Obama on Dems' Inability to Reach Voters: 'Part of It Is Fox News in Every Bar and Restaurant'

[highplainsdem]

Source: Mediaite

President Obama sat down for a post-election interview earlier this month with Rolling Stone‘s Jann Wenner, reflecting on Donald Trump‘s win and what Democrats did wrong.

Obama, who has done his best to move on from his criticisms of his successor, struck the same optimistic tone he has in the past few weeks, though he did have a lot to say about the current state of the media:

The challenge is people are getting a hundred different visions of the world from a hundred different outlets or a thousand different outlets, and that is ramping up divisions. It’s making people exaggerate or say what’s most controversial or peddling in the most vicious of insults or lies, because that attracts eyeballs.

-snip-

In this election, (white working class voters) turned out in huge numbers for Trump. And I think that part of it has to do with our inability, our failure, to reach those voters effectively. Part of it is Fox News in every bar and restaurant in big chunks of the country, but part of it is also Democrats not working at a grassroots level, being in there, showing up, making arguments. That part of the critique of the Democratic Party is accurate. We spend a lot of time focused on international policy and national policy and less time being on the ground. And when we’re on the ground, we do well.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/online/obama-on-dems-inability-to-reach-voters-part-of-it-is-fox-news-in-every-bar-and-restaurant/

---

Link to the Rolling Stone interview:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/obama-on-his-legacy-trumps-win-and-the-path-forward-w452527

[LisaM]

1. Well, fine, but then why did he dump Howard Dean and the 50-state strategy?

I don't entirely agree anyway - Trump made a lot of hay on "the other" and saying terrible things about people from other countries, whether he means to wall them off, deport them, or never let them in in the first place.

[ramapo]

20. Been wondering that for years

It's been all downhill since they ditched Dean. Coincidence?

[phleshdef]

27. He didn't dump Howard Dean. Dean WANTED to retire from the position at that point.

He did it for 4 years. He delivered a majority government ran by the Democratic party. He was tired and who can blame him?

[atreides1]

29. I have my doubts that he wanted to retire!

Many prominent Democrats opposed Dean's campaign; House Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid are rumored to be among them.

While he was chairman of the DCCC, Rahm Emanuel was known to have had disagreements over election strategy with Dean; Emanuel believed a more tactical approach, focusing attention on key districts, was necessary to ensure victory. Emanuel himself was criticised for his failure to support some progressive candidates, as Dean advocated.

To build the party, the DNC under Dean worked in partnership with state Democratic parties in bringing the resources of the DNC to bear in electoral efforts, voter registration, candidate recruitment, and other interlocking component elements of party building. Decentralization was also a core component of the party's approach. The idea was that each state party had unique needs, but could improve upon its efforts through the distribution of resources from the national party.

[LisaM]

46. I thought it worked well, and I'd also heard he was pushed out.

At any rate, if he wants to come back, I'm good with that.

[Snoopy 7]

43. Correct

I have been wondering about the 50 State strategy myself, but if it was about that then I understand loosing. This was about having more than 2.5 million Hillary votes and still loosing. The Democratic Party has been practicing election ignorance ever since they threw out Howard Dean (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/howard-dean-democratic-party_us_569928b5e4b0778f46f91cac). This is why we don't have a two party system anymore, we have a one party either choose a republican or a crazy republican these are the choices today. If you want a real democrat you have to change you label to "Independent" (a.k.a. Bernie Sanders) which is considered a third party/loosing party...

[INdemo]

2. How about in every Dr's office Dentist's office every Untilities payment offices

and hell yes in most Banks you will find Faux,
I like to to go over to the TV in the lobby of most of these and manually change the channel.

[Dustlawyer]

3. 1!!! This!!!

I pitch a fit every time they won't change the channel. I have moved chairs out in the hall outside the lobby at a doctor's office and then gave the doctor a rash of sh*t!

I stopped eating at a sandwich shop for refusing to change the channel.

We need to speak up or get run over!!!

[pnwmom]

6. And in airports! I have been tortured many times in airport waiting areas.

And there's no one to complain to, unlike in a bar or restaurant.

[INdemo]

45. One can always unplug the damn thing too

[LuckyLib]

12. I requested that the dentist's office turn off Faux News. Receptionist said, "Well,

the doctors are conservative." To which I replied "Well, not all of the patients are." I changed to another dentist. And called them to tell them why.

[marybourg]

15. No wonder my dentist

shows film loops of people's teeth - before and after shots.

[Snoopy 7]

44. I did it

Do what I did request that the channel be changed and the receptionist changed the station without any questions, we need to quit accepting thing as if that is what has to be and step out of your comfort place and request even in front of a room full of republicans (which this room was).

