February 11, 2009, Berkeley, CA – Van Jones, Special Advisor for Green Jobs, the White House Council on Environmental Quality fielding question from a lecture Jones gave at the 2nd Annual Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative (BERC) event.

Audience member is disillusioned that Republicans could move more legislation with less a majority in Congress than Democrats can with more.

You could say that the make-up of the Democrats in Congress is not as liberal as this lecture audience and as the White House contingency more voters are now coming to know as far liberal and left.

You could say that winning an election is not the same as being answerable to the constituents that you convinced that may not be fanatic supporters.

Perhaps the audience member assumed you win, you do whatever you want. I recall, Republicans after the 2000 election tried to solve the Social Security issue. It did not happen.

Transition to power in an elected representative republic requires leadership skills that are compelling to follow even by many who may have gone with the other candidate. You have the capital of many who accept the new official and are willing to support them. This is a significant asset to be used out of the gate and not squandered. In this case those not fanatical supporters but got your vote were alienated out of the gate for reasons being debated even today. Wrong direction for leadership.

The disillusionment arises when the transition from campaign slogans to leadership comes up short; sorely exemplified by the deep intellectual reach for an unhelpful answer Van Jones offered: swear word and a good laugh. I am sure there is more to the video where Jones helps answer the question. I suspect any answer is still mired in the hope promulgated during a campaign and ignored the reality of compromises with Democrats that Republicans needed to get things done. Said another way to cause change.

Leadership when the crowd you lead is not the just the fanatic inside followers requires a different approach. It is a lot harder than you think; at least a lot harder than just having a representative majority. It takes some humility and empathy.