He wants to agree

Cardinal George of Chicago has an interview with the President and comes away with an interesting insight into his personality.

...Cardinal George offered a candid assessment of his 30-minute meeting with the president at the White House March 18. ....

"It's hard to disagree with him because he'll always tell you he agrees with you," he said. "Maybe that's political. I think he sincerely wants to agree with you. You have to say, again and again, 'No, Mr. President, we don't agree (on abortion).' But we can agree on a lot, and we do, and that's why there is so much hope. I think we have to pray for him every day."

Cardinal George said he told the president he was concerned about his decision to rescind the Mexico City policy, which resulted in providing taxpayer money to fund abortion overseas.

"He said we weren't exporting abortion," the cardinal said. "I said, 'Yes we are.' He would say, 'I know I have to do certain things here. ... But be patient and you'll see the pattern will change.' I said, 'Mr. President, you've given us nothing but the wrong signals on this issue.' So, we'll see, but I'm not as hopeful now as I was when he was first elected."

The besetting temptation of a politician [or a teacher, or anyone whose success depends in part on being liked], is to say things to be pleasing rather than to say what he really believes [if he actually knows what he really believes].

Insight Scoop | The Ignatius Press Blog: "I think he has his political debts to pay, and so he's paying them."