Is Øbama Smart and Does it Matter?

In a comment on Just How Smart is Obama, at American Thinker, reader Teleologicus writes:

That Mr. Obama is not an educated man requires no further demonstration - though one must not forget that today there are few instances of truly educated individuals in public life. Nevertheless, Mr. Obama has accumulated a sufficient number of gaffes to convince anyone paying attention that his fund of knowledge is shockingly limited, and that some of that is simply wrong. Regarded from the standpoint of education, the president is an embarrassment.

About his intelligence it is not so easy to decide. His public speaking talents certainly give the impression of someone well above average in intelligence. Such impressions can be deceiving. It is safe to say that whatever his intelligence may be, it is sufficient. There is certainly nothing one can see about his public self that suggests unusual intelligence. It is, for example, worrisome that he does not appear able to keep simple ideas straight in his head in the now infamous Gates incident. It is worrisome that even now he does not seem to grasp fully why a president should not comment on a local law enforcement matter, and why nobody who lacks all the facts has any business assigning blame to one party.

Far more important than intelligence and education, however, are character and judgment. The importance of intelligence in politics is probably greatly overemphasized, particularly by academics and those who have spent time around them. The politician needs practical wisdom, what the Greeks called phronesis. Certainly a level of basic intelligence is required for this - but the law of diminishing returns applies here as in many other cases. Too much critical intelligence could even become a handicap for the leader and cause paralysis of action.

Does Mr. Obama have good character? There are disturbing signs that he does not. Does he possess good judgment? After his handling of the Gates affair there is no possible answer but that he does not. His character is questionable and his judgment is manifestly poor. This makes concerns about his intelligence and education irrelevant for me. However one accounts for it he lacks the qualities the office of president requires.

I particularly agree with: "Too much critical intelligence could even become a handicap for the leader and cause paralysis of action."

The phrase "Paralysis of analysis" is not for nothin'.

And I agree that character and judgment are much more important. They provide answers to the two most important questions that any leader of men or nations must ask:

1) What's right? and 2) Who can I trust?

The Gunslinger