I am an old white man, Mr. President; if statistics are to be believed, I should consider you to be as annoying as Bob Dole was when he ushered in the present Era of Erectile Dysfunction Commercials. I do not fit the stereotype--(If I did, the title of this would probably be "Open Letter to Barack Husein Obama.") I still believe you've got game. I just want to see some more slam dunks.
First, let us flash back to the presidential campaign of 2008. I was discussing politics with a group of friends--We're from Baltimore, so I guess it's not surprising, national statistics notwithstanding, that I am an ardent Democrat. Some of us supported Hilary Clinton, others, including my wife and me, thought you were the better candidate. One friend said, "He might be better, but America will never elect a black president." I, ever hopeful, thought it was indeed possible. I also said that if you won my wife and I, avid dancers, would take our portable radio outside and dance a rumba on the street, which we in fact did. What an historic victory! (Mr. President, of course we didn't vote for you just because you are black--Fact is, though, that I--the old white man, remember?--am married to a brown person from India and have an adopted black son who was born in Chicago--see if you can make statistics out of that! Let us just say that the fact that you are black wasn't exactly a deterrent for us.)
I am writing this letter to offer a little criticism to help assure that my wife and I will be doing the rumba in 2012.
Now let's flash forward to my group of friends the day you made the compromise on the extension of the tax cuts. We were so angry that we made Anthony Weiner and Bernie Sanders seem as calm as two young men from Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo dancing a pas de deux from the Nutcracker. But we soon calmed down. True, most Americans opposed the tax cut for the rich but not by a wide margin. More important, though, is the fact that the voting public gave our party "a shellacking" in the last election. Yes, you had to compromise with a party which would sabotage, among other worthy initiatives, any extension of much-needed unemployment insurance. We still love you--but please don't take us for granted!
You mentioned in a recent press conference all your achievements since becoming president. It is indeed a formidable list; I am indeed proud of what you have accomplished so far. Well, here comes the criticism, and I think you know what's coming: how is it that someone with your communication skills has been unable to inform the public of what you want to do and what you have done?
Mr. President, I admire your intellect and ability to negotiate. Yet if you fail to counteract the "disinformation campaign" of your opponents, you will not be nearly as effective as you can be. We need you! My wife and I do not want to be doing our next rumba in the basement!
The Republican Party knows it has to twist the truth to get elected, since most Americans are not wealthy. They are experts in psychological warfare, masters of the little phrases--e.g. death panels, death taxes--that infect the minds of many good, yet woefully misinformed people. Fighting against this propaganda machine is essential if you want to achieve more. If it is so distasteful to you, at least delegate this important function to others.
I will close with one suggestion about how you can do this. You have heard what many people say--namely that you are a socialist and an advocate of Big Government. Untrue! I am convinced that you are a passionate supporter of capitalism. You know as well as I that without it we would no longer be the innovators that we are. Why not present yourself as such? Why not say that capitalism in order to function well needs periodic tune-ups like our cars? Why not say that you also oppose big government, but demand that we have the minimal government necessary so that capitalism doesn't disintegrate into oligarchy? If you fought back like this you would also be distinguishing yourself from many opponents: you would be telling the truth.
Maybe you have learned from past mistakes and are planning to vigorously fight back against those who are distorting you record. I sincerely hope so.
By the way, my wife has just informed me that we will not be dancing the rumba outside our house in 2012. Despite the mid-term "shellacking," she has full confidence in your ability to turn things around. If you do, in the name of the American people, she has decided--and I heartily agree--that we should perform a uniquely American dance. In 2012, Mr. President, we expect to swing. Please don't let us down.
