Hillarysworld

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September 10, 2010

The Lost Communicator

By Michael Gerson

WASHINGTON -- Even Democrats who agree with President Obama's ideology, respect his tenacity and admire his deliberative manner have begun to whisper: Maybe he isn't a very good politician. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who is genetically incapable of whispering, puts it bluntly: "Ironically, the best communicator I ever saw in a campaign has turned out to be not so good at getting out the message as president."

It is a remarkable reversal. Obama's rise from the Illinois Legislature to the presidency in four years was a real-deal, honest-to-goodness political phenomenon. I spent some time on the campaign trail with Obama during the primaries, coming away impressed by his earnestness, his touch of formality, his rhetorical ambitions -- here a little Kennedy, there a little King. He consistently met the highest objective of an orator, both capturing and shaping the public mood.

It is now difficult to remember much of what he said. Even my notes had mainly to do with his style. But his message had something to do with unity, healing and national purpose. The idiom was compelling. The agenda was, well, beside the point. This image emerged unsullied from a battle with the Clinton machine. Democrats were glad to be along for the ride on the gilded chariot of Obama's destiny.

Compare this appeal to Obama's Labor Day remarks in Milwaukee intended to kick off the midterm campaign. Obama was self-pitying: "They talk about me like a dog." Self-absorbed: "I spent some time, as I often do, with our soldiers and veterans." Snappish: "If I said fish live in the sea, they'd say no." Pedestrian: "Their slogan is 'No we can't.' Nope, no, no, no." Humorless. Negative. And determined to drive metaphors on and on until they expire from exhaustion. The economic car in the ditch gets pulled out while someone sips a Slurpee but it has dents and mud on it (the car, not the Slurpee) and special interests are somehow riding shotgun, and the transmission gets put in various positions, and if the other guys hits the gas pedal again, the car might go back into the ditch (unless, I suppose, it is in reverse), so we can't give them the keys because they don't know how to drive.

[SNIP]

So all the president's handlers try anything that might work. In Milwaukee, Obama was the feisty street fighter with a union card. But, without humor, his jabs seemed sour and mocking. In Cleveland, Obama personalized the economic argument by repeatedly attacking House Minority Leader John Boehner -- as though Americans have any idea who this tanned and sinister figure might be. The president added some detail about his grandparents' economic struggles. But few political figures look less comfortable with their heart on their sleeve. "At this point," says Rendell, "there's nothing to lose, so let it all roll." But weeks before the November election, Obama the communicator seems lost.

His challenge reaches beyond rhetoric and beyond the midterm elections: finding not only a new agenda but a new persona.  (Emphasis added)

Continues @ RCP
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That's quite an article.

While the comment from HML Boehner was disrespectful for someone in his seat...  the President has really lost stature.  Starting with naming his dog with his initials... licking, slurpring and hot-dogging with the Russian PM, the President has brought his office to the street side .. pedestrian is the correct word there. 

The good way for the President to reach the roadside and still maintain the dignity of the office of Presidency would have been in reaching and being reachable.. Approaching and being approachable ... which we see none of.  We never saw it in 2008, and we have not seen it in the last two years either.

Is it possible for one to change fundamentally who they are? I doubt it.

Presidents historically have been loved and admired. If not loved, at least admired.  Pedestrian is not an adjective you hear associated with a President.