Right now Barack Obama is droning on in the Senate, imploring his colleagues on the importance of acting with unity and purpose in approving the bailout. It is time to set aside our differences and act decisively on behalf of the American people, says The One. This is funny, because as Mary Katharine Ham at the Weekly Standard first noted, Obama didn’t lift a finger to help get the first bailout bill passed in the House. Not one phone call to a House Democrat. Not one act of arm-twisting. Not one private threat of retribution should his colleagues in the House not approve the bailout. This is the New York Times’ account:

Aides to Mr. Obama said he had not directly reached out to try to sway any House Democrats who opposed the measure.

This is remarkable. Once again, it seems that the only time Obama acts like a leader is when he’s in front of a television camera.