Flying under the radar. Maintaining plausible deniability. Leading from behind. Voting present. All these phrases have come to symbolize President Barack Obama's political career and now his presidency. He lectures others on how to live, work and vote but takes no real action himself that might be used against him in future campaigns. While many on the ideological right have called him out on this strategy for years, it is only recently that voices from the left have joined the chorus demanding actual leadership from this president.

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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 protests in Iran are growing. Today hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Tehran to mourn the deaths of those killed in the post election protests and to continue to protest the results of the recent election. People who have lived their entire lives under the Iranian theocracy where the slightest dissent is met with swift and often lethal punishment are standing up and demanding freedom over tyranny. They are risking everything to make their voices heard to the Mullahs and the world. Meanwhile in the safety and comfort of the White House, Barack Obama is voting "present".

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