[DallasNE]

4. Sounds Like Time To Start A Boycott

Boycott all bars and restaurants that do not have balanced reporting in both number and location of screens. Hitting people in the pocketbook is always an effective tactic. Yes, that goes for Hooters and Twin Peaks too - no exceptions.

[kimbutgar]

37. I used to stay at LaQuinta chains

And in the breakfast room they always Fox on. I complained and was told it was corporate policy to have it on. When I got the review email I mentioned my objections to Fox and they confirmed it was corporate policy. After that I never stayed at a la Quinta again. I averaged at least 8-10 nights per year. Switched to Best Western and they only show CNN or local tv.

[Nancyswidower]

5. Exactly Sir.....

"..but part of it is also Democrats not working at a grassroots level, being in there, showing up, making arguments. "

If we can't make our argument over theirs...we will continue to be frigged.

[Puppyjive]

7. Military Installations

The entire US military is fed by Faux News propaganda. It is shameful to turn our soldiers against their Commander and Chief. It is dangerous and unpatriotic to lie to the troops, who are young and impressionable. It breaks the chain of command, which is fundamental to the military's core values.

[KT2000]

8. Is FOX offering inducements?

Are they paying for the TVs, are they giving free service, just what are the business arrangements?

Remember when, I think it was called Channel one, was putting TVs in the schools for free in order to control content of the news they were showing?

[Joe Bacon]

41. Yes.

Sizzlers and other restaurants in my area were paid by Fox toock their TVs on Fox News.

[WhiteTara]

9. Fox pays for the cable connection, but they have to keep it

on Fox.

[ReRe]

10. Car dealers and Dr's offices too... eom

[Lucky Luciano]

11. Obama is correct. Lessons must be learned instead of laying blame. nt

[vi5]

13. Says the guy who nominated Comey...

...and showed Howard Dean the door.

I love our President, but there are deeper Problems than just Fox news and his approach is not entirely without some of the blame.

[zipplewrath]

14. Bingo

There was alot of blue collar anger at Obama because of his focus on corporate issues and the banks.

[kimbutgar]

38. Ironic orange hitler is putting banksters and corporate cretins in his cabinet.

[noel711]

16. Not only in bars and airport...

In many public settings that dispense care for the older generation...
doctor's offices, nursing homes, rehab facilities, eye/hearing aid facilities..
all have televisions in waiting rooms and lounges....

When FOX news was trying to establish a customer base, they would contact
cable companies, and offer 'deals' to such establishments:
we will offer you a free television, and a temporary cable connection
if you commit to have the FOX news station on as a default.

That is how the foundation was laid: retired folks were spoon fed
an ideology that appealed to their conservative views...
They now the faithful base, not only to FOX but the republican party.

Most progressives have to search for a news outlet,
but FOX made it their business.. to be the default channel in every arena.
Well played.

If I have to be in a waiting room with FOX blaring, I tell the receptionist
that I have a migraine, can the sound be turned off.
The often turn off the whole television.

[DeminPennswoods]

17. This is true

It seems every time I've been in a waiting room with a TV, it's tuned to Fox News. I used to get really
annoyed when I took my mom to her eye doctor and it was always on wth a note stuck on it saying not to change the channel. Luckily, the old receptionists have retired and now the TV is tuned to HGTV or some other inoffensive channel.

The thing with Fox, though, is it's carried on all basic cable packages along with CNN. MSNBC, otoh, is on the next tier up. I doubt any office pays for anything other than standard basic service, so there you have it.

I don't know why DoD installations need TVs, but toward the end of my career, we got them in every wing, but they were always tuned into CSPAN.

[Grammy23]

40. While waiting to get some lab work done at an out patient

Diagnostic center, I noticed it is ALWAYS tuned to HGTV. While that may not be everyone's cup of tea, I am pretty sure it keeps blood pressures in check. And at least the steady steam of lies and misinformation is disrupted for a little while.

[Trenzalore]

18. I love Obama but this is ridiculous

Frankly democrats speak the language of the coasts where they are comfortable with.

[tavernier]

19. Fox koolaid has poisoned the well

throughout the country for years now.

[progree]

21. and right wing hate radio where at least one such station is within range just about everywhere

[ThoughtCriminal]

22. I was in a restaurant last summer when the Dallas shootings were being covered

Big screen TV was on CNN. Several customers DEMANDED that the the channel be changed to FOX, while they loudly blamed Obama.

[brooklynite]

23. Fox news doesn't convince people to be conservative...

...people who are conservative gravitate to it because it reinforces their biases.

