Ronald Reagan had so much respect for the presidency that he refused to even take off his jacket when sitting in the Oval Office. The Great Communicator’s humility was an important trait that reminded him what an honor it was serve the American people. President Obama, however, with his demeaning actions and proud rhetoric, continues to lack this important quality.
Time and again, President Obama has belittled others while assuming a position of superiority. Take, for instance, the moment he insulted 2008 presidential candidate Sen. John McCain at a 2010 White House-hosted health care summit. As McCain challenged the president’s proposed reforms, Obama had no problem ridiculing him.
“Let me just make this point, John, because we’re not campaigning anymore. The election’s over.”
Obama’s smug retort showed he had no respect for the former prisoner of war who fought bravely for our country.
After last Wednesday's painfully one-sided debate against Mitt Romney, the president was oblivious to the governor's domination, telling reporters that, upon leaving the stage, he "thought he had won." Also, the president’s appearance on The View last month, in which he referred to himself as “eye candy” for the female hosts, is yet another example of Obama’s narcissism. As he ignores Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s requests to discuss Iran’s nuclear policy, our president has no problem boosting his ego on daytime television.
Obama’s unapologetic pride is starkly contrasted with leaders such as Florida Congressman Allen West. Last summer, I had the chance to ask Congressman West if he would consider running for the presidency. His answer stunned me.
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| ncrenegade.com |
Obama’s unapologetic pride is starkly contrasted with leaders such as Florida Congressman Allen West. Last summer, I had the chance to ask Congressman West if he would consider running for the presidency. His answer stunned me.
“If God puts it upon my heart. I’m not gonna sit here and say, ‘I want to be this or I want to run for that.’ I just want to be a servant of my country.”
A politician who only seeks higher office if God or his fellow Americans ask him?
I see this same humble spirit in Mitt Romney.
At the Republican National Convention in August, two of Romney’s close acquaintances shared how the party nominee showed them incredible compassion in the darkest periods of their lives. For Ted and Pat Oparowski, Romney demonstrated his kindness to their son, David, when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma at age 14. During the seven months David was in the hospital, Romney, a businessman burdened with heavy schedules, visited the young boy several times. He took on the difficult task of helping David write his will and honored the dying boy’s request by giving the eulogy at his funeral.
A mother named Pam Finlayson further proved the candidate’s selflessness with her own emotional speech. After her daughter Kate was born three and a half months early, Finlayson watched her daughter struggle to survive in intensive care. Romney again took time out of his hectic schedule to offer her and her family comfort, even surprising them by showing up at the hospital with a Thanksgiving dinner during the holiday. Ann Romney told her it was Mitt’s idea to cook the dinner, even preparing most of the meal himself.
Finlayson concluded with an eloquent summary of Romney’s character.
“It is with great excitement and a renewed hope, to know that our country will be blessed as it is led by a man who is not only so accomplished and capable, but who has devoted his entire life quietly serving others.”
It is something to be said when those closest to Romney don’t define him by his politics, but by much more important characteristics such as his humble heart.
This is a man who lives his life for others. This is a man who will serve the American people with dignity and respect for the presidency. In other words, this is a man who Obama is not.