Letters: Obama is a pragmatist, not idealist

Mar 12, 2010 — USA Today

Obama is a pragmatist, not idealist

Michael J. Gorman - Whitestone, N.Y.

Some people who voted for President Obama are disillusioned and complain that his pragmatism and desire to avoid appearing to be ideological are getting in the way of his ability to communicate a clear and consistent message to the American people. Some claim that he's sacrificing his principles in an effort to get the necessary votes on health care and other vital programs ("We expect too much from our presidents," The Forum, Monday).

Pragmatic, compromising President Obama understands this. He is trying to provide basic health care to those who have none and take the exorbitant profits out of the pharmaceutical and health insurance companies. Too many of us are looking for - or worse, demanding - President Obama to be Don Quixote, the ultimate idealist. The real Don Quixotes are, at best, inspirational losers. When the extremists on both sides attack President Obama for their own very different reasons, that's a strong sign that he is doing the right thing.

Ways to excuse president

David Lange - St. Louis

It was only a matter of time before people would start explaining away the crash and burn of President Obama's first year. My favorite is the Forum piece "We expect too much from our presidents."

Although certainly not a universal concept, these high expectations may well apply to Obama. A more apt title might be: "We expect too much from our presidents when they have no experience, have a thin skin and are more comfortable on the campaign trail than they are sitting in the White House, working for the betterment of the country as a whole."