First, some background on the term, "bully pulpit," from Wikipedia:
This term was coined by President Theodore Roosevelt, who referred to the White House as a "bully pulpit," by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda. Roosevelt famously used the word bully as an adjective meaning "superb" or "wonderful" (a more common expression in his time than it is today).
Many of those critical of President Obama, including myself, have been frustrated that he rarely if ever uses the bully pulpit or uses it effectively. Supporters of the President counter this criticism by questioning the need or value of using the bully pulpit. Well, last night the President showed us a good example of what using the bully pulpit means. And it's about time he did.
Given Obama's performance at the joint session of Congress, there should be no further debate about whether he should use the bully pulpit and what it's value can be. In exhorting Congress - and, more importantly, the Republicans specifically - he wasn't talking to the people in the Chamber, he was talking to millions of Americans and letting them know he was fed up and wanted action.
Obama displayed a degree of passion we have not seen since he campaigned for President. This was more like the person we voted for than it was the ever weakening one we've seen since. I suppose the polls will give us a clue whether his speech last night helped his ratings, but I suspect many who have been critical of him we're surprised and relieved at his performance.
More after the squiggly ...
Now that is not to say that the substance of what he had to say was encouraging. Much, if not most, of what will be spent will have little effect on jobs. Tax cuts for hiring workers will at best have a marginal effect. After all, who hires someone at a pay of tens of thousands of dollars and investments in training for a measly few thousand in tax savings? And while a reduction in employment taxes helps to increase spending, it's effect on hiring is indirect and depends greatly on what that money is spent on.
More troubling are the cuts in Medicare spending the President referred to. If it's a cut due to the ability to finally negotiate drug prices, then that would be great. BUT, remember, Obama said it wouldn't affect current Medicare recipients, implying it's a cut in benefits of some sort either in terms of, for example, payments, coverage, age requirements or inflation adjustments. The fact that we have a purportedly Democratic President talking about cuts in Medicare is simply amazing and incredibly disappointing. We'll see the details next week when he submits his debt reduction plan.
Finally, in terms of the substance of the speech, it's unlikely the Republicans will cooperate. That could be good politically if it helps to put them on the defensive for the 2012 elections, but time and again they have looked to be in a bad position only to emerge the winners, especially in relation to Obama. They will likely out message and out maneuver Obama as in the past. If, however, Obama really does do a full court press and continues to call them out with the passion he showed last night, then there is a chance he might prevail. If he starts pre-capitulating, it's lost. If we see a burst of energy with Obama going out to the country to sell this, but no follow through and no armies of Democratic leaders doing the same in public and the media, it's lost. This is the test and time will tell whether Obama passes it.