Obama's Choices more than black & white

The desire of President Obama's new administration to get off to a fast start are running into roadblocks not of his making. His interest in transforming America into a better and more responsible country have been sidetracked by political infighting and misfortune.

Decades of venality, self-interest and the neglect of our most basic responsibilities cannot be transformed overnight. The withdrawal of the nomination of Tom DaschleTom Daschle as prospective Secretary of Health and Human Services is a prime example. Daschle's background check should have revealed his tax liability problems. Obama's people left their man twisting in the wind, forced to shoulder the blame for the Daschle problem. Some of Obama's poilical capital and public goodwill had to be sacrificed in a public apology by the President. Daschle would have made a fine Cabinet member, but the moral high ground which the new administration has claimed will not allow for the inclusion of someone who did not get his taxes paid, whatever his intentions.

The Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives also let Obama down in its passage of an economic stimulus plan that does not meet the needs of these challenging times. Spending our limited resources on sometimes outdated social welfare programs is not what we need. More job creation stimuli are required to get our economy rolling again.

The ball is now in the court of the U.S. Senate, which will be called on to do the heavy lifting necessary to make sure that the final version of the economic stimulus package has what it takes put our country back on a sound economic foundation. The Senate is much more subject to the machinations of Washington lobbyists and their wealthy employers, because of the huge amounts of money needed to secure election to that august body. This could threaten Obama's vision of a transformed, more forward-looking America, as senators respond to the voices of the lobbyists more readily than they do to the will of the people.

The President's current problems have little, if anything, to do with his race. They are the result of his having to cope with outdated ideas and discredited, political back-room deals.

Obama's team must be mindful of the attitudes of the people who put him in office. We wanted change, and change there must be. Democratic congressional leaders, many of whom owe their present lofty status to the Obama miracle, must get in step with his vision of a new, more honest and forthright America.

Listen up, Washington. You are indeed in charge out there, and we who put you there are paying close attention. Close ranks behind our new leader and help him get the job done! Thank you.