This article clearly states the Repubicans use of exceptionalism, which is it's intent. It is well written and informative. However the story does not discuss how factual this term and its use are. To fully understand we need to look at history. The British ruled to world until they became over extended enough to almost go broke. The Roman Empire failed because they felt too good to do basic jobs and not willing to serve in the military. Then one day the Huns appeared in great numbers and the empire failed.

Author describes exceptionalism and speculates that Republicans are manipulating this idea into a covert criticism of Obama. They hint that since he fails to wrap himself as suffocatingly in the flag as they do, that he must not be "one of us".

This article is important because as the author asserted at the beginning, this idea of exceptionalism "was rarely heard outside...think tanks." The general public, often swayed by the rhetoric of talking heads, must be informed of the subject. Unfortunately, the 24 hour news entertainment services will undoubtedly fail in terms of a true education on the matter.

This opinion piece is poor journalism. The author was born after Ronald Reagan's Presidency, or she would surely not have written such an ignorant first sentence! The rest of the piece is totally in favor of Obama and critical of the Republicans quoted, who were not interviewed for the piece, a basic requirement even of mediocre journalism. Instead, a White House staffer is quoted for four paragraphs at the end of the piece. Poorly researched and highly biased.