Barack Obama and the 14 Marine Corps Leadership Traits

September 13, 2010
Obama Flunks the Leadership Test

By Michael Fraley


The U.S. Marine Corps' 14 Leadership Traits serve as a standard against which to compare President Obama's actions in his 19 months in office. By this standard, he is not simply an unqualified leader, but the antithesis of a good leader: an "un-leader."

It is often difficult for us to prove things which are self-evident. Anecdotes and examples are not without merit, but in a vacuum, these alone often fall short. Without some set standard, it can always be argued that one's position is arbitrary and subjective, determined only by a pre-existing bias.

Such is perhaps the case when discussing the leadership qualities of an individual, and in particular a sitting president. Results might be the truest test of ability, but without the passage of time, all results are not known, and such a standard is subject to dispute. Polling data is not a true test of leadership attributes: many great leaders went against the prevailing mood, only to be later acknowledged for their insight and resilience. How to judge?

A standard for excellence in leadership is what we need, and where better to find such a standard than from the United States Marine Corps? The 14 Leadership Traits provide a time-tested (and battle-tested) list of what characterizes the good leader. And although there remains a certain degree of subjectivity when it comes to measuring an individual against these traits, in totality they offer a very complete and convincing picture of the degree of one's leadership qualifications.

The 14 Leadership Traits are:

• BEARING - Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance, and personal conduct at all times.
• COURAGE - A mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a Marine to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness.
• DECISIVENESS - Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear, forceful manner.
• DEPENDABILITY - The certainty of proper performance of duty.
• ENDURANCE - The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship.
• ENTHUSIASM - The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty.
• INITIATIVE - Taking action in the absence of orders.
• INTEGRITY - Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles.
• JUDGMENT - The ability to weigh facts and possible courses of action in order to make sound decisions.
• JUSTICE - Giving reward and punishment according to the merits of the case in question. The ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.
• KNOWLEDGE - Understanding of a science or an art. The range of one's information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your Marines.
• LOYALTY - The quality of faithfulness to country, the Corps, and unit, and to one's seniors, subordinates, and peers.
• TACT - The ability to deal with others without creating hostility.
• UNSELFISHNESS - Avoidance of providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.

With a standard of leadership in hand, we can now examine just how well President Obama stacks up as a leader.

BEARING and ENTHUSIASM

Does the president carry himself like the leader of the greatest superpower?

• Did President Obama Really Bow to the Saudi King?
• OBAMA BOWS TO PRESIDENT OF COMMUNIST CHINA
• How low will he go? Obama gives Japan's Emperor Akihito a wow bow
• Obama Bows Again to Communist China, America Hangs Head in Shame

It seems, to the detriment of the Republic, Obama only shows real enthusiasm for bowing to despots.

DECISIVENESS and DEPENDABILITY

Dependable? We can depend on this president to do the opposite of what the people want and what the Constitution requires.

• Amid crises, Obama declares war -- on Arizona
• Obama Stimulus Failure: Economy Sheds More Jobs
• Senate Oversight Report, "FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP: PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE FLAWED FEDERAL RESPONSE TO THE BP DISASTER"
• The danger of Obama's dithering: His foreign policy brings to mind Jimmy Carter, or perhaps Ethelred the Unready.

Rather than being decisive, Obama turns exclusively to the socialist dogma that defines him: progressivism is his default position.

ENDURANCE and INITIATIVE

As far as date nights, parties, golf, and vacations go, Barack Obama has shown initiative and exceptional endurance.

• President and Ms. Obama Take in Another Concert: Fiddling While Rome Burns
• Obama's (Politically) Risky Golf Obsession
• Biden Carries Administration Message While Obama Vacations

Governing? Well, not so much.

• Gates Says U.S. Lacks a Policy to Thwart Iran
• Has Obama become bored with being president?

COURAGE and INTEGRITY

This administration has been characterized by nothing as much as its string of broken campaign promises and out-and-out lies, along with a series of special deals for favored special interests.

• Obama finds room for lobbyists
• Obama Now Selling Judgeships for Health Care Votes?
• Summer of corruption: Obama's Big Labor ethics loophole

He and his spokesmen continually talk out of both sides of the mouth, or like Baghdad Bob, take outlandish positions in public which are completely divorced from reality.

• Obama blaming Bush.....again
• What chilled the U.S. economy? An ill 'headwind' from Europe, says Obama
• Obama now blames poor job numbers on congressional inaction. Wait! His party runs Congress

JUDGMENT and KNOWLEDGE

What is not clear is that Obama has even a cursory knowledge of the areas for which he has the most far-reaching policy ambitions.

• Obama: Doctors May Choose Amputation Because Of Reimbursement
• Most Say Obama Lacks Clear Plans on the Oil Spill, Energy or Jobs

It is difficult to imagine a more misinformed approach to economic policy. Those on both sides of the isle have publicly warned about the looming dangers, yet he appears to place little value in the opinions of others.

