Jan 28 2011

Political cooperation requires more than a symbolic seating chart

 

The timing for a “State of the Union” address could not have been better for President Barack Obama.

The economy continues to crawl out of the doldrums despite the dark clouds of unemployment and government debt. The Dow rose above 12,000 they day after his speech.

Obama’s favorability rating has risen, and new polls find Americans more tolerant of health care reform. He played the tax-break game with Republicans adroitly, polls also show. And he managed to get an arms treaty with Russia pushed through during a lame-duck session.

And people and politicians throughout the country united by shock and dismay over the shootings in Tucson called for increased cooperation and less bickering in Congress, allowing Obama to focus most of his speech on America’s promise rather than its immediate past.

Yes, that oft-used word “civility” rose to the top of the American dialogue from both “sides of the aisle,” as the saying goes within congressional chambers. Indeed, some Republicans, Democrats and Independents co-mingled during Obama’s speech. In fact, the TV talking heads seemed to focus post-speech reports more on where people sat than where the stood on key issues going forward. Heck, the president even plugged the new Speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio.

But I’m wondering if the picture I painted isn’t a bit like a “stereogram,” one of those pieces of art that looks like a pastoral field until you reach a certain distance from it and see a fire-breathing dragon.

So, I offer you similar points of view from opposite sides of the aisle about the congressional love fest during Obama’s speech.

From Betty Winston Bayé, columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal, whom I do not think would admonish me for calling her a liberal: “But I believe that fake civility, nevertheless, comes at an inordinately high price to soul and spirit. How many have ever walked away from what on the surface was a pleasant conversation or meeting and then realized, sometimes much later, that everything isn't kosher after all.”

From Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., whom I do not think would admonish me for calling him a conservative: “More important than the appearance of sitting together is what we do together. And the American people are more interested in actual accomplishments on a bipartisan basis here in the next six to nine months than they are the seating arrangement at the State of the Union.”

I couldn’t agree more — with both statements.

It amazes me how politicians on opposite ends of the spectrum and from different parties express so much admiration and respect for one another until it comes time to work together for the common good of the country. Then, of course, it’s always the “other” who won’t move off the party dime.

I think the days ahead will offer a quick test to the authenticity of civil and bipartisan problem solving.

What do you think?

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