Today, just before jumping on Air Force One for his nine-day trip to Asia, the president announced that he'll convene a "jobs summit" in December. Amid rising joblessness, the summit will ostensibly aim to figure out ways to create new jobs and stem the flow of recession-induced layoffs. The president will invite CEOs, economists, unions, and small-business leaders to meet with administration officials at the White House to discuss the issue. "It's important that we don't make any ill-considered decisions—even with the best intentions—particularly at a time when our resources are so limited. But it's just as important that we are open to any demonstrably good idea to supplement the steps we've already taken to put America back to work. That's what this forum is about," Obama told reporters today.

Is it a good idea? Yes. Having key stakeholders put their heads together, or at least communicate about the problem, will undoubtedly produce some interesting ideas and spark important conversations. But is it a good idea for Obama? That's questionable. The "optics" of the summit—those elusively defined, fuzzy readings of events that pundits like to bang on about—might just work against him.

The president has recently been accused of "dithering." Of course, that particular criticism was in regard to his impending decision of Afghanistan strategy—arguably the most important decision of his presidency so far, given the potential for loss of life. But the word has stuck in people's minds because, depending on your perspective, dithering and deliberating can be interchangeable. And Obama is undeniably a deliberative president. He shares none of his predecessor's brash decisiveness—a fact that I, for one, am happy about. I'm pleased to hear of any president who takes time to weigh options and map out their implications. But I'm not sure the public finds that tendency comforting anymore.

In times of uncertainty, voters often gravitate toward decisiveness. Many found comfort in George W. Bush's unflinching reaction to 9/11, but as time progressed and his actions appeared increasingly rash or reckless, his don't-blink-in-the-face-of-trouble countenance became worrying. However, swing voters have notoriously short memories, and so Obama appears to be suffering the opposite fate. In him, voters chose someone purposely contemplative, and yet now they seem in a mood for firm action. Another summit won't cut it. What it will likely do is feed a narrative, which harks back to the campaign, about the president being all talk. I can hear the complaints now: Obama has health forums and beer summits, but what's the point? (That deliberative discussion is essential to functioning democracies isn't an answer that holds muster with such critics.)

A job-creation strategy isn't something that comes together overnight. Any such plan would be a farce. But in publicly announcing a brainstorming session, Obama is opening the door for a barrage of criticism about the questionable usefulness of talkfests, and why he's taken so long to develop an overarching jobs strategy. Yes, he needed to make clear that jobs are a priority for him. Of course he needs to assure America that his mind is on the issue and he's working on solutions. I even think a jobs summit per se is a good idea. Let's put smart, interested parties in a room and see what they come up with. But with the "dithering" president playing host to the group, I'm not convinced their solutions won't just become partisan ammunition, while Obama is portrayed as hesitant and dawdling. And that would be a pity.