The Hope of Obama vs. the Wisdom of Madison
During the campaign, Barack Obama portrayed himself as a unifying figure for America, the balm for our wounds, the man uniquely able to overcome our differences. He would create a spirit of bipartisan goodwill after the divisive Bush years. We are not “red America” or “blue America,” he said during his run for the presidency—there is only “the United States of America.” Through the healing power of his words and his calm reason, he would elevate the national debate and unify the country. He spoke about finding “the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.” Yet like many of his other commitments, this eloquent promise of unity and comity is going unfulfilled.
We know from a Pew Poll earlier this year that Obama ranks as the most polarizing president of the modern era. He never made a serious effort at bipartisan outreach—that is a commitment the administration cast aside months ago and simply ignores these days. Thanks to ObamaCare, muc