Note to Presidents: Words Matter

In office, George W. Bush seemed laid back no matter what, while Barack Obama “has not been a happy warrior.” Both men have been true to form in major interviews over the past week, writes Howard Kurtz in the Daily Beast. Obama acknowledged discouragement—a fair point, but not an inspiring one. “If the president is discouraged by 9.6% unemployment, how should the rest of us feel?”

Meanwhile, Bush seemed far more upset by Kanye West’s charges of racism than by the financial trouble or wars during his term. He claims he’s no “Shakespeare,” but both men must realize that “we measure presidents by their words and demeanor.” We know Obama can be eloquent, but recently he’s been “flat.” We’ll see if he proves as “resilient” as he said America is.
(More President Obama stories.)