October 16, 2010

A visit with Obama yields interesting answers

By Dwight Lewis
Nashville Tennessean

WASHINGTON — Mr. President: What do you ...

"... The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result," President Barack Obama said Friday as he answered a question about school reform. "We are crazy when it comes to the discussion of school reform if we think we can keep doing the same thing and getting different results, or that if we just give a little more money to some of these schools, we would get different results."

The problem, Obama went on to say as he met with members of the Trotter Group of black newspaper columnists at the White House, is that "We have to figure out a way to make sure all schools have the kind of energy" you see in schools where there's a great principal and motivated teachers.

Yes, here we were, talking with President Obama on issues ranging from the economy to the upcoming elections to next year's 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Noting that several former Confederate states already are planning observances, columnist DeWayne Wickham asked the president how he thinks the nation should observe the anniversary.

Obama paused for a few seconds. "It's interesting. I'm somebody who's fascinated by the Civil War. I've studied the history of it, and I think it is very important for the country to have knowledge of that history, because it was probably the most important turning point in our history other than the actual formation of the United States itself.

"The Civil War was that breaking point in which we began this journey to perfect a union that had been flawed by slavery and discrimination. Not knowing enough about what exactly the states are planning, I wouldn't have an opinion on that."

Obama added, however, that "I think it's important for everyone to know that history, and if it's presented in a smart and thoughtful and balanced way, I think it could be beneficial. And if it's not presented in a smart and balanced way, it would be divisive."

Wickham continued, "there are some who say when they hear people chant that we want our country back and they talk about states' rights, that for them the Civil War is unsettled business.”

"I think that it's important not to see race behind every disagreement with me," the president replied. "There is a long tradition of federalism that predates the civil-rights battles of the '60s or the Civil War. ... I think that my approach is always to take people at face value.

"If they say that they are concerned about a government that's grown too large and oppressive rather than suggest they've got some illegitimate motives, I'll take them at their word, and I will describe to them how the government is now smaller than it was under Ronald Reagan."

And if you're wondering, the president said he is not interested in imposing socialism on America. "Here's what we're doing, and we actually think it will make the country more productive."

Stay tuned. In the next coming days I will give you more of what President Obama had to say. Some of you may agree, some may still say he's a socialist. But stay tuned; it's pretty interesting.

Dwight Lewis is editorial page editor for The Tennessean. His column appears Sundays and Thursdays. E-mail: dlewis@tennessean.com.