The Smithian

[regarding President Obama’s “branding problem”] »

The ability to transcend ideological divides and unite disparate parts of the electorate was a signal strength of his candidacy in 2008. But that has given way to widespread—if often contradictory—complaints about his agenda (too radical or too cautious?) and the political tactics (too partisan or too conflict averse?) he uses to pursue it … At first blush, it is a mystery: How could a political leader preside over nearly $1 trillion dollars in stimulus and other spending, and pass overhauls of the health care and financial services sectors, but still leave many of his own supporters uncertain of his larger aims? … “He hasn’t sought, I think, to bring coherence to the achievements of the last 20 months,” said former Democratic senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart, adding that “it would not hurt” to do so soon.