President Obama has the bully pulpit, but he hasn't used it. Here's an exchange between ABC White House correspondent Jake Tapper and the president, at a July 15 news conference, that captures Obama's calculated obscurity.

Tapper: "In the interest of transparency, leadership and also showing the American people that you have been negotiating (with Republicans) in good faith, can you tell us one structural reform that you are willing to make to one of these entitlement programs that would have a major effect on the deficit? Would you be willing to raise the retirement age? Would you be willing to means test Social Security or Medicare?"

Obama: "We've said that we are willing to look at all these approaches. I've laid out some criteria in terms of what would be acceptable. So, for example, I've said very clearly that we should make sure that current beneficiaries as much as possible are not affected. But we should look at what can we do in the out-years, so that over time some of these programs are more sustainable. I've said that means testing on Medicare, meaning people like myself, if -- I'm going to be turning 50 in a week. So I'm starting to think a little bit more about Medicare eligibility. (Laughter.) Yes, I'm going to get my AARP card soon -- and the discounts. But you can envision a situation where for somebody in my position, me having to pay a little bit more on premiums or co-pays or things like that would be appropriate. ..."

Noncommittal gibberish. There is no leadership from the nation's "leader." Space precludes running all his rambling response; the excerpt above was about half. Tapper followed up.

Tapper: "And the retirement age?"

Obama: "I'm not going to get into specifics."

Well, there you have it. The president won't talk specifics, but government consists of specifics.