Obama struggles as communicator

[Revmitchell]

Of all the pitfalls Barack Obama might face in the presidency, here is one not many people predicted: He is struggling as a public communicator.

The sluggish and unsteady response to the uproar over AIG bonuses highlights a larger problem of his White House: Obama’s surprisingly uneven campaign to educate people about the economic crisis and convince Washington and the broader public that he is in command of circumstances.

It was brilliant communications skills that carried Obama to the presidency, with a national campaign built on the strength of his personal story and the clarity of his promise to transform politics. On the rare occasions when he was thrown on the defensive, he quickly turned problems into opportunities and regained control of his public image.

What’s different now? The polished phrases and unflappable delivery haven’t gone away. His prime-time news conference and speech to Congress drew the usual praise.

But the discipline and strategic focus of the campaign have yet to move into the White House. The story of the day often catches the president flat-footed or on the defensive — and regularly undercut by fellow Democrats.

To Obama’s dismay, he is learning that successful presidential communications is only in part — often a fairly small part — about personal eloquence. It requires harnessing his words to a consistent strategy of public education. Obama needs lawmakers and voters alike to view the world through his prism, and to accept his analysis of what’s wrong and his priorities about how to make it right.

Here’s why Obama is struggling as president on the same subject on which he used to excel as candidate:


More Here

 

[blackbird]

The last line of the article read something like

-----you should put confidence in the President, and people do"

I like the way they painted "doom and gloom" before the stimulus and then immediately after its passage----its ----- America needs to invest in the stock market!!

The black hole of the stock market is where my retirement savings went

 

[targus]

During the campaign Obama could go from place to place giving the same speeches over and over.

He had his talking points that he could switch up and spit out the canned phrases to his fawning audience.

The situation that he finds himself in now is much more dynamic. As President he is expected to respond to an ever changing environment. He is expected to be proactive and to offer insightful solutions to serious problems.

Talking points prepared by clever wordsmiths don't cut it anymore.

His communication problems result from the different skills required to lead rather than campaign.

And he is found to be wanting in the skills necessary to lead.

 

[just-want-peace]

During the campaign Obama could go from place to place giving the same speeches over and over.

He had his talking points that he could switch up and spit out the canned phrases to his fawning audience.

The situation that he finds himself in now is much more dynamic. As President he is expected to respond to an ever changing environment. He is expected to be proactive and to offer insightful solutions to serious problems.

Talking points prepared by clever wordsmiths don't cut it anymore.

His communication problems result from the different skills required to lead rather than campaign.

And he is found to be wanting in the skills necessary to lead.

In line with this, here is something I wrote concerning the "state of the nation" and the '08 election.

Part I – Sometime prior to Nov., 2008
Folks, I just have to get this rant out of my system, especially after seeing how some folks seem to think “MY CANDIDATE” will save America.

I consider myself a very staunch conservative, socially, spiritually and economically, so my thoughts just ain’t going to be the thoughts of many (majority?) of you, BUT!!!!!!!!

I do think all us Christians, can agree that this country is simply not what God would have us be. (If you disagree with this premise, you’d waste your time to read any further.)

Remember when the Israelites demanded of Samuel that they have a king so they “—could be like all the other nations—“?
Remember when the kingdom split after Solomon died ?

In each of these instances God told the ones that wanted to “save” Israel that “This thing is from Me—“ so they backed off and did as He instructed. Also, in each instance, it was because the nation as a whole had rejected God and wanted to do its own thing.

Well, has not this nation done exactly the same? We have kicked God out of the classroom, forbidden Him to be in our governmental arena, told Him that He screwed up on this same-sex deal, demanded that ending lives if they present an inconvience to us be OK, etc., etc., yada, yada, yada!!!

With all this in mind, look at where we are now politically socially and morally; AND the caliber of leadership (?) we have to choose from come November, not to mention the present crop of “leaders”(?). I speak here of the broad spectrum of our “rulers & representatives, not just the few truly whacked out individuals. (And not only that, but consider the last two decades.) Certainly nothing to “write home about” eh?!

Personally, I believe that God is doing precisely with us what He did with the Israelites a few thousand years ago, and just letting us mold our own destiny in accordance with our demand that He leave us alone, since we consider ourselves intelligent, progressive, and sophisticated enough today that His requirements are just an impediment to our “progress”. We no longer need the crutch of “a higher power” to sustain us.

As I stated earlier, I am a staunch conservative, so therefore I lean more toward the R side than the D side. That being said the Rs right now are far more liberal than even the Ds of half-century or so ago; so where does that put the Ds?

I firmly believe that ONLY a direct intervention from God will save this country, and I’m not holding my breath for that since so far we have given Him no reason to do so.

Only a massive revival in this country, STARTED BY TODAY’S CHRISTIANS WHO LOOK TO HIM, NOT POLITICS, will give this country any hope of recovery; again, I ain’t holding my breath.

I remember reading or hearing that “---God gives a nation the government that they deserve---“. If this is true, we can only beg Him for His mercy, cause the future of the nation, at this juncture in time, just ain’t very promising!!


Part II – Mar 17, 2009
Well, since I wrote the above, the election has come & gone. We, as a nation have made history by electing the first Black president as POTUS in history.

He is a very amiable fellow, well spoken, and seemingly intelligent (at least book-wise) as he starts his first tour as POTUS. Undoubtedly all the aforementioned qualities had much to do with his successful election.

Only one basic problem – who & what is he?? Nobody really knows any more than the outward manifestations of himself.

His record shows extreme liberal ( IE: as in socialistic), reluctant to take a position when voting (roughly ½ his votes in Illinois were “present” which is a non-vote), friends and associates from the extreme - radical even – left, a wife who’s heart-felt feelings for America are definitely something short of patriotic, and a propensity to say whatever is politically convenient and/or popular at any given moment.

He has, in his first month+ in office, almost accomplished the passionate dream of Khrushchev -- “To Bury us”. Hasn’t happened yet, but the rails have been greased, the car has been given a shove, and the long downhill stretch is just ahead. If some restraint is not forthcoming very, very quickly, we will start the plunge and become the some-teenth 3rd world country in a very short time. From my perspective it don’t look good!! And daily more decisions are made by him (?) that, IMHO, are giving that car a little more momentum toward the hill.

Which just reinforces my belief, as noted way above, that our ONLY hope is a direct intervention of God in spite of our spiritual adultery, and a granting of mercy rather than judgment.

But again, why should He?

 

[OldRegular]

In line with this, here is something I wrote concerning the "state of the nation" and the '08 election.

Well said fellow South Carolinian! Similar to what I said prior to the election and since but more coherent.

 

[LadyEagle]

Yep, great piece, JWP.