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Obama Then and Now

Posted by PETE ABEL, Managing Editor in Politics.
Nov 3rd, 2009 | Comments

Joe already touched on tonight’s HBO documentary. Two other Obama-related items today add some context.

The first is Jeff Zeleny’s report for the NYT re: Iowa voter attitudes a year after the election. The second is a Daily Beast exclusive excerpt from David Plouffe’s memoir.

The NYT article cites, among others, John Sager a “retired electrical engineer who became a Democrat to support Mr. Obama.” Sager “believes that the president too often blames others for his troubles.” Later, Sager explains: “I don’t think he should keep hiding behind the fact that he inherited all these problems.”

In the Daily Beast excerpt, Plouffe recounts the immediate aftermath of “Bittergate,” Obama’s purportedly bungled comment about voters in “small towns in the Midwest.” At one point, as the two men are walking into an event, discussing the gaffe, Obama said, ” … this will set us back again. I can’t blame anyone but me for this. I’m sorry.” Plouffe then writes:

That might be the only time in twenty years in politics I saw a candidate confront a setback so honestly. In my experience, politicians almost always look to blame someone else, circumstances, being tired—anything but accepting responsibility. And it’s not just politicians. It’s human nature.

However you slice it, from whichever political disposition you originate, the lessons for this young administration are not rocket science, namely: Governing is much harder than campaigning. And Obama the President needs to urgently rediscover (get back in touch with) some of what made Obama the Candidate so appealing to such a broad cross-section of voters.

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dduck12

I am not a fan of Obama and did not vote for him. But, jeez, he's only been in office for less than a year. The news comes at us so quickly and from so many places and with different viewpoints (most not moderate), that we are all in debate mode all the time. Exacerbating this is the shear number of big problems being tackled, as if to prove the administration can chew gum, walk, campaign and whistle Dixie at the same time. I would cut him some slack in the criticism department, but continue to hope he limits the amount of problems he tackles to better focus on the ones he does goes after.

AustinRoth

This struck me:
Fowler reportedly agonized for days about whether to post and release the comments. She knew it would cause us major problems. Finally she talked to an editor who told her she had an obligation to make them public.

How many days would the agonizing have gone on if it was damaging words spoken by McCain or Palin?

shannonlee

Well, had Fox gotten something this juicy from McCain, they would have buried it. MSNBC would have buried it.

AustinRoth

And can you point to one known case of Fox or MSNBC burying a story about McCain or Palin? If so, I will concede your point, otherwise you are simply engaging in wishful thinking.

spirasol

There are many things to be glad for Obama about...............but the country was/is ready for someone more willing to grip the steering wheel of change..........Candidate Obama was a lion, President Obama seems timid.... so okay ............not the embarrassment of Bush, but, but......What?

dduck12

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. But, too many of them lead to your characterization.

jchem

Governing is much harder than campaigning.

Which may be why some are accusing Obama of running a permanent campaign. At any rate, I'm with dduck12 on this and willing to give him a little slack for only being here for 10 months. I will however fault his campaign for the expectations they raised for themselves and the seemingly impossible task it is for them to get there. It's this reason why many folks on the left side of the aisle don't think that Obama has done enough. Take for example, Bill Maher, among many:

Is This as Good as It Gets From Obama?

dduck12

Well, boo, hoo, Maher. You and others thought he could walk on water. He, and other human politicians, can't; move that fast; there are too many serious problems.
And, you can now tell I'm getting desperate, here are some sports and mythology analogies: In Obama's favorite sport, a good coach wouldn't allow only three-point shots in lieu of the harder driving for the basket shots. Icarus, though he had wings, flew too close to the sun.

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