[colsohlibgal]

24. It Sways Some

In fact, there is a book out now from a woman detailing how Fox News changed her dad over time, and how long it took her to get him back to reality.

It is not all how they cover stuff, it is also about what they choose to cover at all. What they have been doing is not much different that what Goebbels did in Nazi Germany.

Look at how the political baseline has moved right in the 20 years they have been around.

Fox has been the dream of the righties since Powell's conservative return to prominence treatise in the early 70s, he called it GOP-TV.

We need a new Fairness Doctrine.

[progree]

25. I've watched 3 family members go from liberal to conservative after years of listening to talk

radio. Talk radio being only one thing in their area and most areas -- conservative. One could dismiss that as "gravitating" to it to reenforce their biases, but they started listening to it because there was no other discussion on the radio about political issues. And they thought they were smart enough and knowledgable enough to filter out the untruths and biases. But slowly the disinformation takes hold. Nobody has the time to fact check more than a small percentage of what they are saying.

[phleshdef]

28. Conservatives dominate talk radio because they are bombastic and overly dramatic about everything.

They talk to folks at a low grade level, with vast generalizations, scapegoating and generally tell those folks what they want to hear at a grade level where they can understand it.

[hollowdweller]

35. I've known lots of traveling salesmen and truckers turn conservative.

Because of talk radio.

Funny part is when some change jobs they actually change back.

[secondwind]

26. Fox News is everywhere, in 7-Eleven stores, gas stations, nursing homes, etc. EVERYWHERE

[zeusdogmom]

30. Wendy's Hambergers, too

At least here in Ohio. Sigh ...

[Vinca]

31. That's true. From what I can gather the only reason is because they don't have to pay extra for it.

Another big problem in the middle of the country is the industry known as hate radio. That's all they get in some places. If you listen to the likes of Alex Jones at your job all day everyday, eventually you're brainwashed.

[Nitram]

32. 100% correct! Fox News has been broadcasting right wing propaganda for years.

Propaganda works.

[Hayabusa]

33. I hate 'em, but I have to give Fox News credit on this:

they are absolutely fucking EVERYWHERE. Go to a bar: Fox News. An eatery: Fox News. The offices of MSNBC: Fox News. Okay, I made that last one up.

[hurple]

34. the biggest problem...

By far, is actually two-fold, but related.

1. The Republicans cheat. Every day, in every possible way they can. We see this in their appointees, their drawing of districts, their fillibustering... EVERYTHING! (the Fox News thing is symptom of this, they even cheat to make sure Fox News is on *everywhere* by offering "deals" (so I hear)) "When they go low, we go high," is a nice slogan and all, but GOING LOW WINS, going high does not.

2. The Democratic Party is horrid at packaging it's message. Instead of all the fighting and over-explaining about everything, they need to digest it all down into digestible bite-sized pieces. Instead of trying to explain all the nuances of single-payer healthcare and all that, they should have just labelled it "Medicare for ALL!" That would have sold it to the public! Instead we had a year-long fight over non-existent "death panels."

So, they lie, and we have no counter-message so we get stuck trying to explain why the lie is a lie... which never works. (I remember spending hours this summer trying to explain to mom why "all those scandals" surrounding Hillary were not scandals at all but were republican fake-scandals designed to be weapons against her when she ran for office and how sad it was that she was falling into the trap... And still she went on, "I don't think I can vote for her after all those scandals..." sigh)

[Skittles]

47. excellent analysis, hruple

welcome to DU

[madokie]

36. as well as the VA waiting rooms

I just take it upon myself to get up and change the channel to the weather channel. So far only one person complained and he was called in to see his doctor so I wasn't around when he came out as by then I was in to see my dr. If I had a been I'd have told him to fuck off in so many words

[Sunlei]

39. free TV, all of RW owned fox propaganda is based off free tv. free twitter too. political-religion

Political-religion is also free TV based. There must be at least 10 free tv religious shows constantly on. fox Corp also supports the free TV Spanish language and Mandrian free TV stations.

[Vinnie From Indy]

42. Seiko used to make a wristwatch that was also an infra-red, universal remote

I had one for a while and it worked great. Simply note the brand of the TV and then run through a few codes and then you can change the channel. I have had great fun in auto repair waiting rooms, car dealerships, doctors lobbies etc. secretly changing the channel from Fox News to something else. The best times were when someone would get miffed and change the channel back to Fox News. I would simply wait a few minutes and then change it to something else. I am pretty sure you can get one of these watches on Ebay.

I think there might even be a phone app that can do something similar but I haven't looked.

Maybe a whole army of DU'ers changing channels from Fox News to something else on public TV's all over America!

Cheers!