Brutal column today from Bob Herbert at the NY Times on Obama's credibility:
Mr. Obama is in danger of being perceived as someone whose rhetoric, however skillful, cannot always be trusted. He is creating a credibility gap for himself, and if it widens much more he won’t be able to close it.And, there's this:
Mr. Obama promised during the campaign that he would be a different kind of president, one who would preside over a more open, more high-minded administration that would be far more in touch with the economic needs of ordinary working Americans. But no sooner was he elected than he put together an economic team that would protect, above all, the interests of Wall Street, the pharmaceutical industry, the health insurance companies, and so on.A lot of people have been asking that same question about Geithner and Summers.
How can you look out for the interests of working people with Tim Geithner whispering in one ear and Larry Summers in the other?
Herbert doesn't hold back at all. This isn't the kind of pre-State of the Union analysis that Team Obama needs or wants. But, Herbert is an ally. His words should permeate the White House bubble.
