Obama Using GOP's Confrontational Playbook To Take On Romney

[Sallow]

By Howard Fineman

WASHINGTON -- As he tries to become only the second Democratic president since Franklin Roosevelt to win reelection, Barack Obama is adopting much of the strategic playbook Republicans have developed and used for 40 years.

Of course, on the core substance of policy -- tax rates, regulation and the size and role of government in the economy -- Obama and the post-Reagan Tea Party Republicans couldn't be further apart as the fall campaign begins. And no matter how shrewd or cold-blooded his game plan, the president probably will lose if the economic outlook does not improve more by fall.

But campaign strategy does matter, and there the GOP has a track record and a theory that Obama has always found to his liking as a candidate.

It is more confrontational and definitive than the model used by Bill Clinton, who won election twice (but never with an outright majority) essentially by blurring his party's differences with a conservative GOP.

Starting with Richard Nixon in 1972, and moving on to Ronald Reagan in 1984 and George W. Bush in 2004, Republican incumbents assembled a strategic doctrine that includes the following basic plays: Stress culture, and exploit cultural and regional divisions, especially if doing so helps detract attention from a so-so (or worse) economic record. Declare one's own strength as commander in chief and the opponent's ignorance or weakness (or both) in military and foreign affairs. Paint the foe as out of the mainstream and/or elitist in terms of money, education or both. Highlight wedge issues to expand fissures in the other party. Where possible, speak in sweeping historical terms about the greatness and uniqueness of the country. And evoke symbols of manly recreational endeavor.

In one way or another, Barack Obama already has used all of those, and it is only May. Consider:

Single-Sex Marriage. By declaring his personal belief in the full right of gays and lesbians to marry, the president turned the four-decades-long culture war on its head. He is betting, and there are data to back him up, that the country has changed on this issue. He thinks that his timing is perfect and that he will push the GOP into a regional, cultural and historical corner. The initial, muted reaction of Mitt Romney's campaign shows that Obama might be right. The gay marriage move also dominated the news over a series of gloomy economic reports.

Osama Victory Lap. A week of solemn and sometimes over-the-top moves generated controversy and criticism. I even engaged in some of it. But for the first time since 1972, when Nixon successfully labeled George McGovern an anti-war appeaser, a Democratic presidential candidate has the upper hand on defense and foreign policy. Romney has no experience on the topics, and Obama will press his advantage.

Who's the Elitist? For a generation or more, Republicans have managed to use cultural attacks as a way to paint Democrats as out of touch and out of the mainstream. Obama and his allies are now doing the same thing to Romney, on both culture and money, portraying him as a wealthy, authoritarian and isolated traditionalist.

Wedge Issues. The phrase is often misused. It means forcing the other party to defend an idea, policy or person in such a way that it divides the other party's base. The classic example, used for years if not decades by Reagan, was welfare, which split white and black working-class Democrats. Obama is trying to do the same thing to the GOP on immigration. His administration just filed suit against Arizona's controversial and, to many, egregiously anti-immigrant Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The goal is not just to bring him in line, but to make Republicans defend him.

Transitions in American History. President Obama has, from time to time, expressed his admiration for what he calls Ronald Reagan's transformational role in American life. Reagan was focused on fiscal matters and economic psychology; Obama sees himself as a transformational figure in terms of sociology, demographics and individual rights. Reagan “changed the trajectory of America” and restored economic hope. Obama might not be able to do the same economically, but he wants to sell another kind of hope.

Macho Symbolism. Obama isn't a Sunday rancher like Reagan or George W. Bush. But he is a good athlete and a fanatical fan, and uses both to burnish his regular-guy image on ESPN and elsewhere. The morning after his glitzy and colossal Hollywood fundraiser this week -- just the kind of event that might paint him as "elitist" -- he played basketball with his staff, George Clooney and Tobey Maguire. No disastrously Kerry-esque windsurfing photo ops for the president. And, by the way, Romney is admittedly not much of an athlete. Expect a lot more Obama hoops between now and November.

