Herbert is the one lacking leadership

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Gov. Gary Herbert has a lot of nerve accusing President Obama of "lack of leadership" when members of the governor's own party in Congress are bound and determined to thwart the president at every turn, even if it means suddenly being against policies they used to support. The governor presides over a state in which most of his fellow elected officials and the population at large are just like him: white, Mormon, and conservative. If he had to deal with a more diverse group, he would undoubtedly find it more difficult to get a consensus.

I'm sure the governor's idea of leadership for the president involves giving in to Republican blackmail ("Do what we say or the economy gets it!") but I am proud of our president for standing firm and demanding a clean funding bill. That is leadership. President Obama knows that there will be no end to such demands if he lets the Republicans get away with this. Besides, I want affordable health care! I would be very disappointed if I had to wait another year — or indefinitely, if the Republicans have their way — to get it.

Elizabeth Wilson

Centerville