Barack Obama on Manmohan Singh

 Barack Obama's memoir 'A Promised Land' promises some confusion also. His observation on Manmohan Singh is as inscrutable as the latter's face.

There is no disputing the fact that the former prime minister of India was poker-faced. He was impassive. He was also considered to be a person of integrity. This of course is not an undisputed fact. He trivialised the unethical conduct of his ministers as the consequence of 'coalition dharma'. He could easily put up with the shenanigans of both his ministers and his leader. At least to that extent, his integrity was diluted and doubtful.

Barack Obama, according to pre-publication reviews of his memoir, says that Manmohan Singh possessed 'impassive integrity'. Does this mean that Singh does not wear his integrity on his sleeves? Integrity cannot be opaque. It is transparent if it exists. If it is hidden or if it is sought to be hidden, it does not exist. Crooks hide dishonesty. Nobody can hide one's honesty. So this interpretation of Obama's enigmatic (impassive?) comment does not lead us anywhere.

Is there a printer's devil? Does Obama simply want to say that Singh is known for his deadpan expressions and also integrity? Maybe yes. It is not only that MMS is inscrutable but any characterisation of him also ends up being incomprehensible. Obama is known for clarity of thinking and ease of expression. Manmohan Singh has confused him!

Barack Obama on Rahul Gandhi

 Barack Obama is considered to be a sensible politician. Of course, he has the advantage of being compared with other American politicians. Obama has now proved that nothing prevents a sensible person from making inappropriate comments.

Obama has, in his autobiography, referred to Rahul Gandhi as someone who is unformed, nervous and lacking in passion and aptitude. These are all subjective remarks which do not do justice to Obama's sensibility.

Everyone is unformed in the sense that everyone keeps evolving. If Obama considers himself as 'formed', it means he refuses to grow further. No one can claim that one has reached the zenith of growth. When meeting Obama, Rahul would have been overwhelmed by protocol requirements causing him to be nervous. Probably, Obama lacked the ability to put Rahul at ease. Passion and aptitude cannot be measured easily even by experts. One wonders why Obama has chosen to be so pretentious.

The Congress party has matched Obama in lack of maturity. "These are only Obama's views." Obama says these are his views.

Obama on listening to opponents

Very sensible indeed:

"I don't think it's a secret that I disagree with many of the policies of Dr. Rice and the previous administration. But the notion that this community or this country would be better served by not hearing a former secretary of state or not hearing what she had to say — I believe that's misguided," Obama said. "I don't think that's how democracy works best, when we're not even willing to listen to each other."

He added:

If you disagree with somebody, bring them in and ask them tough questions. Hold their feet to the fire, make them defend their positions. ... Don't be scared to take somebody on. Don't feel like you got to shut your ears off because you're too fragile and somebody might offend your sensibilities. Go at them if they're not making any sense.