Barack Obama 2012 Takes Multiple Pages From GOP Playbook

Cool..and about time.

 

[Sallow]

So Obama has turned the culture WAR on it's head huh?

what a nice guy..divide divide divide

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-23kmhc3P8U]With Us or Against Us - YouTube[/ame]

He learned from the best.

Why you mad?

 

[Sallow]

I think Fineman has summed it up quite well. Obviously, wingnuts will disagree.

Missed the neocons? Don't worry: Mitt Romney's getting the band together again

The Bushies are back - Mitt Romney - Salon.com

He snuck Bork in for good measure.

 

[Cammmpbell]

By Howard Fineman

WASHINGTON -- As he tries to become only the second Democratic president since Franklin Roosevelt to win reelection, Barack Obama is adopting much of the strategic playbook Republicans have developed and used for 40 years.

Of course, on the core substance of policy -- tax rates, regulation and the size and role of government in the economy -- Obama and the post-Reagan Tea Party Republicans couldn't be further apart as the fall campaign begins. And no matter how shrewd or cold-blooded his game plan, the president probably will lose if the economic outlook does not improve more by fall.

But campaign strategy does matter, and there the GOP has a track record and a theory that Obama has always found to his liking as a candidate.

It is more confrontational and definitive than the model used by Bill Clinton, who won election twice (but never with an outright majority) essentially by blurring his party's differences with a conservative GOP.

Starting with Richard Nixon in 1972, and moving on to Ronald Reagan in 1984 and George W. Bush in 2004, Republican incumbents assembled a strategic doctrine that includes the following basic plays: Stress culture, and exploit cultural and regional divisions, especially if doing so helps detract attention from a so-so (or worse) economic record. Declare one's own strength as commander in chief and the opponent's ignorance or weakness (or both) in military and foreign affairs. Paint the foe as out of the mainstream and/or elitist in terms of money, education or both. Highlight wedge issues to expand fissures in the other party. Where possible, speak in sweeping historical terms about the greatness and uniqueness of the country. And evoke symbols of manly recreational endeavor.

In one way or another, Barack Obama already has used all of those, and it is only May. Consider:

Single-Sex Marriage. By declaring his personal belief in the full right of gays and lesbians to marry, the president turned the four-decades-long culture war on its head. He is betting, and there are data to back him up, that the country has changed on this issue. He thinks that his timing is perfect and that he will push the GOP into a regional, cultural and historical corner. The initial, muted reaction of Mitt Romney's campaign shows that Obama might be right. The gay marriage move also dominated the news over a series of gloomy economic reports.

Osama Victory Lap. A week of solemn and sometimes over-the-top moves generated controversy and criticism. I even engaged in some of it. But for the first time since 1972, when Nixon successfully labeled George McGovern an anti-war appeaser, a Democratic presidential candidate has the upper hand on defense and foreign policy. Romney has no experience on the topics, and Obama will press his advantage.

Who's the Elitist? For a generation or more, Republicans have managed to use cultural attacks as a way to paint Democrats as out of touch and out of the mainstream. Obama and his allies are now doing the same thing to Romney, on both culture and money, portraying him as a wealthy, authoritarian and isolated traditionalist.

Wedge Issues. The phrase is often misused. It means forcing the other party to defend an idea, policy or person in such a way that it divides the other party's base. The classic example, used for years if not decades by Reagan, was welfare, which split white and black working-class Democrats. Obama is trying to do the same thing to the GOP on immigration. His administration just filed suit against Arizona's controversial and, to many, egregiously anti-immigrant Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The goal is not just to bring him in line, but to make Republicans defend him.

Transitions in American History. President Obama has, from time to time, expressed his admiration for what he calls Ronald Reagan's transformational role in American life. Reagan was focused on fiscal matters and economic psychology; Obama sees himself as a transformational figure in terms of sociology, demographics and individual rights. Reagan “changed the trajectory of America” and restored economic hope. Obama might not be able to do the same economically, but he wants to sell another kind of hope.

