Obama's Petulant Presidency

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American Spectator:

Obama's Petulant Presidency
By Aaron Goldstein on 8.18.10 @ 6:08AM

Remember when Christopher Buckley endorsed Barack Obama? Let's revisit.
The son of the late William F. Buckley, the founder of National Review, wrote in October 2008, "As for Senator Obama: He has exhibited throughout a "first-class temperament."

Yet now nearly nineteen months into Obama's presidency there is scant evidence of that "first-class temperament" to which Buckley refers. If Obama's term in office thus far can be summed up with a single word I would choose petulant. Merriam-Webster defines petulant as "insolent or rude in speech or behavior"; "characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor." This fits Obama to a tee.

President Obama has been petulant towards those who disagree with him. Just days after taking office he told Republican Congressional leaders who objected to his stimulus plan, "I won. I'm the president." At this same meeting he told Republicans, "You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done."

President Obama has been petulant towards those who seek freedom from totalitarianism. When it came time to choose between the Iranian mullahs and the millions of Iranians marching on the streets he chose the mullahs, stating it wasn't for us to "meddle." This would not be forgotten by the Iranian people. During the 30th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, months following the "elections," demonstrators could be heard chanting, "Obama, Obama -- either you're with them or you're with us."

President Obama has been petulant to dissidents. He would not meet with the Dalai Lama during his U.S. visit in October 2009 so as not to offend Chinese Communists prior to his state visit to Beijing the following month. When the Tibetan spiritual leader did finally meet with Obama last February, it was behind closed doors. The only glimpse the world got of the Dalai Lama was when he left the White House out a side door where a large pile of trash awaited him. Contrast this with the time the Dalai Lama met with President Bush in October 2007. On that occasion, Bush handed him the Congressional Gold Medal.