Is Obama an Idealist?

What is Obama's foreign policy?  The Washington Post's Fred Hiatt asks this in a recent editorial.  As Hiatt points out, Obama has recently increased his pro-democracy rhetoric; however this stands in contrast to Obama's historical approach to foreign policy.  After an early start of kowtowing to foreign powers, a refusal to work with the revolutionary movement against the Iranian regime, and an increase in relations with tyrannical regimes, it is surprising to see democracy promotion coming from the White House.  It seems unlikely this is the result of a hidden idealism, particularly in light of Obama's (inept) realist approach.  Unfortunately, it is most likely nothing more than empty rhetoric - a bone tossed to the democracy promoters in his base.