Obama’s shining city

American exceptionalism is a simple concept, really.

It goes something like this: We are a more perfect and blessed nation because we are founded on democratic ideals of personal liberty and justice -- a nation among nations.

Thomas Jefferson's words on the Declaration of Independence have become American scripture: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

All presidents have used some variation of this traditional understanding of American exceptionalism to motivate the country to new levels of greatness.

Who can forget Ronald Reagan's vision of that "shining city"?

"It was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors, and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it and see it still."

Last week, in a speech in Osawatomie, Kan., President Barack Obama articulated his own vision -- and it was scary. Whatever shining city President Obama sees, it's far, far different than Reagan's.

While America may have been a great nation, President Obama tells us, the foundation of individual freedom and equality isn't enough to make sure all have a successful outcome.

So, when the president says "this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, when everyone plays by the same rules," he's calling for a substantial deviation from American exceptionalism. He wants a change to achieve more equal outcomes as facilitated by the state. More government oversight for the good of the hive.

President Obama won't exactly say it that way, with his re-election hanging in the balance. But that's clearly the plan, and he's been careful to not say quite as much throughout his first term.

In San Francisco, he said: "We used to have the best stuff. Anybody been to Beijing Airport lately? ... Well, we've lost our ambition, our imagination and our willingness to do the things that built the Golden Gate Bridge and Hoover Dam."

The answer to our lack of ambition, as Obama calls it, is to let government create the jobs and do the work for you. You know, like the Communist Chinese do in Beijing. That's American exceptionalism in Obama's world.

And as for the idea of the United States as a truly special, inspired nation, well, the president has already answered that question.

President Obama was asked point blank whether he believed in American exceptionalism. He said he did, "just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism."

Thusly, President Obama has become a leader invested in pessimism. He doesn't think America works anymore. The fix is to remake America by enlarging the federal government -- universal health care, never-ending unemployment benefits, higher taxes for some and no taxes for most.

Obama's vision of the "shining city on the hill" is a well-planned metropolis with wind turbines in the distance. Free housing with light rail to the coolest airport in the world -- something like Beijing's, only better. The streets, clean and well-lit, lead to the nicest building in the center of town: the post office.

And all it will cost you is your individual freedom.

Sherman Frederick, former publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, writes a column for Stephens Media. Read his blog at www.lvrj.com/blogs/sherm.