by Nick Tomboulides
In a speech to the African Union in Ethiopia today, President Barack Obama made the case for term limits, telling attendees that “democratic progress is at risk when leaders refuse to step aside.”
Obama acknowledged that he could win if allowed to run again, but still prefers term limits because “I know someone with fresh blood, new insights will be good for my country.”
He then implored African leaders, who frequently disobey their term limits, to find other ways to serve after leaving office. “I don’t understand why people want to stay so long,” he added.
Obama’s argument for term limits is among the strongest we’ve heard a sitting president make, but it raises an obvious question: Don’t these same principles apply to Congress?
It would make no sense to suggest that the career politician model is damaging to African democracy and the U.S. presidency, but perfectly fine when applied to Congress.
The best explanation for the difference is self-interest. Members of the House and Senate agree with Obama that term limits work, but don’t care because they’re the ones who’d have to leave. When it comes to supporting term limits that don’t affect them, politicians are all for it.
What results is an incoherent view that sometimes tolerates careerism depending on personal gain. Let us make a promise today to hold all politicians accountable and consistent on term limits. Obama’s comments are helpful, but they still exclude Congress in a way that leaves the American people feeling shorted.
By demanding consistency, we can fix that.
Nick Tomboulides is Executive Director of U.S. Term Limits.
