Bozell Column: Obama Failed to Communicate?
In one of his latest attempts to get his face on every television network in America before the election, President Obama appeared on “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart to plead his case to the hip, young, leftist voters who love that show. Obama claimed he had done so much, “We have done things that some folks don't even know about!”
In a more serious interview, Obama told the Los Angeles Times the economic mess he “inherited” required him to take so many rapid actions that he could not "communicate effectively to the public in any coherent way.”
This has to be the most ridiculous spin to emerge to explain the Why Republicans Massacred Us question: Barack Obama somehow failed to communicate his “accomplishments.” This man has been everywhere from MTV to CNBC to Univision to the entire NBC-Universal slate of channels selling his policies. And when he’s not there, the reporters do his bidding regardless. How can a man who was sold to us as an absolutely magic combination of Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt now suggest he was made “incoherent” by the economy?
First of all, in almost everything Obama did, the “inherited” economy always seemed like a lesser priority to other mountains he wanted to climb. That disinterest (also the disinterest in Afghanistan) was telling. But more importantly, perhaps no president in modern times has been granted more forums with more ring-kissing interviewers to explain himself. These people in no way ruined the effectiveness of his communications by asking hardball questions.
The only way Obama’s coherence would have been compromised would have been by the viewer being too distracted by the obsequiousness of the interviewer – from CNBC’s John Harwood marveling at Obama’s talent at fly-swatting to an awestruck Katie Couric asking “You're so confident, Mr. President, and so focused. Is your confidence ever shaken?”
There is another ridiculous narrative that might compete: try Governor Ed Rendell’s claim that “I think expectations were unreasonably high for Barack Obama.” But these are the expectations Obama set for himself. His own administration’s economists issued a report insisting that without lavishing almost $900 billion on “stimulus,” unemployment would rise above 9 percent in 2010. They also proclaimed that if Congress did Obama’s will, unemployment would remain under 8 percent.
Oops. Reality is harsh. Now the media are building an entirely different expectation: high unemployment is the “new normal,” and everyone should just accept it.
But if there were unreasonably high expectations for Obama, who set them most aggressively if not the fawning media that wanted him inaugurated by Thanksgiving 2008 because he could leap buildings in a single bound? Obama loved it. There was no humility, and certainly no effort to convince his media friends not to build those lofty expectations on cable news conclaves and the covers of the news magazines. He accepted the adoration from every fawning journalist that bowed before him.
Compare the effectiveness of Obama’s communications, aided and abetted by the “news” media, to the effectiveness of Obama’s toughest adversaries in the Tea Party movement. How could the Tea Party message succeed with the people if the effectiveness of their communications was pounded with mud and slime at every step? The media hammered continuously, like a negative commercial that won’t go away, declaring the Tea Party was racist, ignorant, and believers in every conspiracy theory that disparaged Barack Obama’s uniquely exotic and cosmopolitan appeal.
And yet, those homophobic racist rednecks utterly up-ended the Obama agenda, with all the so-called “objective” media’s hostile hot air blowing in their face.
All of this underlines the narrative that had unfolded before the Obama phenomenon came along: the decline of the Old Media’s stranglehold on the national conversation and the ascent of a New Media putting out stories and investigations that the Old Media refused to cover. Obama’s communications were not compromised by the networks jumping on the frauds of ACORN, or the science-twisting scandal of “Climategate,” or “stimulus” dollars being sent to 72,000 dead people. Those stories were ignored. If it threatened to throw a wrench into Obama’s juggernaut, the Old Media weren’t interested.
All Obama and his servile media can do now to save their leftist agenda is try to keep painting their Republican and Tea Party opponents as racist troglodytes who want to reinstall the Great Depression. Will it work any better in 2011 than it did in 2010?
- Brent Bozell's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Where would Obama be if not
Submitted by Chris Norman on Tue, 11/02/2010 - 11:17pm.
Where would Obama be if not for the help of the cheering media? At best, down to about 25% approval in the polls. At worst, still a state representative or even a "community organizer" in Illinois.
