By Peggy Noonan
Obama and the public are on different pages if not different in books.
The first thing I learned in journalism is that every story has a name. At WEEI News Radio in Boston the editor would label each story with one word called a slug and assign a writer to write it for air. This weeks devastating earthquake would be slugged Haiti. A story about a gruesome murder might be Nightmare.
Were at the first anniversary of the inauguration of President Barack Obama and the slug the word that captures its essence is Disconnect.
This is still a surprising word to use about the canny operatives who so perfectly judged the public mood in 2008. But they havent connected since.
There is a disconnect a detachment a distance between the presidents preoccupations and the concerns of the people. Theres a disconnect between his policy proposals and the peoples sense as expressed in polls of what the immediate problems are.
Im not referring to what is being called the presidents rhetorical disconnect. In this criticism he is not emotional enough when he speaks he doesnt wear his heart on his sleeve he is aloof like a lab technician observing the movements within a petri dish called America. It may be true that this doesnt help him but so what? In a successful presidency his cool demeanor would be called an interesting facet not a problem. And we dont really need presidents to move us when you think about it. We need them to lead and in the right direction.
Nor am I referring to an iconic disconnect. In this criticism the president refuses to or is unable to act as a paternal figure. A president is a father say these critics. He must comfort us. But actually your father is your father. Voters didnt hire Mr. Obama to play the old dad in the MGM movie. In any case he always seemed like the bright older brother not the father. At the end of the day you being a grownup dont need him to be your daddy do you?
You want a competent chief executive with a deep and shrewd sense of the people. Americans want him to be on the same page as they are. But hes on a different page and he may in fact be reading a different book. Thus the latest Quinnipiac poll which puts his approval/disapproval at a descending 45 to 45. Pure hunch: The approval number is probably slightly high because people dont want to disapprove of their new presidentthe stakes are so high!and dont like telling pollsters they disapprove of him.
The real story is that his rhetorical and iconic detachment are harped on because they reflect a deeper disconnect the truly problematic one and that is over policy. It doesnt really matter how he sounds. It matters in a time of crisis what he does. Thats where the lack of connection comes in.
The people are here and he is there. The popularity of his health-care plan is very low at 35 support. Someone on television the other day noted it is as low as George Bushs popularity ratings in 2008.
Yetand this is the key partthe president does not seem to see or hear. He does not respond. He is not supple able to hear reservations and see opposition and change tack. He has a grim determination to bull this thing through. He negotiates each day with Congress not with the people. But the people hate Congress! Has he not noticed?
The people have come alive on the issue of spendingits too high it threatens us! He spends more. Everywhere I go I hear talk of hidden taxes and a certainty that state and federal levies will go up putting a squeeze on a middle and upper-middle classes that have been squeezed like oranges and are beginning to see themselves as tired old rinds. Mr. Obama seems at best disconnected from this anxiety.
The disconnect harms him politically but more important it suggests a deepening gulf between the people and their government which only adds to growling chafing national discontent. It also put the president in the position only one year in only 12 months into a brand-new glistening presidency of seeming like the same old same old. Theres something tired in all this disconnect something old-fashioned something sclerotic and 1970s about it.
And of course the public is reacting. All politicians are canaries in coal mines theyre always the first to feel the political atmosphere. It was significant when the Democrats lost the governorships of Virginia and New Jersey two months ago. It is significant that a handful of House and Senate Democrats have decided not to run this year. And it is deeply significant that a Republican state senator in Massachusetts Scott Brown may topple the Democratic nominee to fill Ted Kennedys former seat Martha Coakley. In a way the Republicans have already wonits a real race its close and in Dont blame me Im from Massachusetts!
Mr. Browns whole story right now is not about disconnect but connect. Massachusetts has an 8.8 unemployment rate and graduates of the commonwealths great universities cant find work. An old Boston Republican hand said of the race Its 100 about policieshealth care taxes whats the plan on the economy? Mr. Brown charges that Ms. Coakleys support for cap and trade and health care will amount to $2 trillion in taxes in the next five years.
Ms. Coakley has the advantageMassachusetts is the heart of blue-state Americabut in a way her advantage is her curse. Because she is the candidate of a party that for 40 years has been used to winning reigning and winning again she looks like the same old same old a standard old-line liberal the frontwoman for a machine a yes woman for the Obama-Pelosi era.
It is interesting that Ms. Coakley too has been told by pundits the past week that her problem is that shes not emotional enough. She should show passion and fire! She should cry like Hillary!
This comes not only from pundits but normal people and if you contemplate the meaning it is weirdly: Youre not good enough at manipulating us! We want more theatrics!
Both national parties are trying to pour in money and resources but the most obnoxious intrusion must have been the fund-raising letter this week from New Yorks Sen. Charles Schumer who tried to rouse the troops by calling Mr. Brown a far-right teabagger. Does that kind of thing even work anymore? Doesnt name calling put off anyone not already predisposed to agree with it?
In a time when the people of Massachusetts have real concerns about their ability to make a living stuff like the Schumer letter is just more evidence of a partys disconnect.
Politics is about policy. Its not about whos emotional and who cries or makes you cry. Its not about big political parties and the victories they need in order to rule. Its not about going on some ideological toot which is what the health-care bill is hoping the people will someday see and appreciate your higher wisdom.
In a way Mr. Obamas disconnection is a sign of the times. We are living in the age of breakup with so many of the ties that held us together loosening and fraying. If the president wants to lead toward something better he should try listening.
If you cant connect through the words you speak at least you can do it through your ability to hear.
