Leadership

I wrote the following about Ohio Governor Mike DeWine this morning:

"THIS is leadership. Yes, I did vote for him, but freely admit to being lukewarm at best about the guy. He has won me over with these press briefings and now, this:"

Governor Mike DeWine: “I respect the First Amendment. I am fair game. But, it is not fair game to be disrespectful or obnoxious to the news media. To treat them with disrespect and to not practice social distancing with them, I find that very sad.

In addition, I'm the elected official who ran for office. I'm the one who makes policy decisions. Members of my cabinet work hard, but I set the policy. When you don't like the policy, again - you can demonstrate against me - that's fair game. But to bother the family of Dr. Acton, that's not fair game. It's not right. It's not necessary. The buck stops here. I'm the responsible person.”

As I acknowledged other's comments concerning this statement I considered how my opinion of Governor Mike DeWine has changed. I had considered him wishy-washy with a generally weak persona. His daily press briefings have gradually changed my opinion as he has demonstrated poise and an open willingness to admit when he doesn’t have an answer. When he answers question he tends to give clear and concise responses which lends an air of confidence in him to those listening. Then when he stood up to the media and to those protesting at Dr. Acton’s home taking full responsibility on himself, well, I came away very impressed. 

My mind ambled off on many tangents at least two of which I will share with you.  

My opinion of our President Donald Trump is changing as well. I also voted for Donald Trump to be our President.  Reluctantly so and primarily because the Democrat Party of John Kennedy has moved decidedly towards socialism, in my opinion.  I did not trust Donald Trump, but trusted Hilary Clinton even less. 

As I have watched our President Trump in his own daily press briefings I have come to appreciate his leadership as well. President a Trump is not as polished as Mike DeWine in conducting his press briefings or responding to questions posed to him. Granted the type of questions posed to our President Trump are generally laced with far more vitriol than Governor DeWine has asked of him. 

What I’ve seen from our President Trump is the same type of leadership Mike DeWine displays, but in a much different persona and delivery.  President Trump is unbridled and unfiltered but he steps up to the podium every day and takes every criticism leveled at him and his administration’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The buck stops with him and her defends his advisers and experts just as Governor DeWine defends his.  

I admire that about our President Trump and ... well, I still don’t trust him and maybe that’s a topic to write about another day. I do have a growing sense of appreciation for our President and his leadership abilities.

The second tangent? 

Here’s the thing, I consider myself a good judge of character and trust my instincts and intuition when it comes to forming opinions of people. My opinions of Governor DeWine and President Trump are being modified for the better based on their demonstrated leadership during this pandemic crisis.  

Were my original instincts wrong?

Have I changed?

Have Governor DeWine and or President Trump changed? 

Is it a matter of facing adversity forcing Governor DeWine and President Trump to rise to the occasion? 

All of the above?

None of the above?

I have marveled at how these United States of America always seem to have the right leader in times of crisis. From George Washington, to Abraham Lincoln, to FDR and JFK.  As uncomfortable as I am at times with Donald Trump I am also grateful he is our President at this time. His organizational, logistical and business acumen is exactly what the country needs at this time. 

The same can be said of Mike DeWine who could well be auditioning for a future run at the presidency. His leadership has been strong and Ohio is being looked at as a model for how to confront this virus. 

Both men still have their detractors. Leaders always have detractors. The good ones are able to work with their detractors. Both DeWine and Trump are demonstrating the ability to do this. They also deflect criticism from others and take full responsibility upon their own shoulders. Granted DeWine does so with far more humility than Trump. Our Presidents biggest fault might be a seeming inability to be humble in a public setting. Nevertheless, these two men are getting the job done ... and they could not do that unless a majority of we the people followed their lead.