Um, Lincoln and Roosevelt Were Hated During Their Presidencies
Submitted by TheReal7Sticks on Wed, 11/03/2010 - 12:04am.
Let's see, the Confederacy hated Lincoln's guts for opposing slavery, and Roosevelt was hated for growing government by, among other things, implementing social security. Yep, it does sound like a magical combination for Obama, if that's what he had in mind of being universally hated. Not that I support him anymore, but I believe it helps no one by ripping Obama every five minutes. After all, where did that get liberals who ripped President Bush every five minutes? Nowhere but down.
You have a point with regard
Submitted by mattm on Wed, 11/03/2010 - 12:34am.
You have a point with regard to some of the personal stuff, but most of the contempt is based on the fact that he constantly derides and insults his "enemies."
And even his policy agenda deserves anger because although he said "partisanship is over" he has been the single most partisan president in history.
His Party has followed suit jamming their agenda down all of our throats even though they knew the majority opposed it, and even though they didn't even know what was in some of the legislation - with the Speaker saying we have to pass it and then see what's in it.
This is the kind of arrogance and tyrannical behavior that generates contempt.
Old Media is the Problem
Submitted by Fire Fighter CO on Wed, 11/03/2010 - 8:51pm.
I did not see the article as a rip at the President. It is raising a concern about the liberal old medias' response to any opposition to the President's and his parties' positions and policies. The old media is dead and it would probably benefit the major broadcast networks to get out of the news business and return the funds they spend in this area to their stockholders. Whenever I hear one of the broadcast anchors reports I discount it immediately based upon the lack of credibility I have learned from their earlier reports.
Stopped the fall. Now the climb.
Submitted by KC Mulville on Wed, 11/03/2010 - 1:05am.
The next two years are utterly useless. Nothing's going to happen. What matters now for the GOP is avoiding traps and avoiding scandal. No dead girls or live boys.
2012 is the political prize. Eyes on the prize.
China Wholesaler Town -
Submitted by jywhy999 (not verified) on Sat, 11/13/2010 - 8:54am.
China Wholesaler Town - China's most viable wholesale supplier of promotional gifts, Wholesale Umbrella you can customize your own logo, no matter anywhere in the world! Wholesale Lighter Successful corporations realize Wholesale Camera that well-planned and well-executed employee incentives play an important Wholesale Speakersrole in helping reach objectives, Wholesale Razor building company morale, Wholesale Jewelryand rewarding both the employees and the valued customers.Wholesale Socks With promotional and novelty gift items, China Wholesale Town Wholesale Furniture International became a specialist in providing branding services. Recorder Pen We proud ourselves in being fast and accurate. Wholesale Scarf We can put your logo on all the products from our OEM / ODM ection. Wholesale Chair Most of our items can be decorated with logo or personalized with personal engraving. ladies Briefcase We delivering to virtually every country in the world Computer Desk. Our warehouse and office
are staffed by a young team of Chinese and Western staff Vacuum Storage Bag . Our professional staff will contact you as soon as possible to provide you with the best quality service through the mail and the telephone.Wholesale Briefcase We can provide customers around the world with many well-produced goods and good service,Wholesale Toys because of many years of
experience in friendly and Wholesale Stress Ball cooperative relations with many Chinese factories and suppliers. Wholesale Fan Here you can find all the most popular, Wholesale Clocks stylish, high-quality goods. Wholesale Sweatshirt China Suppliers, Custom Logo Imprinted, Wholesale Wallet Promotional Products, Promotional Gifts, Promotional Items, Waterproof Waist Pack Wholesale Suppliers, Wholesale Merchandise, Dropship Wholesale, Wholesale Accessories, Wholesale Directory China Wholesale Town - Most Reliable China Wholesale Suppliers, Wholesale Ashtray Custom Logo Imprinted Promotional Gifts, Promotional Items Products, Giveaway Material!Wholesale Pen If you want to start your business with some daily used items, Wholesale Pillow here is the site you