Mea culpa?

I’ve been hearing a lot of Republican leaders and supposedly “liberal” media pundits accusing President Obama of being clueless because he has failed to take the blame for the Republicans’ midterm gains in the House and Senate.  The conventional “wisdom” expressed by these folks is that Obama must admit that it was his “failed” policies and agenda that drove the electorate to the right. 

I certainly understand, and could almost forgive, the Republicans for taking this patently self-serving position.  In today’s hyper-partisan atmosphere, one can only imagine the political value of an Obama mea culpa.  It would certainly add credibility to the Republicans’ post-election narrative of “repudiation” and “mandate.”

What I cannot excuse is the media’s insistence that there is some sort of historical requirement that Obama admit that his agenda is flawed and ineffective.  Interestingly enough, Candy Crowley (bless her!) did a segment today that excerpted speeches by Presidents Reagan and Clinton in the wake of midterm elections that favored the opposing party.  While both of them acknowledged a new and less congenial reality, neither admitted failed policies and/or a flawed agenda.  In fact, Reagan asserted that his administration would not compromise on principles, and Clinton stressed that his administration would stand firm and resist any effort to move the national agenda backwards.  Notably absent from the Crowley segment was George W. Bush.  However, we know that, although he famously recognized a political “thumpin’,” W. acknowledged neither error nor failure.  In fact, W. has yet to admit error: even now, he is publicly defending his “decision” to waterboard suspected terrorist detainees!

So can anyone tell me why (and for what) Obama should apologize?