Quote:
Originally Posted by FRPLG
What Obama and his administration are, apparently, is shockingly inept at communicating and framing discussions. Either that or those like you, who believe he isn't necessarily stifling growth, are naive. That's not an accusation but more of a logical observation. Either he sucks and is stifling growth or he isn't. Considering his generally likability and a relatively forgiving media I can't understand how he is able to do such a good job but no one, outside of his diehards, perceive that he is. Why do you think that is?
|
I agree with you on your first point that the administration has been horrible at framing the discussion and communicating their ideas and policy. I lay much of the blame squarely at their feet. Some of it, however, and this just my opinion, is the nature of the evolving 24 hour news cycle and the internet age we now live in. By the time you've decided to frame the debate you're already behind the messaging curb. Your opponents and talking heads can shape the discussion before you even get to the microphone. Two days is like an eternity nowadays, whereas just a few years ago it wasn't that big of deal if there was a crisis and we hadn't heard from the president in a nano second. Much of this stems from Bush's Katrina moment and the perception that he was detached from the situation on the ground. I think that was a watershed moment as far as presidential politics go and the rules shifted in terms of how to respond to a crisis. It's not an excuse, by any means, but I do feel
whether it's policy or responding to a national crisis this is the new reality that will be a part of presidential politics as we move forward and certainly a part of the messaging equation. Think about the BP oil spill just last summer. I mean, the way people were complaining you would have thought Obama should have put on a wet suit and plug the thing by himself.
Again, I gave you a nod and agreed that there is a perception that the administration isn't pro-business, but when I look at his approach to simplifying government regulation that affect businesses, a payroll tax holiday, and a few other policies he's in favor of it just doesn't square with the facts. When I look at his cabinet and some of his key advisers, it doesn't add up to anti-business. On the contrary, many "diehard" Obama supporters, as you refer to them, think he's too cozy with Wall Street and isn't tough enough. My expectation is when the president becomes more active on the campaign trail sometime next year, he'll make his case crystal clear to the American people.
The fact that he is generally liked by the public at large says to me that people are actually pulling for Obama and want him to succeed. Liberals are not pleased with him for a host of completely different reasons than conservatives, so I wouldn't conflate varying opinions from different ends of the political spectrum as a wholesale dislike of the president and how well he is/isn't performing at his job. For example, most liberals want to end the wars like yesterday. Conservatives, on the other hand, want us to declare "victory" and see it through. So I'd be cautious when making generalizations like "most" people believe this or that. I think we largely view his performance through our own political ideology and grade him accordingly.