Obama's lack of leadership in Ferguson

The nation has the right to expect a president to act presidential

When a fire breaks out, the brave come running. Those of lesser courage gather only to watch. Still others revel in the spectacle of destruction, as if cheering on the flames with chants of “burn, baby, burn.”

President Obama is among those of lesser courage since convulsion over racial tragedy first racked Ferguson, Missouri, last August. He can’t decide whether he’s with the demonstrators or with the people of Ferguson. He clearly has not been with the peacemakers.

Ferguson, a township on the outskirts of St. Louis, is waiting with dread the decision of a grand jury called to review the evidence in the shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, by Police Officer Darren Wilson. Was it a crime, and if so, by whom? The grand jury has been sifting through the evidence to determine who was at fault. The FBI says the violent protests that erupted (or were encouraged) after the shooting “will likely” erupt again if the white officer is not charged with a crime. The instigators are even now organizing the “spontaneous” demonstration.

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