On Compromise and Obama

This is the second of two related pieces on Obama. The first talked about Obama's decision to be a moderate. This one will talk about Obama's belief in compromise above all else. 

First, let me state clearly that I don't mind compromise. In fact, I think it is often necessary for anything to happen and for us as a society to progress.

It seems that the president has decided that voters want compromise. But he thinks that he has to start out by showing how willing he is to compromise. In other words, if he says the word compromise early enough and often enough, voters will see that he is the reasonable one and the Republicans the crazy ones.

But I don't think voters care when you say compromise, as long as you do compromise. In fact, in every situation, Obama has shown signs of good faith and not been rewarded by voters or his adversaries in the Republican party. He put forward a stimulus with significant tax cuts instead of making them demand it (and received 3 Republican votes for his troubles). He put forward a health care bill modeled on Romney's plan in Massachusetts instead of something more liberal (and received not votes). And his positioning on the debt limit has been nothing other than bending over backwards to show his willingness to compromise. 

In none of these cases have voters shown signs of approving of his signs of good faith. And it certainly hasn't helped his negotiating position.

What he should do is start from a position of strength, and let the deal in the end be the sign of his willingness to compromise. And this would benefit liberal positions as well because he could spend time defending liberal ideals and then reach a compromise that has more of what he wants.

The bottom line is this: I and most voters want leaders to compromise, but we expect them to at least defend their position first.