@TheRealOldHippie You seem to understand the media dynamics involved and how politicians are more or less forced to use soundbites to communicate effectively—so it’s nothing unique to Obama. I think Obama does this very well. He’s basically a good actor.
I think the focus on the moral failings of Obama, or any other individual, ends up diminishing the relevance of systemic problems of representative democracy/parliamentarianism:
It attracts psychopaths/sociopaths and narcissists (I think Obama is likely one or both) who seek power and status for its own sake.
The system is extremely corruptible by money (vast sums of cash has become a prerequisite for campaigning to attract voters/discredit opposition candidates, and so “democracy” is essentially a system which represents other narcissistic and psychopathic elites who are able to buy favours from the government). Politicians now spend more time doing fund raising and chasing donations than almost anything else. Lobbying itself has become extremely lucrative, where a modest bribe may have 1000% or more returns on the “investment”.
Meanwhile ordinary people are sold the narrative that the politicians are working in their interests, and that the policy aims of lobbyists and the interests of private capital—which has bought control of the government—is also good for everyone.
I don’t think this has much if anything to do with Obama himself, whose role I think is more ceremonial than anything, and he largely does what his vast supporting staff and entourage of various policy advisors suggest he does.