I'm concerned about the little things that reveal Obama. Thomas Sowell explains why the little things matter:
Seemingly unrelated things can give important insights into someone's outlook and character. For example, after the Cold War was over, it came out that one of the things that caught the attention of Soviet leaders early on was President Ronald Reagan's breaking of the air traffic controllers' strike.
Why were the Soviets concerned about a purely domestic American issue like an air traffic controllers' strike? Why was their attention not confined to "the real issues" between the United States and the Soviet Union?
Because one of the biggest and realest of all issues is the outlook and character of the President of the United States.
It would be hard to imagine any of Ronald Reagan's predecessors over the previous several decades-- whether Republicans or Democrats-- who would have broken a nationwide strike instead of caving in to the union's demands.
This told the Soviet leaders what Reagan was made of, even before he got up and walked out of the room during negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev. That too let the Soviet leaders know that they were not dealing with Jimmy Carter any more.
(Found via CG)
Posted by Sarah at October 8, 2008 08:53 AM | TrackBackPresidents are living symbols of America. So it's no wonder that we obsess over what may seem to be minutiae. They ideally embody what we want our nation to be, down to the last detail.
It would be interesting to read Sowell's column alongside a column by a Obama supporter listing the little things that reveal McCain.
When I read Sowell's column, the comment right below it was titled "Sowell for President". Right on. Sowell embodies my America.
He and Joanne Jacobs were my favorite columnists in the local papers years ago. Joanne now blogs, but Sowell hasn't made the digital leap yet. It's a shame, because I'd love to see what's on his mind every day.
Oh well, back to reality ...
Posted by: Amritas at October 8, 2008 01:08 PM