Many years ago, I saw a poster or a bumper sticker that said, "When the people lead, the Leaders will follow." I have long loved that saying and believed it to be true. I think we all saw an abject lesson in the reaction to Indiana's RFRA adventure. The people of the United States sent a clear message that discriminating against teh gays has become unacceptable and the political leaders in Indiana had no choice but to follow.
It made me think of the question of leadership in general. As the campaign for the 2016 Presidency is now getting underway, we are going to hear a lot about leadership. The Republicans often complain that President Obama is not a strong leader. They also praise Vladimir Putin for his leadership, and complain that President Obama is a tyrant guilty of Constitutional overreach, so I am really confused.
Please allow me to lead you below the fold for more on the subject:
I would like to begin by making the claim that strong leadership involves going in an unpopular direction because you know it is right in spite of the feelings of others. Then asking, arguing, begging, cajoling, steamrolling, and using any other powers of persuasion until everyone finally understands the rightness of your decision.
When Republicans complain that President Obama needs to lead on an issue, they mean he needs to lead America in the direction Republicans want to go. That is actually called following. Then again, someone who leads with noone following is just someone out for a walk.
In my opinion, the last moment of true Republican Leadership came in 2008 when Senator McCain took the Microphone away from a supporter who called Senator Obama a Muslim and told her no.
Four years earlier, President Bush was running for election (Yes, I do not use the word "Reelection" on purpose). His campaign touted his strong leadership skills. During the summer of 2004, the Assault Weapons Ban was coming up for renewal. President Bush said he was in favor of renewal. He said that if Congress sent him a renewal bill he would sign it.
It needs to be pointed out at this time that his party held both houses of Congress. Therefore, if he wanted to renew the assault weapons ban, and he was a strong leader, he could have told Congress to get him a bill. A liberal media would have called him out on this. Even a merely competent media should have pointed this out. It was political malpractice for the Kerry campaign to not ask why it didn't happen.
The question was simple. "Mr. President, if you support a renewal of the Assault Weapons ban, as you claim, and there isn't one on your desk, you are either NOT a strong leader or lying! Which is it?"
Republicans need strong leaders right now. They need to be led out of the wilderness. They need a strong leader to tell them that not only is illegal immigration not the grave threat that they think it is, but it is not happening at the rate that they think it is and that immigrants, illegal or otherwise are actually contributing more than they are getting.
Strong leaders will tell the base that conquering climate change will create more jobs and ultimately drive down energy costs. Strong leaders won't pander to homophobic Christians, but remind them that as long as they are not committing the sin they hate so much, who cares?
Strong leaders don't fear being proven wrong. They use that proof to guide their followers toward the truth. A strong leader does not tell his base they are free to not vaccinate their children because of lies the believe to be true. A strong leader tells them not to be afraid and vaccinate so that other children do not get sick.
There is a reason why Secretary Clinton gave income inequaltiy such prominence in her capmaign launch, and why Republicans mention its rise under President Obama. Mayor DeBlasio was a longshot. Senator Warren is the flavor of the last 2 years. Populism is on the rise. When the people lead, the leaders will follow.