Obama may be the last stock promoter left standing

During an appearance with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, President Obama suggested that Americans might want to think about going back to the stock market, noting that stocks are "potentially a good deal" for farsighted investors. His comments ignited a firestorm of controversy, as reporters and analysts desperately tried to analyze his intentions and parse his meaning.

President Obama is not an expert on the economy, nor does he claim to be; his cabinet choices demonstrate that he knows his limitations. Rather than surround himself with yes-men and rubberstampers, he has filled his cabinet with experts, particularly in areas where his own knowledge is a little thin. With this in mind, it seems likely that his statement yesterday was exactly what it sounded like: the kind of vague, off-the-cuff remark that a politician would use to generally inspire discussion.