Obama Scores Small

I think I’m about to wear you out. Again.

I’ve been complaining this spring about Democratic politicians who have retreated into a kind of political quietism, choosing the wrong battles, or curling up like kittens. Senator Schumer is a perfect example. What remains of the Democratic leader of the Senate cannot cobble together a strategy of opposition. We’re not talking about stopping the Republicans. It would take four more Schumers to accomplish that miracle, but how about slowing the nefarious machinations of the Republicans? A cartoon in The New Yorker captured this perfectly. Godzilla is laying waste to The City. One terrified citizen calls out to another, “Someone call Senator Schumer fast. It’s time for a very strongly worded letter!”

Obama continues to make the same mistake. As far as I can tell, he is political Nowheresville. Could be windsurfing. Could be checking on the kids. Could be choosing the marble countertops for the Library. What he is most certainly not doing is anything risky, like confronting an administration of tyrants and fascists who are shredding the country before our very eyes. He and Michelle are probably on their way to Martha’s Vineyard to host stimulating discussions about authoritarian rule in Hungary. I think it would be a lot of fun to join them, but Trump is flying circles around them, even without the delivery of the plane from Qatar.

Obama did one thing while the city was burning. In a burst of admiration for Harvard, his alma mater, he framed out a statement full of empty bromides:

“Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect.”

There’s one word here that has heft and physicality. As a career pulpit rabbi from the traditionalist camp, I’m sorry to say that the word is “ham.” The rest of the statement is a gassy bag. I say that as a sort of Harvard fanboy. I love its president like a brother from another mother. But Obama’s defense lacks ear-catching persuasiveness. It disappears before it reaches your face.

And on top of that, it misses the heart of the matter. If you’re a Democratic officeholder (and would-be statesman?), please talk about the issues that matter most. How about the fact that if the Big Barbarous Bill chews its way through our timid Congress, millions of people will lose their health care, and millions more (and their children) will go hungry. Harvard is certainly a worthy cause, but we need to focus on the things that will kill the poor.

As far as I know, Obama is still missing in action. I got a fake-o/dake-o letter this week that purports to represent the former president. He wants me to give the Democrats a small contribution that would qualify me for a special presidential sweepstakes. If I’m very lucky, I would get to meet him.

Allow me to say that I couldn’t care less. What I’d really like is for the former president to defend democracy, call out the pain of the poor, and provide political cover for the real heroes of this moment. Those would be the people who are speaking out, organizing for immigrants, and protesting the annihilation of Medicaid and SNAP. Instead, Mr. Obama remains dispassionately removed and self-contained, preserving the “brand” once described by Valerie Jarrett. Whatever that is, it’s low affect/post-political. He’s the coolest cat sitting on the highest wall.

Just once, I’d like to see him break a sweat.

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