Is Geithner good for Obama?

Psychology professor Drew Westen’s New York Times commentary “What Happened to Obama?” is good supplementary reading for today’s Arena question. It’s the most on the mark piece I’ve read about Obama’s leadership and why we’re all feeling icky after the “deal.” I’ve been writing about Obama’s leadership problems since the start of his administration: “Is a Good Enough Stimulus Good Enough?”
President Harry Truman
To be fair, many of the constituency groups that supported him have been complicit in not holding his feet to the fire. But we know where the buck stops. I hope against pattern that he will listen to and learn from the S and P downgrade that you might as well go ahead and do what you know is right because your enemies are going to find a way to castigate your decision no matter what. A true leader stays ahead of the opposition and drives the agenda rather than responding and offering “deals.”

Politico TheArena logoArena Asks: The Treasury Department announced yesterday that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will remain in his post through President Obama’s reelection campaign. Is Geithner’s continued post a good thing for Obama’s re-election? Will voters see this decision as a step toward economic stability?

My Answer: When asked if he had a hard time making tough decisions, President Harry Truman replied, “No. If I’m right, the problem’s solved. If I’m wrong it’ll just come back to me as another problem.”

Geithner’s appointment was an easy decision that signaled President Obama’s intent to stick with financial business as usual rather than implement the change his campaign had inspired voters to believe in. That in turn began the slow draining away of public confidence in Obama’s leadership and a rebounding cynicism about his administration’s willingness to make tough decisions, let alone solve problems.

Now, even if Geithner has been doing the best possible job under what have surely been extremely difficult circumstances, his head is likely to roll. That won’t solve the problem. But shaking things up would create a new set of problems for everyone to focus on. Bringing in a different team leader could boost confidence and give Obama back some power with which to push back against Tea Party solutions that merely slash and burn everything in sight except tax advantages for the wealthy.

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