My main concern with Obama the candidate is with what seems to be a low-grade ineptness that occasionally flares up from his campaign. I say low-grade because I do believe he’ll make a competent President with a decent cabinet and staff. Nevertheless, he’s done some downright stupid things along with some silly things in this campaign.

The latest example comes frmo the new debate over mandates for universal healthcare programs. They released a fact check that attacked Paul Krugman, “Arguably the most progressive voice in American media.” Ezra and Atrios cover the simple point about the quality of the attack. Worth reading.

The bigger point, though, is the fumbling around by the campaign in order to find a way to differentiate themselves from Clinton. It’s been pretty silly, and more importantly to me, bad policy on top of that. First, they picked on Social Security as an issue, attempting to spread the “OMG, Social Security is bankrupt!” Republican line. It’s stupid because it’s false. The War on Terror, including both Iraq and Afghanistan, costs over $150 billion. The Social Security expenditures were $586 billion, and the projected shortfall in 2042 when the trust fund runs out is 27%. Do the math… if we can step up for the war, we can step up for the population bubble, and these numbers don’t even worry about adjusting benefits or increasing the payroll tax cap.

More importantly, all of the Democrats running are willing to do the various things that Obama has proposed. It doesn’t even differentiate him but does aid those who would be happy to gut a program that is supposed to serve as a safety net, not a large retirement portfolio.

The healthcare debate mentioned above covers the same ground. This is a debate that they invited by making mandates an issue. Now that they’re getting a guys actual opinion on that issue (something he’s been consistent and reasoned about), they’re crying foul. It’s just lame, let alone (once again) tenuous at best on the facts.

These folks will be running parts of the government and they’re having trouble with the basic messaging of the campaign. It doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence, especially compared to some of the other candidates running. I do think he’ll make a good President. I do wonder, though, about the people he has around him. They’re not impressive so far.