New Version of Obama Is on the Market

What U.S. President Obama has been doing for the last two months — and his appointment selections show this — is that he is preparing a new roadmap for the second half of his presidency. The cornerstone for the new roadmap was surely the midterm elections last November. The dissatisfaction of the majority of the American people caused Obama’s Democratic Party to lose control of the House of Representatives and helped the Republicans to nearly close the gap. The U.S. president, who will ask for another term from the Americans in 2012, knew that he could not succeed unless he gave the image of a “powerful leader who generates solutions” in the country that is struggling with thorny problems. It was therefore necessary for him to upend the “socialist” image fomented by the opposition and move to the center — or at least pretend to move to the center. He did exactly that.

The overt polarization within the country hinders mutual compromise that is necessary for coming up with solutions to problems. Yet, Obama has managed to successfully use his negotiation, compromise and chess skills to enact several significant laws before the Democrat’s control in the Congress comes to an end. And he scored big points.

He first compromised with the Republicans on the tax law. Obama had promised not to extend Bush-era tax cuts to the rich. In return for putting on hold his earlier promise, he managed to pass, without the Republican opposition, an $858 billion tax reduction package that provides unemployment benefits and relief to many sectors in the economy. This way the president managed to continue the economic stimulus package. This pragmatic move upset only the extreme leftists, but the majority of Democrats, Republicans and the Independent electorate were satisfied. The president somewhat appeased those on the extreme left by repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” It was also a noteworthy success that the president managed to persuade many Republicans to pass with a two-thirds majority the START treaty in the U.S. Senate. With positive impact from Obama’s compromising and clever strategy, the 111th American Congress was one of the most productive ones in a two-year period.

The president gave one of the strongest signs that he will pursue more of a centrist course last week. He replaced Rahm Emanuel, the White House Chief of Staff, with former Commerce Secretary William Daley, known for his centrist line and his ability to persuade Congress. Since then there have been comments that Daley will also help Obama overcome the distance between the president and big business groups, thanks to Daley’s close links to Wall Street. It can also be added that by now relieving White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs, along with close advisor Daniel Axelrod from their official duties to let them help him with the 2012 election campaign, Obama has already started his election campaign.

The bloody attack on Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Gifford and her aides, as well as other civilians in Tucson, Arizona, left six people dead and the congresswoman severely wounded. The Americans are now questioning in what direction they are heading. Both the left and the right are calling out for each side to stop pointing fingers at the other. The hideous attack carries with itself a potential that may make Obama’s compromising and centrist line easier. The Republicans had declared their intention to countermand the historic health care reform as soon as Congress opened on Jan. 5. Yet, the Republicans have been placed in a tough spot, because Gifford was portrayed as being a target, due to her support for the health care reform, by the nationalist conservative tea party movement and prospective presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Tellingly, John Boehner, who took over from Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House of Representatives, announced a week-long break to the meetings because of the mood of the country.

In this ideologically polarized environment, which the economic crisis also triggered, some politicians from various ideologies, media persons and opinion leaders foster intolerance, discrimination, hatred and even violence among the people. This was the message Tuscon Sheriff Clarence Dupnik stressed in a press conference on Saturday. Referring to some radio and television hosts, he said: “Let me say one thing, because people tend to pooh-pooh this business about all the vitriol that we hear inflaming the American public by people who make a living off of doing that. That may be free speech, but it’s not without consequences.” Dupnik also maintained that “that’s the sad thing of what’s going on in America. Pretty soon, we’re not going to be able to find reasonable, decent people who are willing to subject themselves to serve in public office.”

The signs indicate that President Obama, who serves in the top office of public service, will follow a strategy to reduce tensions within the country for the next two years. If he does not stray from this line, his likelihood to govern the country until 2016 will also be higher. I hope that the Republicans will be able to nominate a candidate as reasonable and acceptable as Obama in 2012. And from a presidential election, which in this way guarantees selection of a reasonable outcome, not only the U.S. but the whole world will benefit.