The president's underappreciated, undersold success stories

[Pryderi]

http://rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/01/05/the_presidents_underappreciated_undersold_success_stories

Perhaps the greatest weakness of the Obama administration is its inability to own its successes. While this is hardly a weakness that will be cited by the president's opponents in the upcoming campaign, or even one that they will acknowledge, perhaps, it will impact the outcome next November. Because the Obama track record on many fronts is much better than the administration gives itself credit for.

They could be doing much, much more to tout what is an impressive litany of successes.

While the list of those successes is long and compelling-defeating Bin Laden, getting out of Iraq, helping to oust Qaddafi, restoring our reputation internationally, resetting our international priorities to better coincide with our long term interests (the "pivot" to a focus on Asia), producing meaningful healthcare reform, producing significant financial services reforms, stopping the downward spiral in the economy and laying the foundations of recovery, etc. -- let me focus on three areas that deserve much more attention and appreciation.

The first of these is our international economic policy. I worked for President Clinton on these issues and during our tenure there was always a sense they were front and center among the administration's priorities. But during the first year's of the Obama administration, the domestic economic crisis dominated and beyond the international repercussions of the market meltdown other econ issues couldn't seem to wedge their way up to being front of mind for the president or his top advisors.

more at the link

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

1. The biggest problem that I have with this president is that he is reluctant to brag about his

successes. Rachel Maddow once did a segment on this. Had Obama really sold his health care reform plan, the American people would've been more educated about it and willing to go along. Instead, unless the law is dissected, piece by piece, the ACA as a whole is still unpopular.

[elleng]

3. I agree he's reluctant to brag; see my #2.

I think the apparent underselling of health care reform is the complexity. Now that its moving along, there are concrete aspects which can be and are discussed and applauded. I don't believe it is 'as a whole still unpopular.' More, not understood.

[Pirate Smile]

4. It seems like it makes him personally uncomfortable - good trait in a person but not very

helpful in a politician.

They need to just realize that and get some really good surrogates to do it.

MSNBC had a mayor on within the past couple of weeks (Maybe Minneapolis, I'm not sure) who did a really good job of touting all the successes quickly and in a compelling way. I certainly know about them more then most people but even I was impressed. They need more folks like him and they need to get them out there in the media all the time.

[elleng]

7. I think they will, hope we can work on that to get more ##s in House,

and I expect POTUS will also do some himself. When he DOES it, which he has, because of his manner it never appears to be bragging, just stating facts, clearly.

[elleng]

2. I think they've begun to change this, and will do so more and more.

I suspect that one reason for the underselling so far is POTUS' personal reluctance to brag. As he's pragmatic, necessity will dominate henceforth, and there won't be any more underselling.

[Pryderi]

5. I hope so! Can you imagine the strutting, bluster and bravado if Bush had similiar

accomplishments?

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Remember the victory speech?

YUP