We Will Judge Obama On His Performance Alone

Juan Williams, Fox News, NPR and Wall Street Journalist advises, in his Jan. 20, 2009 Wall Street Journal article, "Judge Obama on Performance Alone."

Juan Williams, very profoundly explains, "If his presidency is to represent the full power of the idea that black Americans are just like everyone else -- fully human and fully capable of intellect, courage and patriotism -- then Barack Obama has to be subject to the same rough and tumble of political criticism experienced by his predecessors. To treat the first black president as if he is a fragile flower is certain to hobble him. It is also to waste a tremendous opportunity for improving race relations by doing away with stereotypes and seeing the potential in all Americans.

Yet there is fear, especially among black people, that criticism of him or any of his failures might be twisted into evidence that people of color cannot effectively lead. That amounts to wasting time and energy reacting to hateful stereotypes. It also leads to treating all criticism of Mr. Obama, whether legitimate, wrong-headed or even mean-spirited, as racist.

This is patronizing. Worse, it carries an implicit presumption of inferiority. Every American president must be held to the highest standard. No president of any color should be given a free pass for screw-ups, lies or failure to keep a promise."

So we will not patronize Barack Obama but pay our respect by judging him on his performance alone. We will call it like we see it. Good or bad.

by Boston Tea Party reporter -=Glenn Fannin=-