Paging A Different President Obama

[depakid]

The nation needs to see a different President Obama next Wednesday when he addresses a joint session of Congress.

His laid-back attempt to take the high road just isn't working.

It was all very noble and everything to try to be bipartisan. It was most excellently un-Bush-like to actually ask Congress to try its hand at legislating. It was admirably high-minded to attempt conciliation, to adopt a professorial role, and stay at 30,000 feet.

But no more. The Republican Party and the national discourse have been hijacked by unhinged zealots. The Democratic congressional leadership has shown itself to be incoherent, incapable and corrupted. So for Obama, it's either time to fight back or give up.

Obama could, I guess, back off on everything remotely controversial in his health care proposal, throw the public option and universal coverage and end-of-life counseling overboard, and try to get everyone to find common ground. But even that wouldn't appease his critics. They won't stop fighting just because he does. Their goal is for Obama to lose.

Alternately, Obama could commit himself to some specifics, call out his critics, and remind people why all this is so damned important.

Here's one thing he could say: I'm not going to chase after the crazies on the right anymore. I cannot do business with these people, try as I may. I reach out and they accuse me of being a socialist who wants to pull the plug on grandma.

<snip>

And finally, Obama needs to remind people of the stakes -- of the reality that his batty critics simply can't deal with, a reality that is way scarier than "death panels." It's a reality in which millions of Americans can't afford to see a doctor when they're sick; in which people can't get insurance because they've been sick in the past; in which people get their coverage rescinded just when they need it; in which people lose insurance because they lost their jobs; in which people go bankrupt and lose their homes to pay their medical bills; in which people die -- yes, die -- because they can't afford the treatment they need, or their insurance carriers won't pay for it.

To some extent, I understand why Obama hasn't taken a more aggressive approach until now. After all, the nativist right is ready to pounce the minute he gives them a video clip that allows them to depict him as an "angry black man." But they'll pounce anyway. They've already pounced. They'll keep pouncing no matter what.

And in any case, Obama doesn't have to actually get angry. All he has to do is level with us, tell us exactly where he stands, and propose a clear, detailed way out of this mess.

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/03/paging-a-different-presid_n_276424.html

Froomkin gets it. Question is, does the administration?

[WeDidIt]

1. I've neer been a Froomkin fan

but he nails it on this one.

[mix]

2. If there was ever a time for Obama to lead, that time is now. nt

[ProSense]

3. What does Froomkin get: that Obama plans to reiterate his position?

I think I figured it out, it's just hard to find a real angle to criticize Obama

His laid-back attempt to take the high road just isn't working.

Worked well for him up to now.

Alternately, Obama could commit himself to some specifics, call out his critics, and remind people why all this is so damned important.

Really?

Here's one thing he could say: I'm not going to chase after the crazies on the right anymore.

He's chasing crazies?

To some extent, I understand why Obama hasn't taken a more aggressive approach until now. After all, the nativist right is ready to pounce the minute he gives them a video clip that allows them to depict him as an "angry black man." But they'll pounce anyway. They've already pounced. They'll keep pouncing no matter what.

Wouldn't want that.

And in any case, Obama doesn't have to actually get angry. All he has to do is level with us, tell us exactly where he stands, and propose a clear, detailed way out of this mess.

Who believes Obama plans not to level with people?

Froomkin is right, Obama doesn't have to get angry, he just has to be himself and restate the case for his plan.

[depakid]

4. If Obama "reitierates" his position and uses policy speak, he'll fail to take back the debate

Froomkin gets that. So does Reich. And Lakoff. And Westen.

And many others.

[democracy1st]

5. this is nothing more than a weak Goldman Sachs admin thanks for the post