Obama Fails to Usher in the New Age of Bipartisanship

E. J. Dionne, who, along with his peers in the media fell into a swoon at Obama’s feet during the Democratic primary, had already begun to wake up prior to the young president’s speech to a joint session of congress last night. In today’s column, Dionne comes close to acknowledging that his idol does not have the power by virtue of his charm and biography to usher in a bipartisan era in which all of the nation’s problems will be instantly and peacefully resolved.

If you read between Dionne’s carefully worded lines, you’ll recognize the pundit has shaken off the dazed euphoric state that afflicted Democratic party leaders and their media allies for months in order to conclude:

It seemed as if a politician who had been channeling the detached and cerebral Adlai Stevenson had discovered a new role model in the fighting Harry Truman. For the cause of health-care reform, it was about time.

Earlier in the piece, Dionne is apparently okay with Obama’s reference in his speech to the “lies” in the critiques of the opposition, while his supporters are up in arms in response to the outburst of Republican Rep. Joe Wilson last night who accused Obama of lying.

So much for messianic leadership from the White House.

By the way, if you watched Obama’s prime time performance you had to see Hillary Clinton make her entrance in her pink pantsuit and as described by Wapo’s Tom Shales “almost dancing her way down the aisle.” Greeted with hugs and kisses from everyone she passed, the woman is obviously loved by her peers and members of congress.