Some people are indecisive by nature. Then there are those who refuse to make a decision so they can't be blamed for the result. Barack Obama fits into that second category. During his run for his party's nomination, rival Hillary Clinton charged, "In the Illinois state Senate, Senator Obama voted 130 times 'present'. That's not yes, that's not no. That's maybe." (source) The accusation of ducking the tough calls and refusing to take a stand was thought by many at the time to be nothing more than campaign spin. Now we know it wasn't. It's how this now-president tries to protect himself and his political career while avoiding his responsibilities.

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The most recent example is in comments today from James Jones, the president's national security adviser, regarding the 'don't ask don't tell' ban on gays serving openly in the military. Mr. Jones said the president will focus "at the right time" on how to overturn the ban. He continued, "I don't think it's going to be - it's not years, but I think it will be teed up appropriately." (source)

Candidate Obama promised to repeal the ban. During the campaign, he provided a policy statement to the Human Rights Campaign, the largest U.S. gay rights group, pledging to repeal the exclusion and to invite back service members discharged under the law. (source) Now, after winning their votes and the power to help keep that promise, his national security advisor says the president "has an awful lot on his desk. I know this is an issue that he intends to take on at the appropriate time." (source) In other words...he's present.

Another ongoing example is the way President Obama is dealing with, or rather not dealing with, the war in Afghanistan. This was the war that Candidate Obama wanted to fight, "It's time to refocus our attention on the war we have to win in Afghanistan," he said during the campaign. "It is time to go after the Al Qaeda leadership where it actually exists." (source) But now, nine months after he became Commander-in-Chief, he's still considering a range of ideas for changing course in Afghanistan, including pulling back, staying put and sending more troops to fight the insurgency. (source) In other words...he's present.

Gays in the military, the war in Afghanistan, the nuclear ambitions of Iran, the unemployment rate nearing 10%, so many important issues on which this country needs leadership. But instead of leadership we get empty promises, platitudes and Olympic distractions. Even health care reform, which Mr. Obama claims is his highest priority, has been left to his cronies in Congress. He has spent his political career to date in a quest for plausible deniability; refusing to take a stand and avoiding taking any action. His goal is obviously to promote and protect his own image, not to work on solving the country's problems. He is still nothing but...present.