running for re-election is not a common man, either. Despite what the spin is from Team Obama, Barack Obama is not "regular people like us":
Julianna Smoot, deputy campaign manager for Obama for America, e-mailed supporters last night:
Beyond the titles, it’s easy to forget sometimes that our President and First Lady are, when it comes down to it, regular people like us.
Yup! Regular people, just like all American families, preparing for their $4 million, 17-day Christmas vacation.
Hawaii Reporter research shows the total cost for the President’s visit for taxpayers far exceeded $1.5 million in 2010 — but is even more costly this year because he extended his vacation by three days and the cost for Air Force One travel has jumped since last assessed in 2000. In addition, Hawaii Reporter was able to obtain more specifics about the executive expenditures.
The total cost (based on what is known) for the 17-day vacation roundtrip vacation to Hawaii for the President, his family and staff has climbed to more than $4 million.
True, until recently the Obamas could justify such extravagant holiday trips because that is where members of Barack Obama's immediate family circle lived. But, with the death of his grandmother, that is no longer the excuse. During a continued economic downturn, would it not be more humble to go to their beloved Chicago? They have a very nice home there and that is even where the re-election campaign has been located for the President.
And, humility. What about humility in a President?
Two baby boomer presidents have given us different looks into modern day presidential humility. We want a humble human in the White House. We saw traits of personal humility with President George W. Bush and we liked him as a person, if not always for his policy initiatives. We could relate to his emotional reactions and his visible tears revealed a compassionate heart. Yet, with President Bill Clinton we had a president who frequently spoke of his humble personal beginnings in Arkansas but acted with arrogant disregard for the sanctity of his office. Conducting extra-martial sexual adventures in the Oval Office is beyond acceptance, even for the most ardent loyalist to the man.
Barack Obama is not a humble man. Recently, during an interview, he claimed to be one of the four greatest Presidents to ever serve the United States. He put himself up there with FDR and Lincoln (just as the press did when he was elected, before ever serving a day in the Oval Office) and LBJ. I kid you not. It was so crazy that even "60 Minutes" edited it out and you will only see it online.
The issue here is not gonna be a list of accomplishments. As you said yourself, Steve, you know, I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president -- with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln -- just in terms of what we've gotten done in modern history. But, you know, but when it comes to the economy, we've got a lot more work to do. And we're gonna keep on at it.
I think we all know that had George W. Bush answered the question so asininely, it would have stayed in the piece for air and the press would have had a field day with it. But, as usual, Barack Obama gets a pass from them and it's no big deal.
So many seem to have gotten it all wrong - we must expect humility from elected officials and drop the premise of the common man. Humility is the binding trait with the American voter, the real common man.
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