The Washington Monthly

December 7, 2009

SEEKING A DISCOURSE AS SERIOUS AS THE TIMES.... Late last week, at the White House jobs summit, President Obama made some remarks about the national discourse that went largely overlooked, but which were pretty interesting.

"If we can recapture that sense that we're in this thing together and that we are willing to work hard, that America is not great because it's owed to us, but we've been great because previous generations have put in the hard work to get us there, then I'm confident that we're going to get through this tough time and the 21st century is going to be as good for us as the 20th was. [...]
"But it's not going to come easily and it is going to require a level of cooperation and a willingness to work strategically together that we have not seen over the last several years. And frankly, this town and the way the political dialogue is structured right now is not conducive to what we need to do to be globally competitive. And all of you are leaders in your communities -- in the business sector and the labor sector, in academia, we even have a few pundits here -- it is important to understand what's at stake and that we can't keep on playing games.

"I mentioned that I was in Asia on this trip thinking about the economy, when I sat down for a round of interviews. Not one of them asked me about Asia. Not one of them asked me about the economy. I was asked several times about had I read Sarah Palin's book. (Laughter.) True. But it's an indication of how our political debate doesn't match up with what we need to do and where we need to go."

Now, as it turns out, the president's memory wasn't perfect -- during his interviews in Asia, Obama was asked plenty of inane questions, but some of the interviews did include a handful of substantive questions about Asia-Pac and the economy.

But in general, the president's larger concerns about the state of the discourse are extremely compelling. Love him or hate him, Obama deserves at least some credit for trying to change the way we engage in public-affairs debate, injecting a level of honesty and maturity that's been lacking for quite a while.

But the larger effects, at least so far, have been minimal, and "our political debate doesn't match up with what we need to do and where we need to go."

—Steve Benen 9:20 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (13)

Comments

The discourse of the corporate media is doing exactly what the corporate media needs to do in order for it to succeed at its goals for this country...

Posted by: neill on December 7, 2009 at 9:28 AM | PERMALINK

It is within Obama's power to be more effective at correcting this issue. So long as the press has the Rethug's back, they will only be emboldened in the downward stupid spiral. However, if Obama chooses to engage only reporters who ask intelligent questions and publicly chastises the stupid questions, this can change.

Reporter: "Have you read Sarah Palin's book?"
Obama: "When she as something of substance to say, I will. And when you start asking serious questions, I'll engage you again".

Posted by: Chopin on December 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM | PERMALINK

Obama is willing to do something that has been rare in the past and I find quite refreshing. He's willing to do the Villager equivalent of pointing and laughing.

What our discourse needs is lots more pointing and laughing.

Posted by: Paul Dirks on December 7, 2009 at 9:39 AM | PERMALINK

changing the discourse in this country? wasn't the last blurb about a million dollar bone thrown to some repulsive adolescent asshole?

oh, i guess it was due to his brilliant keynote address to the american historical association...my bad.

the nihilism of corporate discourse and the infantilization of the public have been going on for decades. obama is going to change that?

Posted by: neill on December 7, 2009 at 9:48 AM | PERMALINK

How can one have a 'serious discourse' with people who watch- and pay to vote for- an American Idol?

Posted by: DAY on December 7, 2009 at 10:05 AM | PERMALINK

Nothing new here, but I'm reminded of the college student from last week, who when given the chance to ask the president a question, asked what Obama thought about legalizing drugs and prostitution to improve the economy.

This question was greeted with laughter and applause. I'm sure his parents were proud.

Posted by: Winkandanod on December 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM | PERMALINK

Let's face it. We're just fucked. We do not remotely have the political will even to acknowledge the problems we're facing, much less take effective action on them.

So we're going down, and the only question remaining is how to survive, how to find somewhere to keep your head down, how to preserve some little something that might be of use in a dark future.

Stop thinking about politics.

Posted by: SqueakyRat on December 7, 2009 at 10:50 AM | PERMALINK

^^I feel in the same league. Time for another Ativan..

Posted by: Trollop druggy on December 7, 2009 at 11:44 AM | PERMALINK

A question I am loathe to ponder: Could the state of our national discourse get even worse?

Posted by: Quaker in a Basement on December 7, 2009 at 12:07 PM | PERMALINK

I wonder, was Obama surprised by this after the inauguration, did he really think the press were not lazy idiots or the republicans good faith actors?

I wish I could ask him off the record but I guess that's not a very substantive question.

Posted by: MNPundit on December 7, 2009 at 12:18 PM | PERMALINK

Love him or hate him, Obama deserves at least some credit for trying to change the way we engage in public-affairs debate, injecting a level of honesty and maturity that's been lacking for quite a while.

But sadly, the Republicans have redoubled their level of dishonesty -- quite a feat, after eight years of Bush/Cheney -- and immaturity.

Posted by: Gregory on December 7, 2009 at 1:09 PM | PERMALINK

Obama doesn't have time to read fiction these days.

Posted by: Chris S. on December 7, 2009 at 1:42 PM | PERMALINK

"...asked what Obama thought about legalizing drugs and prostitution to improve the economy." Winkandnod @ 10:25 PM.

Much more sensible than questions about Palin, no?

Posted by: Doug on December 7, 2009 at 7:25 PM | PERMALINK