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December 21, 2010 The Picture of Barack ObamaBy Cindy SimpsonIn the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, described as "a classic commentary on narcissism, decadence, and the wages of sin," author Oscar Wilde wrote:
An empty canvas was offered by Barack Obama in the prologue of his book, The Audacity of Hope, with his admission: "I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views," and "my treatment of the issues is often partial and incomplete." As writer Froma Harrop noted in her 2006 Real Clear Politics article, "Obama Scores as Exotic Who Says Nothing":
Without a doubt, Obama first sat for his presidential portrait in 2004 with that famous speech. An infatuated electorate, tutored by the tingly-legged artists of the mainstream media, proceeded to paint Obama's picture without much intensive study of their model, with some actually afraid to look more closely or critically for fear of being labeled "racist." The media contributed fawning essays and flattering photographs to the gallery, selectively publishing only those that projected a stately demeanor, their admiration evident in shots with lighting resembling a halo. Inspired voters did indeed "project their own views" on Obama's blank canvas. They painted him as their war-ender and bringer of peace, or savior of the economy; political uniter; race unifier; environmental champion; endorser of gay marriage; protector of women's rights; fellow Muslim or Christian; fellow liberal, Communist, or Socialist; wealth redistributionist; brilliant professor; etc. Obama proclaimed, "We are the ones we've been waiting for," and he effectively became a mirror for his fans. For many, the opportunity to elect an African-American president was considered a reckoning of our nation's unseemly history of slavery and racial tension. Some assumed Obama's "dreams" from his father to be similar to Dr. King's famous dream, or imagined Obama's community organizing as something more akin to community service and charity. Others found Obama an inspired artist with a vision to "fundamentally transform" America, but few bothered to evaluate his talent or experience, examine a blueprint of the transformation, or even understand his perspective. I recently received this anonymous quote in a much-forwarded e-mail:
Unlike a lovely impressionist painting in which thousands of carefully placed, tiny strokes of color create a work of art pleasing to the eye, this multitude painted a portrait of Obama out of a dissonant hodgepodge of individual smudges, a strikingly unflattering and chaotic image of our nation's economic, political, and moral turmoil. The reality is that the 2008 election was not about the man Obama, or even this portrait of Obama painted by the electorate, but rather the reflection of the character of the painter -- the people of America who voted for Obama. Many of Obama's voters, even if failing to realize the folly of their own ideas and the resulting havoc on our nation, are beginning to see the unattractive economic consequences of this fantasy portrait, or at the very least the humanity of the portrait's subject. Obama's recent tax cut compromise shattered his image in the eyes of more than a few of his most ardent supporters in the public, the media, and the Democratic Party. Peggy Noonan, in her article "From Audacity to Animosity" writes:
Other disenchanted fans lament, however, that Obama has now in fact shown himself to be quite normal -- a normal politician, more concerned about his prospects for reelection than the lofty principles they imagined he shared with them. Wilde's Dorian Gray, when the object of his affection (whom he had dreamed "a great artist," and "had given his love to her because he had thought her great") disappointed him with a lackluster theater performance, similarly lamented:
Unlike Newsweek's Evan Thomas, who once described his vision of Obama "standing above the world" as a "sort of God," most reasonable Americans understand that Obama is only human, after all, and are realistic enough to avoid projecting the impossibility of perfection on anyone. Obama, however, empowered by his adoring public, at times does seem prone to such narcissistic weakness, appearing to wear the crown of a king rather than the robe of a public servant. Mike Pence, in his powerful speech on the presidency at Hillsdale College, wisely stated:
Pence also said, "The presidency is the most visible thread that runs through the tapestry of the American government." The fabric of the Constitution, woven into a mantle and placed on one's shoulders by the votes of the American people, when faithfully and humbly worn, provides the inspiration to paint the most honorable and powerful presidential portrait of all. A renewed focus on education of our constitutional principles would equip our country with the vision to fully behold and appreciate the true and lasting beauty of such a picture.
on "The Picture of Barack Obama"
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