Obama’s Character And The Progressives Who Resent It

[jaxx]

<..> Unlike the taunts, personal insults and barbs that Ryan and his companions lob at the president on a daily basis from the safety of a television studio, Obama took the route that requires character.

He did it to Ryan’s face.

<..> What the speech really did was reinforce what I continue to believe is this president’s most valuable asset – character. It is a trait of Barack Obama’s that is too often forgotten by progressives and conservatives alike. While you may not always – or ever – like Barack Obama’s policies, he has shown, time and again, that his decisions reflect a willingness to do what he believes is right while taking the political hits that come with courageous decisions.

<..> Anyone who truly understood what was at issue in that fight- and the incredibly difficult choices available to the President – understands that Obama chose to pay the political price in order to ensure that millions of Americans who are out of work would continue to get their unemployment benefits. He was willing to take the hit from those who are supposed to be his friends so that he could protect the already suffering middle class from having to pay for the President’s political safety in the guise of the tax increases that were threatened for those who could least afford them.

That took character.

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/0...resent-it/

[Pirate Smile]

I was just coming here to post this - glad to see it was already here.

[Eponine]

Excellent speech, though I see that some of the comments slammed it. What I walk away with after reading that is that President Obama is essentially a decent man who will do things that are politically unpopular to do the right thing. I like having this man as president.

[azmouse]

His character is what drew me to support Obama in 2008, and what will have me proudly voting for him again in 2012.

[Number23]

What a great read. This sentence seems so blatantly obvious that I actually laugh at loud anytime I see a "progressive" whining about Obama "extending the Bush tax cuts."

This reality was never brought into sharper focus than last December when Obama elected to suffer the slings and arrows fired at him by his own supporters by swallowing hard and agreeing to the extension of the Bush tax credits.

Anyone who truly understood what was at issue in that fight- and the incredibly difficult choices available to the President – understands that Obama chose to pay the political price in order to ensure that millions of Americans who are out of work would continue to get their unemployment benefits. He was willing to take the hit from those who are supposed to be his friends so that he could protect the already suffering middle class from having to pay for the President’s political safety in the guise of the tax increases that were threatened for those who could least afford them.

That was, is, and always WILL be so DAMN obvious. He gave something to GET something for the millions of Americans that the Repub party is determined to sell down the river. Yet, a loud and ignorant few insist on trying to act as though the President extended the Bush cuts with nothing in return and just for sh*t and giggles. It was a political calculation that even though the green tea-baggers weren't smart enough to see and understand, many millions of Americans did.

[RoyGBiv]

Read the whole thing ...

Quote:April - 14, Rick Ungar

It wasn’t just that the President of the United States drew that proverbial line in the sand by stating his firm refusal to continue the Bush tax cuts one moment longer than legally required.

And it wasn’t just Obama’s taking a solid stand when he said “Not while I’m President” to the GOP budget plan that would break the nation’s most basic cultural commitments by destroying Medicare and dramatically curtailing Medicaid, all to provide still more tax breaks to the richest Americans.

What did it for me in Obama’s plan to get the nation’s finances in order was that the President took his stand against the GOP effort to take away the soul of this nation while staring directly into the eyes of Rep. Paul Ryan- the architect of the document that would remake this country in the mold of third world nations where there are rich people and poor people with nobody in the middle.

Unlike the taunts, personal insults and barbs that Ryan and his companions lob at the president on a daily basis from the safety of a television studio, Obama took the route that requires character.

He did it to Ryan’s face.

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/0...resent-it/

[Cha]

Thanks RoyG..that was an excellent read.. "Character"..That will be something I add when describing Pres Obama besides intelligent and caring. I think of it in an abstract way but this was presented so vividly and is so important to his makeup that it needs to be part of the discussion. Oh, and of course, he has this amazing ability to add!

A snip from your aritcle..

"What progressives like Mr. Krebs consistently forget is that Obama has another virtue in addition to character – he knows how to add."

[Cha]

P.S. I liked it so much I sent it in an email to myself!

[There Is No Spoon]

Do we even respect character any more in this country?

[Cha]

(04-18-2011 03:46 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote:  Do we even respect character any more in this country?

We know the corporatemediawhores don't but I like to think that there are lots of people who do..I know in my circle of friends from here to New York..it's highly regarded.

DFP is a big ol softie for it.

[janedrake]

Excellent post.