Chicago Four Are Not the Problem

Edward Luce’s piece on the Chicago Four in the Obama administration is getting a lot of buzz, but it reveals more about what is wrong about political journalism than “Rahm Emanuel, the pugnacious chief of staff; David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett, his senior advisers; and Robert Gibbs, his communications chief.” [Financial Times, America: A fearsome foursome (go ahead and register for free)]

Luce’s thrust is that anonymous Obama allies and friends in Washington think the “Obama White House is geared for campaigning rather than governing … .”

Not mentioning the sociopathic GOP opposition who would gladly burn down America than see it succeed under Pres. Obama, Luce’s internally inconsistent piece is in essence a dubious complaint that Rahm Emanuel yells at people and self-entitled people in Washington should have their asses kissed, just like Sally Quinn says. That’s it. That’s why the buzz about this 1,900-word piece.

The problem in the Obama administration is recognition and subsequent objectives and commitment.

The White House declined to answer questions on whether Mr Obama needed to broaden his circle of advisers. But some supporters say he should find a new chief of staff. Mr Emanuel has hinted that he might not stay in the job very long and is thought to have an eye on running for mayor of Chicago. Others say Mr Obama should bring in fresh blood. They point to Mr Clinton’s decision to recruit David Gergen, a veteran of previous White Houses, when the last Democratic president ran into trouble in 1993. That is credited with helping to steady the Clinton ship, after he too began with an inner circle largely carried over from his campaign.

But Mr Gergen himself disagrees. Now teaching at Harvard and commenting for CNN, Mr Gergen says members of the inner circle meet two key tests. First, they are all talented. Second, Mr Obama trusts them. ‘These are important attributes,’ Mr Gergen says. His biggest doubt is whether Mr Obama sees any problem with the existing set-up.

‘There is an old joke,’ says Mr Gergen. ‘How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb? Only one. But the lightbulb must want to change. I don’t think President Obama wants to make any changes.’