It’s the message stupid!
Well, here we are. One year later, and it seems that all hell has officially broken loose. Progressives are freaking out about President Obama’s first year in office. You can find infighting on any news channel or blog. The White House still seems super cool and relaxed, while its base is deciding who or what to attack within its own group, including them. Democrats in the House and Senate are scared because of one senate seat lost, which still gives them one of the largest majorities in this countries history – this was given to them by the people when they voted in 2008, in case you, or they forgot what happened that short time ago.
Republicans appear to be learning the wrong lessons from Scott Brown’s victory, which is the idea that somehow we have all forgotten they presided over this counties almost certain death, and everyone wants them to lead us again. This is of course not the case for reasons that are obvious. Scott Brown hardly mentioned the word Republican in his campaign and they know it. He might prove to be someone willing to work on legislation, especially coming out of that state. Only time will tell on him.
The media likes to cherry pick what they deem to be relevant in the political world. “This election means more than that one,this one is without a doubt a referendum on this person and that person, this plan is less popular than that plan.” I call foul, and I say Bullshit!! Massachusetts does not speak for the rest of this country, nor does California or New York, or the Deep South. This is considered the most diverse country for a reason. However, losing Massachusetts is a big deal, bigger than anything we have seen politically almost all year. The country is upset, that’s the only truth, and it has been for quite sometime, way before Obama decided to run for President. The big deal from this election is the lessons learned, and what happens now moving forward. This point in time will decide the fate of this young Presidency, and the fate of the rest of our security, both domestically, and internationally.
The major determining factor from here is clearly the message. I watched tons of spin after the Mass. election – especially from the White House. They were clearly too cool for school. You can’t say you feel the people’s pain when you’re excessively calm. I still trust this administration, and support them. But they need to seriously react in a more genuine way. The President seems to think that we need more capitulation to the “right.” If somehow Joe Liebermann’s suggestion to retreat to the “center” is correct. We never left the “center-right” as far as I am concerned. Any spending that’s been done has been nothing but required, not part of an overall political agenda designed previously, but a sure fire way to save us from another depression – it worked!!
Furthermore, the President had to do the things he has done, he had to save Capitalism. Conservatives should be kissing his ass for that, but they will never give any credit for anything. Regardless, he has made the hard choices, even if it means being a one term President, but now it time for “Change.” It’s not the time to keep hanging outside, waiting for compromises within your own party or the other party, OR SPECIAL INTERESTS. It’s time to lead at the front of your agenda, not from behind the walls of the dismal approval ratings of the Senate. Make people vote on things they say they support. Make people cast tough votes. Individualize bits and pieces of legislation every week until 2012. Give a press conference every morning before each vote. Explain in basic terms what the vote will determine for Americans, how you a “Democratic” President is helping them. Then explain what a vote against it means; do this every day until the American people get the message, and then tell them again. It’s the message stupid! And of course the Economy!
The reality of this country to me is that people are pissed and want someone to explain what we’re going to do. This is the White House’s failure. This is the Presidents failure. I am all for grace, and prudency. I am all for being pragmatic, but not at the cost of losing the sense of your own beliefs, or at least forgetting to convey them. Its time Barack, it’s now or never President Obama. What’s it going to be?
Important notes from the Brown’s election:
18% of registered Democrats voted for Brown over Coakley in Massachusetts.
Those same people voted for President Obama.
82% of the people who voted for Brown, who also voted for Obama in 2008, from all parties, support a Public Option.
57% of the voters who voted for Obama in 2008, who switched and voted for Brown said they want Democrats to go further on Health Care.
Joe Lieberman has a disapproval rating of 67% in Massachusetts.
23% of the people in Massachusetts, who voted for Scott Brown, said the Health Care bill went too far.
41% said they were unsure why they oppose the Health Care bill.
It’s the Message Stupid!
– Ryan Boos
Polls were taken from Boldprogressives.org (click to view more interesting poll numbers from the Brown election)