One of the most poorly kept secrets in Washington is President Obama's animosity toward Great Britain, presumably because of what he regards as its sins while ruling Kenya (1895-1963).
One of Barack Obama's first acts as president was to return to Britain a bust of Winston Churchill that had graced the Oval Office since 9/11. He followed this up by denying Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on his first state visit, the usual joint press conference with flags.
The president was "too tired" to grant the leader of America's closest ally a proper welcome, his aides told British journalists.
Mr. Obama followed this up with cheesy gifts for Mr. Brown and the queen. Columnist Ian Martin described his behavior as "rudeness personified."
There was more rudeness in store for Mr. Brown at the opening session of the United Nations in September.
"The prime minister was forced to dash through the kitchens of the UN in New York to secure five minutes of face time with President Obama after five requests for a sit down meeting were rejected by the White House," said London Telegraph columnist David Hughes. Mr. Obama's "churlishness is unforgivable," Mr. Hughes said.
The administration went beyond snubs and slights earlier this month when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsed the demand of Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, a Hugh Chavez ally, for mediation of Argentina's specious claim to the Falkland Islands, a British dependency since 1833.
The people who live in the Falklands, who speak English, want nothing to do with Argentina. When, in 1982, an earlier Argentine dictatorship tried to seize the Falklands by force, the British — with strong support from President Ronald Reagan — expelled them.
"It is truly shocking that Barack Obama has decided to disregard our shared history," wrote Telegraph columnist Toby Young. "Does Britain's friendship really mean so little to him?"
Does Barack Obama think Democrats in the House of Representatives who represent swing districts are British? He's treating them as if they were.
As the world knows, the president and his aides are lobbying, cajoling, pleading with, threatening and bribing these Democrats to vote for a health care bill a large plurality of their constituents really, really hate. Most of those who accede to Mr. Obama's wishes probably will lose their seats in the midterm elections.
Okay. Sometimes it's necessary for a politician to put what he or she sees as the national interest over his or her parochial interest. As Edmund Burke told the electors of Bristol: "Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion." (Mr. Burke lost the next election.)
The Democrats contemplating walking the plank on Obamacare no doubt hope the president would then turn his attention to something the people really want, like jobs.
If so, they hope in vain.
"President Barack Obama made a renewed push for a long-stalled climate and energy bill Tuesday, urging lawmakers at a White House meeting to pass a comprehensive bill this year," reported the Associated Press.
If there is a piece of legislation more toxic than Obamacare, it is the cap and trade bill the president wants to revive. It would send the cost of gasoline and electricity soaring, and cost up to three million jobs over the next 20 years, according to one study.
Popular support for cap and trade was low before this winter — when at one point last month every state except Hawaii had snow on the ground — and before the Climategate and related scandals indicated the "science" on which cap and trade is based is highly suspect. Support for cap and trade has plummeted since.
It is said that trouble comes in threes, and so it does for House Democrats. President Obama also wants a vote this year on a massive immigration reform (amnesty) bill very like the one that caused a popular uprising against President Bush and Congress in 2007.
A Democrat from a swing district might be able to survive one highly unpopular vote. Three is pushing it.
Perhaps President Obama secretly wants a Republican Congress to play off against. He seems to be doing everything he can to bring that about.
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