Macho Symbolism. Obama isn't a Sunday rancher like Reagan or George W. Bush. But he is a good athlete and a fanatical fan, and uses both to burnish his regular-guy image on ESPN and elsewhere. The morning after his glitzy and colossal Hollywood fundraiser this week -- just the kind of event that might paint him as "elitist" -- he played basketball with his staff, George Clooney and Tobey Maguire. No disastrously Kerry-esque windsurfing photo ops for the president. And, by the way, Romney is admittedly not much of an athlete. Expect a lot more Obama hoops between now and November.

Barack Obama 2012 Takes Multiple Pages From GOP Playbook

This time details really don't count. Mitt Romney is about as "in touch" with the average American as Dan Quayle was. He's a country club millionaire who used the family money to moneygrub and enter vulnerable companies where he could cover his moves, lay off employees to create an illusion of downsi ing then taking the company into bankruptcy to clear millions in the process. He is simply a loser. Can you say "Gordon Ghecko"

 

[California Girl]

Good luck with that.

It's the economy, and we're not stupid.

 

[zeke]

California Girl Good luck with that.

It's the economy, and we're not stupid.

Just read that in my home state (Ohio) that there are many more skilled labor jobs than there are skilled workers. Now, that is not a great thing, but it does mean that, in a swing state like Ohio, that the economy is improving and the odds of Mittens winning Ohio is getting worse all the time.

Can Mittens win the WH w/o Ohio? I doubt it.

 

[California Girl]

California Girl Good luck with that.

It's the economy, and we're not stupid.

Just read that in my home state (Ohio) that there are many more skilled labor jobs than there are skilled workers. Now, that is not a great thing, but it does mean that, in a swing state like Ohio, that the economy is improving and the odds of Mittens winning Ohio is getting worse all the time.

Can Mittens win the WH w/o Ohio? I doubt it.

What you 'read' doesn't mean jack shit. If real people are struggling, they will blame Obama - right or wrong.

 

[Dick Tuck]

so social issues are...In!!! great..well except when the gop uses them, got it.

a Democratic presidential candidate has the upper hand on defense and foreign policy

i didn't know Howard smoked crack...to bad.

Romney's claim that Russia is our biggest threat was a joke. Hell, they drummed out his smartest foreign policy adviser because he was gay. Romney hasn't a clue about foreign policy.

 

[Dick Tuck]

so whats the difference between syria and libya? lets start there.

The UN's willingness to use force. The lack of an organized rebel force.

Obama's use of force and the UN to get rid of that terrorist Kadafi was masterful.

 

[naturegirl]

The biggest difference in Obama and Romney's financial situation is old money vs new money. Obama is the new money guy, can't spend it fast enough, loves to brag on himself, loves the prestige of being "rich". Money can't buy class, Obama has none.

 

[Stephanie]

so whats the difference between syria and libya? lets start there.

The UN's willingness to use force. The lack of an organized rebel force.

Obama's use of force and the UN to get rid of that terrorist Kadafi was masterful.

so now attacking foreign countries is MASTERFUl under Obama..
but the hell with them after...leaving them in total kaos to fend for themselves with the savages that have moved in..

 

[naturegirl]

Oh and don't worry about Obama using a GOP playbook, his playbook is straight out of Rules for Radicals. I don't think Romney is too worried about Obama's plays, he's playing the hand that was dealt to him, Obama thinks it's OK to cheat.

 

[Katzndogz]

obama's use of the Bin Laden victory lap is done. He's taken so much unearned glory now that the subject is making the public gag. It's no longer "he made a gutsy call". Now, it's "oh no not AGAIN".

Of all miscalculations, obama's support of same sex marriage is going to hurt him the most and accounted for Romeny taking the lead overnight. The position is popular with obama's base, but not beyond that. Polls consistenly show that support for same sex marriage is growing, At the same time, when the issue is put to the voters it loses by huge margins. Either the polls are outright wrong, or people are just lying to pollsters.

obama's disastrous policy in the middle east is still unfolding. The common knowledge is, obama is afraid to help Al Quaeda in Syria as he did in Libya because he's afraid of the Russians. Russia has already put obama on the run in Eastern Europe. He won't challenge the Assad supporting Russians in Syria. Everyone but democrats, and not even all of them, understands this.