need to check. It offeres many products like Bottle Opener, T-Shirts, Carabiner Wholesale Frisbee and Umbrella, Pen, Wholesale Carabiner ect. Under each product section, there are some detailes classification. For Wholesale Keychain, there are Coffee Mug, Water Bottle. For Wholesale Socks and Wholesale USB Products, there are also some detailed classifications. Wholesale Waterproof Case China Wholesale Town - China's most viable wholesale supplier of Promotional Gifts, you can customize your own logo, no matter anywhere in the world! China Wholesale Town - Most Reliable China Wholesale Suppliers, Custom Logo Imprinted Promotional Gifts, Promotional Products Items, Giveaway Material! If you want to start your business with some daily used items, Wholesale Kitchenware here is the site you need to check. It offeres many products like Wholesale Pom Poms, T-Shirts, Carabiner Wholesale First Aid Kit and Umbrella, Pen, Bottle Opener ect. Under each product section, there are some detailes classification. For Wholesale Cup, there are Coffee Mug, Water Bottle. For Wholesale Clap Hands and Wholesale Water Bottle, there are also some detailed classifications. China Wholesale Town - China's most viable wholesale supplier of Promotional Gifts, you can customize your own logo, no matter anywhere in the world! Wholesale Apron Top China Wholesaler-Buy Wholesale Promotional Gifts Promotional Products from China Our main products are consumer electronics, gifts and souvenirs, Wholesale Lanyard, health care products, beauty products, Wholesale Carabiner, automobile parts, household items, plastic products, metal products, Wholesale Mug, kitchen supplies, stationery, sports goods, toys, Wholesale Christmas Gifts, watches, leather products, etc. Tips for Choosing Sports Wholesale Halloween Gift; One Way To Protect Your Device - Wholesale Waterproof Case; Introduce The Wholesale Lanyard For You; Customized Cheaply Prices Promotional Caps-Wholesale Bag; And the Wholesale Clothes Rack also gradually become recognized best promotional product; Buying A Gift For your Friend Who Likes Reading-Wholesale Golf Products; Customized Printed Wholesale Vase
Personalization/Engraving Services
Some items, such as Crystal Award and Metal Coaster and Metal Money Clip and Metal Luggage Tag and Metal Keychain etc, crystal material or metal material products. Camera Tripod require a plate to be added for engraving. Wholesale Clothing These plates can added as your request.Bean Bag
Debossing/Embossing
Debossing services are offered on leather items. Such as Leather Wallet and Leather Mouse Pad and Conference Folder and Leather Name Card Holder etc, Debossing is a method that depresses yor company name or logo down into the surface of a leather item. Eye Mask Wholesale EarphoneThis method displays your company logo through the leather goods without color, Water Guncommonly known as "blind debossing". Wholesale MatWe use this method to ensure quality of your goods. Over time, Wholesale Keyboardcolor that is added to leather will fade or flake away.
Screen/Silk Screen PrintingWholesale Jacket
Screen or silkcreen printing is popular for our non-textile products. Poncho RaincoatThis screening can be either single or multicolored. such as Pen and and USB Flash Drive and Tape Measure and Mug and Water Bottle and Umbrella and Inflatable etc, plastic material, leather material, metal material, Wholesale Knifesilicone material, rubber material, Wholesale Candletextile material are available.
EmbroideryWholesale Mouse
At Corporate Snobs we pride ourselves in offering some of the best choices of customization in the industry.Wholesale Calculator
Our embroidery options are available for most of our monogrammed Tote Bag and Apron and Cap and Embroidery Coaster and Towel etc textile products.
Decoration styles vary per item. PVC Vase Each decoration style will be listed in the product page. Wholesale Mp3For various products, Wholesale Tie decoration options are available for customer to choose type of engraving desired. BB GunsThis will be noted as a choice with the item.Wholesale Earphone Promotional Products, Promotional Gifts, Electric Shaver Promotional items from China, Toy Guns Custom-made gift Wholesale, Promotional Giveaway Material! Sport Watch Wholesale Merchandise, Safety Belt Wholesale Suppliers, Wholesale Dropship, Door Mat Wholesale Distributors, Wholesale Accessories, Wholesale Watch Wholesale Directory, Discount Wholesaler Flexi Vase