Low Ball Hurler:
President Pitches Policies Like He Pitches Baseballs

Before you read on, watch the video of President Obama's First Pitch at the MLB All Star Game by clicking this link:
http://www.videosurf.com/video/president-obama-throws-out-first-pitch-70924959

          If you happened to watch the Major League Baseball All Star game the other night, then you probably caught President Obama once again on your TV screen.  No, he wasn't talking taking more taxes from the wealthy or nationalizing healthcare.  He wasn't taking over another company, booting a CEO, or naming another czar.  He wasn't speaking about the economy so the Dow didn't bottom out (is it just me or does it seem as if everytime President Obama talks about the economy the stock market takes a nose dive).  As other presidents before him, Obama was at the All Star game to simply throw out the ceremonial first pitch.  Easy enough, right?  One would think.
          Decked in his shiny white tennis shoes and fresh Chicago White Sox jacket, President Obama made his way to the pitcher's mound.  He waved and smiled to the adoring baseball fans.  Behind homeplate to catch the President's pitch was Albert Pujols.  After more waving and smiling, President Obama semi winds up and throws his pitch.  It's an arching curve that's short and low, making Pujols have to extend over the plate to catch the pitch to cover for the President's poor attempt.  After all, the media darling President Obama is had to have his pitch caught.  Oh the horror if it hit the dirt.  How would that have looked? 
          As I sat and watched that scene I couldn't help but draw the correlation between the President's poor baseball pitching and his even poorer pitching of recent domestic policies for our great nation.  Many see him as untouchable, as off limits to critique or question.  The liberal thought is that his sheer charisma and persona should be enough to delude the general masses into following him, so when he throws a bad pitch or two no one will care.  Truth is, in baseball and in politics, every pitch counts.  President Obama is a low ball hurler who's struggling to even reach the plate but because of who he is (be it his perceived historical significance due to his race, the fact that he is following Bush, or other glaring factors) and the vast media bias, the plate is covered and his every pitch is being caught.

Economy

          When it comes to the economy, Vice President Biden recently admitted that the administration underestimated the severity of the situation.  Biden said, "We misread how bad the economy was..."  That's a low ball estimate in my mind by President Obama and his administration.  Yet, because the Democrats were out of power for six years and they had a ton of pent up pet projects they were eager to ramrod through, the President and the Democratic leaders in Congress pushed through the $787 billion "stimulus" bill which has yet to produce even a glimmer of the hope and change advertised. 
          Let's be honest, Mr. President.  Jobs are not being added as promised, infrastructure funding projects are slow and almost not even worth the trouble to jump through all of the bureaucratic hoops, the national debt continues to increase daily, locally sales tax is in the pot and more businesses are closing leaving vacant buildings all around our city, the credit market is in shambles, we as taxpayers now hold controlling interest in a private company (I'm still waiting to see what my personal share of that company is so I can sell my stock now - I could use the extra gallon of gas), and on and on I could go.  The President threw a low pitch on such a dire economy and didn't even come close to the plate, oh but the media has covered him well; they caught the pitch and continue to spin the White House advertisement as the President makes his daily TV appearances.  Smile and wave and it will all be ok seems to be the new mantra.
          What we need in this country is not another "stimulus" bill as is being discussed even now; heck, we didn't need nor can we afford the first one.  What we need in this country is lower taxes on the individual so they keep more of what they make.  We need lower taxes on businesses so they can afford to invest in their employees, expand their product and service lines, create more jobs, and provide healthcare.  We need to only spend what we take in and no more.  We need to get government out of propping up businesses and let the market regulate itself.  Enough is enough.  No more low ball pitches.   

Healthcare

          It is beyond my comprehension as to why we would as a country want to go from having the best possible healthcare system in the world (yes, there are flaws, but it's still the best) and make it second rate almost instantly, right out of the box?  Nationalizing healthcare puts every citizen's well being under the government's purview.  The government will control your health.  The government will decide which doctors you see, when you see them, how often you see them, and so on.  The government will also in essence tell doctors how and when to treat patients.  Your every healthcare concern will be managed and controlled by bureaucrats and politicians.  In addition to all of this, such a plan will cost upwards of an estimated $1 trillion over a decade and still leave 15 million plus uninsured.
          Jefferson once wisely expounded, "If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny."  Involving the government in the intricate parts of people's lives is the last thing I want to see happen.  Government needs no role in deciding doctors, hospitals, insurance and the like for citizens.  But yet, that is exactly what will happen when the current Congress and Presidential administration have their way with healthcare.  Yet another low ball pitch from President Obama that misses the plate and still, the other members of his Party and the media cover the obvious deficiencies of such a notion.  The answer again lies in empowering the private sector to create wealth and opportunity.  The government only subsidizes wealth.  I only wish the words of Jefferson would be recalled, for the bodies of so many will soon be wrecked by the political agenda of a few.

Playing Catch

          Now is not the time in our nation's history for the President and the Congress to be playing catch with such delicate issues.  The old adage advises that ultimate power corrupts ultimately.  With the super-majority now reached in the Senate (thanks to the resolution of the Franken-Coleman saga), the House well in hand, and the White House under lock and key, the country is at the whim and pleasure of the Democrats.  There was a time, not all that long ago, such a statement wouldn't have frightened me so, but that time is long since past.  The President has proved to be a low ball hurler who can't reach the plate.  The Democrat contolled Congressional leadership is carrying the President's mantle for the most part and ensuring he doesn't skip a pitch in the dirt.  And of course, the media is playing their part like the Shakespearean actors they are. 
          Every pitch counts in politics and baseball.  Now is the time for all concerned citizens to stand up and get in the fight.  We must demand real hope and change for the betterment and sustainability of our country.  No more low ball, short pitches.  No more covering for the President.  We can take back our country and set her aright once again; it just takes stability through commitment and passion.  Be committed.  Be passionate.  Be the difference. 

As always - Think Pascagoula First,

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman - Ward 4