 

[Katzndogz]

The biggest difference in Obama and Romney's financial situation is old money vs new money. Obama is the new money guy, can't spend it fast enough, loves to brag on himself, loves the prestige of being "rich". Money can't buy class, Obama has none.

It's more than that. Romney's money is his own. The money obama spends is the nation's.

 

[Sallow]

The biggest difference in Obama and Romney's financial situation is old money vs new money. Obama is the new money guy, can't spend it fast enough, loves to brag on himself, loves the prestige of being "rich". Money can't buy class, Obama has none.

It's more than that. Romney's money is his own. The money obama spends is the nation's.

 

[Cammmpbell]

California Girl Good luck with that.

It's the economy, and we're not stupid.

Just read that in my home state (Ohio) that there are many more skilled labor jobs than there are skilled workers. Now, that is not a great thing, but it does mean that, in a swing state like Ohio, that the economy is improving and the odds of Mittens winning Ohio is getting worse all the time.

Can Mittens win the WH w/o Ohio? I doubt it.

What you 'read' doesn't mean jack shit. If real people are struggling, they will blame Obama - right or wrong.

Jack schit....horse schit!! The people reelected Franklin Roosevelt three times and the economy was even in worse shape than it is now. Roosevelt used a form of government stimulus the likes of which have never been seen since. Keep on living in that Republican bubble. People are smart enough not to reelect an asshole who is in favor of cutting everything they're a part of at the same time he's governing over a theme of tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. Wake up...."Trickle Down" didn't work.

 

[naturegirl]

Just read that in my home state (Ohio) that there are many more skilled labor jobs than there are skilled workers. Now, that is not a great thing, but it does mean that, in a swing state like Ohio, that the economy is improving and the odds of Mittens winning Ohio is getting worse all the time.

Can Mittens win the WH w/o Ohio? I doubt it.

What you 'read' doesn't mean jack shit. If real people are struggling, they will blame Obama - right or wrong.

Jack schit....horse schit!! The people reelected Franklin Roosevelt three times and the economy was even in worse shape than it is now. Roosevelt used a form of government stimulus the likes of which have never been seen since. Keep on living in that Republican bubble. People are smart enough not to reelect an asshole who is in favor of cutting everything they're a part of at the same time he's governing over a theme of tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. Wake up...."Trickle Down" didn't work.

Really, really you're using FDR, the guy that prolonged the recovery of at least 7 years. The guy that convinced the people with no food, no housing, no work that he had the answers...........I suggest you google how FDRs policies made the depression worse. Thank goodness people woke up. FDR is the reason presidents can only serve two terms.

 

[naturegirl]

Here's a study from UCLA on that very subject...........FDR's policies prolonged Depression by 7 years, UCLA economists calculate / UCLA Newsroom

<snip>
"President Roosevelt believed that excessive competition was responsible for the Depression by reducing prices and wages, and by extension reducing employment and demand for goods and services," said Cole, also a UCLA professor of economics. "So he came up with a recovery package that would be unimaginable today, allowing businesses in every industry to collude without the threat of antitrust prosecution and workers to demand salaries about 25 percent above where they ought to have been, given market forces. The economy was poised for a beautiful recovery, but that recovery was stalled by these misguided policies."

 

[WillowTree]

By Howard Fineman

WASHINGTON -- As he tries to become only the second Democratic president since Franklin Roosevelt to win reelection, Barack Obama is adopting much of the strategic playbook Republicans have developed and used for 40 years.

Of course, on the core substance of policy -- tax rates, regulation and the size and role of government in the economy -- Obama and the post-Reagan Tea Party Republicans couldn't be further apart as the fall campaign begins. And no matter how shrewd or cold-blooded his game plan, the president probably will lose if the economic outlook does not improve more by fall.

But campaign strategy does matter, and there the GOP has a track record and a theory that Obama has always found to his liking as a candidate.

