Obama's muddle in the middle

He needs to lead, not meekly seek the brittle support of partisans.

A. Lawrence Chickering and James S. Turner

Barack Obama came from virtually nowhere to become president of the United States by promising to bring people together. His message was not bipartisan, but rather transpartisan. And it spoke powerfully to people deeply alienated by partisan conflict.

Now, President Obama has made the mistake of putting aside the transpartisanship that won him the presidency. To succeed, he must embrace it again.

Because much of the country did not participate in the election, Obama got about 30 percent of adult Americans' votes, and McCain got 25 percent. Together, they had the support of a little more than half of American adults.

But the Obama message reached the public, including those well outside the political system. They hoped the new president would showcase a new politics. They expressed a willingness - even a desire - for significant change - the sooner, the better.

Unfortunately, after his election, the new president switched from the transpartisan rhetoric of "we the people" to the bipartisan rhetoric of "we the politicians." He switched from seeking common ground to seeking the middle ground. Instead of boldly leading the people in a defined direction, he meekly sought support from a majority of the nation's politicians.

Obama has been forced to address an economic crisis that drove the partisans into their respective camps. Between election and inauguration, he worked hand in hand with outgoing President George W. Bush to gain passage, after an initial defeat, of a $750 billion bailout bill. Bipartisanship - not transpartisanship - reigned.

Lost during the bipartisan celebration of the bailout's passage was the significance of its defeat the first time around. Members of Congress from left and right had opposed the first bailout attempt in a way that expressed the feelings of Americans who are alienated from politics.

This nascent transpartisan political force was arm-twisted back into line with partisan politics. The die had been cast: The next round would be bitterly partisan.

But the Obama team missed the signal. Believing that bipartisanship worked with the outgoing president, the new administration continued on its bipartisan path. It failed.

Of the 219 Republican members of Congress, all but three voted against Obama's stimulus bill. By covering his transpartisan instincts in bipartisan clothing, the president shortchanged his strategy for cleaning up the economic and other messes he inherited from his predecessors.

The bipartisan instinct gives rise to thin, brittle, ad hoc policies that depend on compromise. The rush to pass the Obama stimulus and bailout had the odor of old politics. The $800 billion result looks a lot like the product of the kind of politics that led to $2 trillion in tax cuts and $1 trillion and counting being spent on Iraq. "Bipartisan," said one commentator, "allows both parties to pick the pockets of taxpayers without fear that they will be held accountable."

Transpartisanship integrates the best ideas and approaches from all political sectors, including any that the partisans might offer. It does not depend on support from any who choose to opt out. Most important, it consciously draws on the large segment of the population that identifies as neither Republican nor Democratic.

A small example of transpartisan policy for the Obama team's consideration would be a significant expansion of the Patriot Bond program begun in 2001. The program could allow people who want to save rather then spend their money to direct their savings toward solving the nation's economic problems.

To regain his footing, Obama must return to his transpartisan instincts. We think he is an ideal transpartisan leader. But if he fails to enlist the people in reviving our economy, the vast majority of Americans - those who opt out of partisan politics - will stand aside as the effort fails.

Lawrence Chickering and James S. Turner wrote "Voice of the People: The Transpartisan Imperative in American Life."
Also Jim Turner is the legal council for the Daniel Chapter One ministry, and their fight against the FTC/FDA.
For more information, go to www.DanielChapterOneFreedom.com