Putin's Right: There's Nothing Exceptional about Obama's America

After Comrade Putin’s New York Times Op-Ed where he lectures us on foreign policy and human rights, and then takes exception with the idea of “American exceptionalism,” politicians and pundits on both sides of the political spectrum thumped their chests and took turns explaining to Mr. Putin just how special America is. However, I think many, if not all of them, missed a significant point.

Note exactly what Putin said, and remember the current condition of America and the politics surrounding our present situation in Syria. Putin said, “I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is ‘what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.’ It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation.”

Putin has enthusiastically taken on Obama in debate over international politics and military interventionism. Why? Why would the leader of Russia so eagerly engage the U.S.—to the point that he would lecture us through our own (but sadly eager) press—in the highly volatile Syrian conflict? Because he doesn’t fear us, or better put, he doesn’t fear Barack Obama’s America.

With a seemingly clairvoyant sense of destiny, in late October of 2008, just prior to his first election as U.S. President, Obama declared, “We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America…” Vladimir Putin (along with many other world leaders eager for a U.S. demise) has been witness to this transformation and so far, likes what he sees.

The world is more chaotic and dangerous—especially the Middle East—than it was when Obama took office. Our foreign policy is mocked and in shambles. And as Putin well proves, our enemies are emboldened.

Of course, not only this, but our economy is still tedious at best. The labor force participation rate (63.2%) is the lowest it has been in 35 years. Looking more like a statistic from the nations that used to aspire to be like the U.S., more Americans depend on the government than ever before. A record number of Americans are on food stamps. In fact, for every job created during Obama’s presidency, two Americans enrolled in the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.

Whether it’s the IRS, or Benghazi, or Fast and Furious, or the NSA surveillance program, Obama’s scandals pile up while he looks to distract. In a matter of weeks Obama looks to implement a widely unpopular massive federal healthcare program. (As we consider his handling of this, can anyone really be surprised by Syria?) And the Obama administration continues to push an energy policy that is largely rooted in the pseudo-science of man-made global warming (which Americans don’t even care enough about to oppose).

Saddest of all, what was once considered immoral in America is now celebrated. The plagues of abortion and same-sex marriage are preached from the White House. Democratic activists pray to god (presumably Molech), thanking him and asking for his blessing on abortion.

What’s more, liberals (the kind that vote for, and lead today’s Democrats) believe that Western “values” such as orgies, will liberate nations such as Iran and China. They boo the true and living God, and demand that American taxpayers pay for a convicted felon’s perversions.

When it comes to the true idea of American exceptionalism, such as that expressed by Rush Limbaugh and Carl Cannon, Comrade Putin could not be more wrong. However, Putin specifically took issue with Barack Obama’s idea of American exceptionalism. Sadly, Putin’s absolutely right. There is almost nothing in current U.S. policy, whether foreign or domestic, that is exceptional.

(See this column on American Thinker.)

Copyright 2013, Trevor Grant Thomas

At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason

Trevor and his wife Michelle are the authors of: Debt Free Living in a Debt Filled World

tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com