President Obama was in Baltimore today to take questions from GOP party members about a variety of issues. I'd be willing to bet my job that Republicans are trying to develop a time machine that allows them to go back and remove the cameras from the room. For the GOP, this event ended with results similar to a no-holds-barred street brawl between an infant and Mickey from "Snatch."
In approximately 70 minutes, Barack Obama reinforced three things many people already know, but rarely get much press:
- He is incredibly smart. Smarter than his opponents (and often allies) understand or appreciate.
- He is a pragmatist first, and a Democrat second.
- He will not suffer simpletons who skew reality to prevent him from moving forward with an agenda that they could otherwise be helping with.
What the president needs, is to do this sort of thing as often as possible, in front of larger audiences. In an era where Fox news is hands down the most trusted media outlet in the country (specifically "because of its lack of neutrality"), it's pretty clear that the GOP establishment has a stranglehold on the resources needed to craft and broadcast a message that people adhere to for long periods of time.
Thought his instincts may tell him to shun it, Obama needs to begin using the celebrity status he holds with the American public. In my view, he is the best option the Democrats have of getting an undiluted message to voters who want to see progress. As president, he can hold talks like this or give speeches during prime viewing hours to talk directly with the people through a venue they won't shy away from. I think this is an unfortunate necessity given what I've discussed before about Obama's attempts to get Congress to do its job without the Executive Branch coddling it every step of the way.
Americans don't watch C-SPAN, where a majority of the debates over health care reform legislation have been shown. They don't read the White House blog, or keep up with where the funds from the stimulus bill are being spent. Americans watch the people who stir up the most controversy. Obama's cool dismemberment of the GOP today is something Americans would love to see, but not something that would force him to sacrifice his scaled-back view of managing the legislative process.
Since the rise of the Tea Party protests, Republicans have profited politically on the feedback loop of anger they create. The tactic works like this:
- Republican talking heads run with a sound bite about health care reform being a mortal threat to grandmothers everywhere.
- People across the country rush into the streets with angry signs and slogans with considerable help from Republican organizations.
- Republican politicians stonewall legislation on the basis that they're doing what voters want them to do.
- Repeat steps 1-3 ad nauseum.
The Obama that came out swinging against the bullshit being pitched to him by GOP lawmakers could easily break the cycle I described above. Furthermore, he is someone Americans would love to watch (again). I understand the impetus to stay out of the limelight, but it's time for Obama to show he has some teeth while he's still taken seriously. The longer he waits to start taking his message directly to the American people, the more time his status will dwindle and wane in the minds of Americans with short attention spans. That is to say, nearly everyone.
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