The Loss of Credibility

What is credibility? We have seen over the years what happens when we, in our private lives, do things which give other people pause to trust in us and to believe in us when we act or say something to cause doubt in our honesty.

We are human, after all. We strive for perfection, whether real or perceived and each day we are forced to look into the mirror and admit our failings at least to ourselves. It takes a big person to admit his/her mistakes.

We have learned since January 20, 2009 that the man elected President the previous November is not the man he had us believe he was. In the beginning, we gave him the benefit of the doubt because we felt he deserved the same honeymoon period we have always given our new Presidents. It would be unfair of us if we did less with this President. After all, he inherited a mess with the economy and two wars from the Bush Administration.

As Americans, we pride ourselves on fairness and a forgiving nature if Presidents are honest with us.

In my lifetime, I remember the disaster of the Bay of Pigs, when President Kennedy allowed CIA-trained Cuban guerrillas to land on the beaches without air power and a strong support/back-up rear guard. When the attack was done, and the guerrillas were captured or killed, rather than try to lay blame on the CIA, the Eisenhower Administration who developed the plan or at the feet of the guerrillas for poor execution, instead, JFK sucked it up, went out to face the press and said, "Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan." 

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He didn't blame others, he didn't prevaricate and he didn't try to cover it up. The American people, rather than curse him, supported him because he was HONEST, TRUSTWORTHY AND WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for his actions. 

Can anyone say the same for President Obama and believe they are being honest with themselves? 

Last week, the President had a ninety minute meeting with the leader of over one billion Catholics, Pope Francis. When it was done, they came out of the meeting and spoke to the media; it seems, based on the comments each man made, that they must have been at two separate meetings. 

I ask you, which is the correct discourse that reviewed that meeting? Was it the one spoken by a man that many feel is infallible on subjects besides those concerning faith and morals? Or, was it the one spoken by the man who promised, PROMISED Americans "if you like your plan you can keep your plan, period"?

 This, then, is the basis of credibility. If your actions and deeds constantly reveal you as honest and trustworthy, as with Pope Francis, you will be believed. If you blame the deaths of four Americans on the actions of a non-existent video and Americans finally realize they were lied to for political expediency, well, you have no credibility. 

President Obama, as of this writing, has two years, nine months and twenty days before his term ends but he is already a lame duck, at least until this coming Election Day. If the Democrats lose the Senate and the Republicans keep the House that will reveal to America and the world that this man has no credibility. In essence, he will be an impeached "dead duck" should he try anything, say anything, do anything contrary to what the American people want for the rest of his term. 

He has lost all credibility with the American people. When the media finally catches up, and stops fawning over this liar, then he will finally be held in check. 

Nixon, Carter and even Clinton learned the lesson the hard way. Credibility is necessary to be able to govern. If you lose it, you are powerless; if you get out of line, you will be run out of town like Nixon and Clinton, well almost Clinton. 

Will Obama learn the lesson of credibility? I doubt it.