Empathy: While both men and their wives are Ivy League graduates, the Clintons never came off as aristocrats who are unable to discern the rumblings of discontent and disillusionment from the ground floor.
Obama may empathize with the plight of many struggling Americans, but the fact remains is that he has shown an inability to illustrate any sympathetic leanings towards what families are enduring. Yes, Obama has repeatedly passed bills to extend unemployment benefits to millions of Americans. But former President Clinton displayed an almost preternatural ability to show empathy with Americans who were suffering. Sometimes in politics, sympathy and public policy are interchangeable. People don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Even Obama’s African American and youth bases are unclear if he really understands their plight. Some of the demographics who carried Obama into office have become so disaffected by his policies and overall disposition that portions of them will not return to the polls to support his re-election bid.
