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A Glance Back Obama continued from page 3 “Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now” B ERNIE F OSTER Founder/Publisher B OBBIE D ORE F OSTER Executive Editor T ED B ANKS Advertising Manager J ERRY F OSTER Account Executive L ISA L OVING News Editor H ELEN S ILVIS Multimedia Editor D AVID K IDD Graphic Designer M ONICA J. F OSTER Seattle Office Coordinator J ULIE K EEFE S USAN F RIED Photographers trol and his frustration with them was evident when he fumed in September, during the crisis over Syria: “I would much rather spend my time talking about how to make sure every 3- and 4-year-old gets a good education than I would spending time thinking about how I can prevent 3- and 4-year-olds from being subject- ed to chemical weapons and nerve gas.” But presidents don’t get to pick their crises. And plenty of Obama’s woes were of his own making, raising questions about his compe- tence and management of the White House. How could he not have known that his gov- ernment was spying on the private communica- tions of friendly world leaders? Why didn’t he know his health care website wouldn’t work? How could he have promised over and over again that Americans could keep their health insurance if they liked it when his own advisers knew it wasn’t that simple? As a result, the president is ending his fifth year in office in a “defensive crouch,” says presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, and may have to be content with simply pro- tecting his health care law and other Democrat- ic-backed programs that Republicans are eager to repeal. At this point, says Brinkley, “it’s really a fire- wall presidency.” The 2014 midterm elections give Obama his best opportunity to rebound. But Democrats, DIXIE’S FIGHT Surrounded by supporters at a press conference outside her home in Seattle's Central District, cancer survivor Dixie Mitchell talks about her struggle with foreclosure. Mitchell obtained a mortgage modification two years ago, but her monthly mortgage payments still take up two-thirds of her fixed income. who just weeks ago saw an opportunity to may be content to just keep control of the Sen- retake the House after Republicans got blamed ate. There’s a certain irony in Obama’s success for the government shutdown, now fret about the health care law’s ongoing problems and depending on Congress, a body with whom he has had a lukewarm partnership. Lawmakers from both parties say Obama doesn’t talk to them much, nor do his aides. Letters go unanswered. Policies come out of the blue. Social interactions are few. Both sides wistfully recall the voluble Clin- ton, who figured out how to craft deals with Republicans on welfare reform and other agen- da items after the GOP took control of the House and made big gains in the Senate twoyears into his presidency. Sen. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican who worked with Obama when he was a sena- tor and still considers the president a friend, says flatly: “He’s flunked in terms of relations with Congress.” “If you know him personally, he’s a very lik- able person,” says Coburn. “But it’s different than with most other presidents in terms of having relationships with Congress. ... There’s a lack of a personal touch.” Of course, the president’s tepid relationship with Congress is hardly his fault alone. The tea party forces that pulled House Republicans to Elizabeth Britton, granddaughter of Chief Joseph, visited Chief Joseph Elementary the right in recent years made it difficult for the School in May. She told the children, “You’re nothing if you don’t know who you GOP to reach agreement with Democrats on are.” Her visit brought tears to the eyes of Principal Joe Galati, at right, and other much of anything, and produced the showdown visitors as well. over the president’s health care law that spawned the government shutdown. Obama did attempt to improve relations with Republicans earlier this year, holding a few dinners with GOP lawmakers. His chief of staff, Denis McDonough, has been widely praised by Republicans for being a frequent visitor to Capitol Hill. But some lawmakers say that’s as far as the outreach goes. Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who ran against Obama in 2008 but has since tried to work with him on immigra- tion and the budget, said no one from the White House legislative affairs staff has ever called him or come to his office just to chat. What does it matter if Obama doesn’t buddy up to his former colleagues? He needs those relationships to advance his agenda in Congress. And the strained ties with legislators are emblematic of a broader prob- lem for Obama rooted in his tendency to keep a tight inner circle. “Instead of going out and talking to his ene- mies, making friends and schmoozing, or bang- ing heads together with them or whatever, you can see that the man is diffident — deeply, deeply diffident about the kinds of politicking that are necessary to build consensus,” says Nigel Nicholson, a professor at the London Business School who has written a book about CHIEF JOSEPH The Skanner Newspaper, established in October 1975, is a weekly publica- tion, published each Wednesday by IMM Publications Inc., 415 N. Killingsworth St., P.O. Box 5455, Portland, OR 97228. Telephone (503) 285-5555. E-mail: info@theskanner.com World Wide Web site: http://www.theskanner.com The Skanner is a member of the National Newspaper Pub lishers Associ- ation and West Coast Black Pub lishers Association. All photos submitted become the property of The Skanner. We are not re - spon sible for lost or damaged photos either solicited or unsolicited. © 2014 The Skanner. ALL RIGHTS RE SERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION PROHIBITED. To see The Skanner News on your smart phone go to theskannermobile.com or scan this QR code with your app. • • • • • • • • Local news Opinions Jobs, Bids Sports Entertainment Music reviews Bulletin board RSS feeds See OBAMA on page 6 Page 4 The Portland & Seattle Skanner December 31, 2013