• Buffett Says He Can't See Rationale for Bank Levy
• Former Obama -supporter Mort Zuckerman believes the Obama administration is the most fiscally irresponsible government in American history.

Rather, he pushes ahead with his agenda of incredible spending to a level that is more than irresponsible...something more like delusional.

• From 7 stories Obama doesn't want told - 1. He thinks he's playing with Monopoly money

JUSTICE and LOYALTY

This president displayed his notion of justice soon after taking office, by firing Gerald Walpin from his post as AmeriCorps IG, without legally required due process. Since the beginning, Obama and his goons have gone after the good guys:

• The Obama Thugocracy Goes After Joe the Plumber
• DOJ files charges against Sheriff Joe ahead of September 10 deadline

And all the while:

• Former DOJ Official Charges Racism Drove DOJ to Kill Black Panther Voter Intimidation Case
• Gitmo gall: Charges dropped against Cole bombing jihadist

It might seem as if this administration has it precisely backwards.

• Iran election: Barack Obama refuses to 'meddle' over protests
• Presidents Chávez, Obama et al Are Meddling Egregiously with Honduras

What about loyalty? To country? To those who stood by him as he rammed through unpopular legislation?

• The President's Apology Tour
• House Democrats, Out on a Limb for Obamacare, Hear a Snapping Sound

TACT and UNSELFISHNESS

No tact with this man.

• Obama: Cambridge police acted 'stupidly' in Gates arrest
• Obama to GOP: ‘I Won'
• Report: Obama humiliated Netanyahu at the White House

Selfless, or self-absorbed? You decide:

• Obama Starts Ft. Hood Remarks with a "Shout Out"
• Obama: Iraq begins and ends with I, I, I
• Obama: She's going to be buried in an Obama T-shirt

The examples go on and on, and could fill the pages of a healthcare bill. These are a small but representative sampling of this president in action over these last 19 months. One, two, or three categories are certainly not enough to judge an individual's leadership qualities. But what here emerges, and what is truly troubling, is an overall picture of not simply a lack of leadership qualities, but an individual who is in every way the antithesis of a principled and effective leader - an un-leader.

This, as even a blind man can see, is having monumentally negative effects in our economy, national security, and liberty. We can ill afford to allow this un-leader to go unchecked for much longer. We can ill afford, as a people and as a Republic, to repeat this mistake and to ever again hand such an un-leader the keys to power in this nation.

Michael Fraley is a former USAF pilot who considers his oath "to support and defend the Constitution of the United States" to be a life-long commitment. He is currently an engineer, and blogs at blog.keepingtherepublic.org.


Page Printed from: http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/...ership_te.html at September 13, 2010 - 07:56:55 AM CDT

September 13, 2010
Obama Flunks the Leadership Test

No tact with this man.

• Obama: Cambridge police acted 'stupidly' in Gates arrest

Originally Posted by Don T. Lukbak

For several weeks now I have seen a "comparison" to Obaminable's "outrage" over the lawful actions of a police officer, who he said "acted stupidly," ..... and his opposite perspective over the "lawful" actions of the Mosque being constructed within the 911 "strike zone" and the "stupdity" of those who are hell bent on doing so in spite of the opposition.

So here are his own words:

On the "stupid" officer:

“Now, I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that. But I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry; number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home; and, number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there's a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That's just a fact.”

Now modified with the decision to build the Mosque in current location:

Now, I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role 9-11 played in that. But I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry; number two, that the Imam acted stupidly in campaigning to build a Mosque just two blocks from the location of the World Trade Center when there was already proof that Muslims were responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center; and, number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there's a long history in this country of members of the Muslim faith attacking the U.S. disproportionately. That's just a fact.

So here are his own words:

On the "stupid" officer:

“Now, I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that. But I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry; number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home; and, number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there's a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That's just a fact.”
Originally Posted by LexusLover

Long live dear president Barack Obama.

I wonder why Fox news, CNN can' stand Mr. Obama mmmmm i wonder why.

Long live dear president Barack Obama.

I wonder why Fox news, CNN can' stand Mr. Obama mmmmm i wonder why. Originally Posted by eagle

I hope that he does live a long and prosperous life, ...

... just not on the taxpayers' dime.

As for "why" anyone or entity "can'" or cannot stand Obaminable ....

... I would not have a clue or presume to have one .....

I leave that up to the arrogant liberals and Russians who think they ..

... know it all!

As for "why" anyone or entity "can'" or cannot stand Obaminable ....

... I would not have a clue or presume to have one .....

I leave that up to the arrogant liberals and Russians who think they ..

... know it all! Originally Posted by LexusLover

Whatever. and in my opinion ( and most Americans ) he is doin a better job than our last president mmmm you know who i'm talking about THE WARMONGER Bush.

