Are Calls for the Death of Baggy Pants a Positive Sign of Obama's Governing Style?

A recent New York Times article, entitled “Can Obama Help Kill Baggy Pants Look?” credited our president-elect with making a fashion statement about low-slung pants that expose underwear. One MTV appearance by the president-elect probably cannot kill the baggy pants look with its deep roots in the prison population.

But it sure does set an important tone: passing a law is not the best way to handle every situation. On MTV, Obama called municipal ordinances that ban baggy pants “a waste of time.”

“Having said that,” Obama said, “brothers should pull up their pants. You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. What’s wrong with that? Come on.”

It seems clear that the former constitution law professor understands why we should not legislate against personal freedom of expression. Hopefully, the president-elect will also use the bully pulpit to influence many other small issues and leave the legislation to the big stuff.