Obama Resets

Team Obama has a 1-1 record. They won the 2008 campaign, and they lost the 2009 campaign. Now they’re resetting for the 2010 tie-breaker.
 
One step is organizational, and another is rhetorical.
 
Organization: They brought back 2008 campaign manager David Plouffe to oversee the 2010 elections. The lesson Team Obama took from Massachusetts is that the DSCC is inept. Where’s Chuck Schumer when you need him? Are you watching, Cal Cunningham?
 
Rhetoric: Last week Obama rolled out a speech where he used the words “fight” or “fighting” about every other paragraph. And he took a whack at big banks.
 
True-blue fans probably love that. But Americans generally don’t like angry politicians. And Obama doesn’t do a good angry-politician act.
 
His State of the Union speech will tell us what tone Obama has settled on – for now. And whether he’s figured out which direction to go on health-care reform.
 
Given what has worked for him before, Obama should be the picture of sweet reasonableness. Warmly invite congressional Republicans – and Scott Brown – to help shape health-care reform.
 
Put nicely, put up or shut up.
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Gary Pearce

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Obama Resets

Team Obama has a 1-1 record. They won the 2008 campaign, and they lost the 2009 campaign. Now they’re resetting for the 2010 tie-breaker.
 
One step is organizational, and another is rhetorical.
 
Organization: They brought back 2008 campaign manager David Plouffe to oversee the 2010 elections. The lesson Team Obama took from Massachusetts is that the DSCC is inept. Where’s Chuck Schumer when you need him? Are you watching, Cal Cunningham?
 
Rhetoric: Last week Obama rolled out a speech where he used the words “fight” or “fighting” about every other paragraph. And he took a whack at big banks.
 
True-blue fans probably love that. But Americans generally don’t like angry politicians. And Obama doesn’t do a good angry-politician act.
 
His State of the Union speech will tell us what tone Obama has settled on – for now. And whether he’s figured out which direction to go on health-care reform.
 
Given what has worked for him before, Obama should be the picture of sweet reasonableness. Warmly invite congressional Republicans – and Scott Brown – to help shape health-care reform.
 
Put nicely, put up or shut up.
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Gary Pearce

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