Obama's Courage Gap

From the economic crash to energy policy, the president has diagnosed what ails us. It's a pity he doesn't follow his own prescriptions.

My latest column for The Week reviews the president's energy policy speech and his troubling failure to follow through on his own policy prescriptions.

This is becoming a pattern.

Twice before in his presidency, Barack Obama has faced a crisis or major challenge. Twice before he has summoned the nation to action. And twice before he has offered solutions that fall woefully short of his own summons. …

Now, the Gulf oil spill. President Obama’s much criticized Oval Office address last night made a very good point:

"For decades, we have known the days of cheap and easily accessible oil were numbered.  For decades, we’ve talked and talked about the need to end America’s century-long addiction to fossil fuels. And for decades, we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires.  Time and again, the path forward has been blocked — not only by oil industry lobbyists, but also by a lack of political courage and candor."

Indisputable. Does that mean that President Obama is now prepared to offer some of that absent courage and candor?

Far from it!

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