Obama Fails the Leadership Test

Most Conservatives agree on one thing when it comes to our president, Barack Obama - he is not a leader! But before we eschew his various failings along that line, let's ponder what it is that makes a good leader and then we can more readily see what his shortcomings in that very important department are.

Leaders are people who inspire others. They inspire others with shared ideas and they motivate others to work for a common cause.

They do not place themselves above others or shirk the responsibility bestowed upon them by the people's trust to pursue selfish endeavors.

Leaders are never divisive -that is antithetical to the whole idea of bringing groups together! They don't pit one group over the other, but instead continually work to bring groups together, again for the greater good.

But most importantly, a true leader NEVER asks of those who follow or look up to him/her for guidance to do anything that they, the leader, are not ready and willing to do themselves!!

I am vividly reminded of a time when I worked as a waitress during college.  The manager of the steak house I worked at found himself short a dishwasher on a very busy Saturday evening. Instead of calling up an employee who had asked off to visit with grandparents she hadn't seen in quite some time or asking a waitress to take on the role and giving the other waitresses a heavier load, this manager rolled up his sleeves and jumped up to his elbow in soap suds, bellowing managerial type orders while he scrubbed pots for nearly two hours!

He was willing to do whatever it took to get the job done and to keep up the morale of his employees. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty! Managing and leading are so very similar. Each demands that the leader or mgr look at the big picture and make decisions that will make those who follow respect him and want to be a part of his team.

Now, understanding all of those tenets of what makes a good leader, it is easy to see that President Obama is severely lacking as one. He refuses to get to work on a jobs bill, to tackle the hard issues in D.C. and work with Congress, but instead chooses to golf incessantly and travel on the taxpayer's dime. One can not imagine Obama up to his elbows in the "soap suds" of hammering out realistic legislation and policies to help bring our economy back around!

Obama has been perhaps the most divisive leader in recent memory. He has played the race card so many times, its edges are creased! He talks of those who have too much, those who haven't enough, about how America is not a Chrisitian nation, about how Republicans want to hurt women and push granny off the cliff!

The negativity we now associate much of the time with our current president is never conducive to strong successful leadership. Positivity and optimism are what propels change that benefits everyone. Leaders must stay tuned to the positive to inspire, encourage, motivate and set the example for what can be achieved through mutual understanding and a mutual desire to work hard to achieve it.