No Thank You

It’s now official: So in vogue are attacks on President Obama that even his proclamation calling the nation to a day of Thanksgiving has become the focus of criticism,” writes E.J Dionne of the Washington Post. “Presidential Thanksgiving messages are a routine bit of executive prose that most citizens happily ignore in this moment of national gratitude. But the sky-is-falling mood that pervades Obama commentary couldn’t let this 435-word document pass without a few sniffs of disapproval. The Web site Gawker called it an ‘uninspiring first effort from our most literary president’ and expressed hope that he would spend ‘a little more time on it next year.’ Politico damned it with faint analysis — it was ‘basic’ and ‘brief’ and ‘tread lightly’ to avoid controversy. Mostly, the message reiterated familiar Obama themes of diversity, community and service.”