It is more confrontational and definitive than the model used by Bill Clinton, who won election twice (but never with an outright majority) essentially by blurring his party's differences with a conservative GOP.

Starting with Richard Nixon in 1972, and moving on to Ronald Reagan in 1984 and George W. Bush in 2004, Republican incumbents assembled a strategic doctrine that includes the following basic plays: Stress culture, and exploit cultural and regional divisions, especially if doing so helps detract attention from a so-so (or worse) economic record. Declare one's own strength as commander in chief and the opponent's ignorance or weakness (or both) in military and foreign affairs. Paint the foe as out of the mainstream and/or elitist in terms of money, education or both. Highlight wedge issues to expand fissures in the other party. Where possible, speak in sweeping historical terms about the greatness and uniqueness of the country. And evoke symbols of manly recreational endeavor.

In one way or another, Barack Obama already has used all of those, and it is only May. Consider:

Single-Sex Marriage. By declaring his personal belief in the full right of gays and lesbians to marry, the president turned the four-decades-long culture war on its head. He is betting, and there are data to back him up, that the country has changed on this issue. He thinks that his timing is perfect and that he will push the GOP into a regional, cultural and historical corner. The initial, muted reaction of Mitt Romney's campaign shows that Obama might be right. The gay marriage move also dominated the news over a series of gloomy economic reports.

Osama Victory Lap. A week of solemn and sometimes over-the-top moves generated controversy and criticism. I even engaged in some of it. But for the first time since 1972, when Nixon successfully labeled George McGovern an anti-war appeaser, a Democratic presidential candidate has the upper hand on defense and foreign policy. Romney has no experience on the topics, and Obama will press his advantage.

Who's the Elitist? For a generation or more, Republicans have managed to use cultural attacks as a way to paint Democrats as out of touch and out of the mainstream. Obama and his allies are now doing the same thing to Romney, on both culture and money, portraying him as a wealthy, authoritarian and isolated traditionalist.

Wedge Issues. The phrase is often misused. It means forcing the other party to defend an idea, policy or person in such a way that it divides the other party's base. The classic example, used for years if not decades by Reagan, was welfare, which split white and black working-class Democrats. Obama is trying to do the same thing to the GOP on immigration. His administration just filed suit against Arizona's controversial and, to many, egregiously anti-immigrant Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The goal is not just to bring him in line, but to make Republicans defend him.

Transitions in American History. President Obama has, from time to time, expressed his admiration for what he calls Ronald Reagan's transformational role in American life. Reagan was focused on fiscal matters and economic psychology; Obama sees himself as a transformational figure in terms of sociology, demographics and individual rights. Reagan “changed the trajectory of America” and restored economic hope. Obama might not be able to do the same economically, but he wants to sell another kind of hope.

Macho Symbolism. Obama isn't a Sunday rancher like Reagan or George W. Bush. But he is a good athlete and a fanatical fan, and uses both to burnish his regular-guy image on ESPN and elsewhere. The morning after his glitzy and colossal Hollywood fundraiser this week -- just the kind of event that might paint him as "elitist" -- he played basketball with his staff, George Clooney and Tobey Maguire. No disastrously Kerry-esque windsurfing photo ops for the president. And, by the way, Romney is admittedly not much of an athlete. Expect a lot more Obama hoops between now and November.

Barack Obama 2012 Takes Multiple Pages From GOP Playbook

"It's still the economy and we're not stupid."












mr. fineman.

 

[mudwhistle]

I thought it was hilarious when Karl Rove described Obama as the wealthy guy at the country club drinking a martini and leaning against the wall while making snide remarks about everyone else in the room. This sounds exactly like Bush or Romney. But Obama?

If you catch Obama off camera that is what he does.

He said that was a common thing he did in college and he still does it today. Ref. his comment about the Israeli Primeminister to French President Sarkozy.

Sarkozy and Obama's Netanyahu gaffe broadcast via microphones | World news | The Guardian



Obama is an asshole. It's not that he was an just asshole when he was a kid, which he was. He's an asshole today.