You mean your last president Vladimir Putin? Try to keep in character...

Viva Dmitry Medvedev!

You mean your last president Vladimir Putin? Try to keep in character...


No at all, i'm talking about Bush mmmm you know the warmonger, thanks to Bush Americans today CAN'T safely travel to the certenly part of the world, what a shame.


Viva Dmitry Medvedev! Originally Posted by gnadfly

Mmmmmm yes sir, whatever viva means Dmitry is a great leader and very friendly to the American people.

Can't you troll better than that?

... very friendly to the American people. Originally Posted by eagle

.... and keep our enemies closer ....

The Good Sheriff is friendly to the U.S. citizens ....

.. it's those non-citizens, here illegally, that he seeks.

.... and keep our enemies closer ....

The Good Sheriff is friendly to the U.S. citizens ....

MMMM i bet you some " HISPANICS " are American citizens too and aRPIAO terroring then also.

.. it's those non-citizens, here illegally, that he seeks. Originally Posted by LexusLover

Yeah right, he mistreat many American citizens and people with disability, he should be fired from his job.. What that " GOOD Sheriff " is doing will harm badly relations beetween neightbores and America should get alone with its neighbore otherwise violence will erupt.

America should get alone with its neighbore otherwise violence will erupt. Originally Posted by eagle

Too late for that. The violence on the border has reached a level where we need to seriously consider deploying active duty military there. The cartels there are openly engaging in arms trade with terrorist organizations. But by all means, we need to stop asking for ID so that we can uphold the appearance that race has nothing to do with this... Just like we need to screen 90 year old women at security checkpoints because we need to keep pretending that terrorists can be of any race, not predominantly mid-20s, middle-eastern males.

...America should get alone with its neighbore otherwise violence will erupt. Originally Posted by eagle

You sound like the arrogant bastard who is insisting on building a Mosque aka "community center" in the impact zone of 911 irrespective of the outrage expressed by a majority of the CITIZENS of the United States of America.

Also, FYI: This is not "AMERICA" ... this is the United States of America. Some folks refer to it as the "U.S." ... or even the "U.S.A." ..... "America" includes every country from Canada to the tip of South America.

I recognize from your posts that you desire for the United States of America to turn "brown" through illegal immigration, but here is a challenging question .... if people from South, Central, and North AMERICA of Hispanic origin take over this country .... who is going to help them when they need help ... like with disaster relief, production of oil reserves, financial aid for intrastructure improvements, military protection, and the like?

I do not have a problem with folks coming to the U.S.A. legally to enjoy the OPPORTUNITIES for work and play that have been created in this country for the last 200 years or so, but I do have a problem when those folks begin to try to CHANGE this country to make like the piece of shit they just left....which is why they came here in the first place.

"If you got a weed infested yard, don't come over to my house and start telling me how to care for my lawn."

Too late for that. The violence on the border has reached a level where we need to seriously consider deploying active duty military there. The cartels there are openly engaging in arms trade with terrorist organizations. But by all means, we need to stop asking for ID so that we can uphold the appearance that race has nothing to do with this... Just like we need to screen 90 year old women at security checkpoints because we need to keep pretending that terrorists can be of any race, not predominantly mid-20s, middle-eastern males. Originally Posted by enderwiggin

Agreed 1000% with you sir.

F.O. Guess what that stands for. By the way, I hate him. His Moratorium on the Gulf of Mexico has put me out of work. Did it illegally, by the way. He is a self promoting P.O.S.

You sound like the arrogant bastard who is insisting on building a Mosque aka "community center" in the impact zone of 911


It is a mosque not a terrorist camp.


Also, FYI: This is not "AMERICA" ... this is the United States of America. Some folks refer to it as the "U.S." ... or even the "U.S.A." ..... "America" includes every country from Canada to the tip of South America.

Mmmmmmmm ignorant me huh.


I recognize from your posts that you desire for the United States of America to turn "brown" through illegal immigration, but here is a challenging question .... if people from South, Central, and North AMERICA of Hispanic origin take over this country .... who is going to help them when they need help ... like with disaster relief, production of oil reserves, financial aid for intrastructure improvements, military protection, and the like?



Not true at all sir and Mighty Russia will help them in all their needs.



I do not have a problem with folks coming to the U.S.A. legally to enjoy the OPPORTUNITIES for work and play that have been created in this country for the last 200 years or so, but I do have a problem when those folks begin to try to CHANGE this country to make like the piece of shit they just left....which is why they came here in the first place.

I guest you will leave a very SAD life with the people you don't like all around you.


"If you got a weed infested yard, don't come over to my house and start telling me how to care for my lawn." Originally Posted by LexusLover

I agreed, but where i came from my yard were not weed infected and i came to this mmmm nice i would not say GREAT country just like you did.


Next question Mr. antiObama ( the great )