This week Obama has been PIVOTING to reframe message to a President & People wanting health care reform fighting vs Congress/Washington Insiders.
Here in Boston a very interesting tidbit came out about his Martha's Vineyard planned vacation. Michelle and girls are coming up early and pres later, and he may in fact only come up for long weekends.
I can see the framing of message now by Gibbs, the President is willing to forgo his vacation to STAY and WORK hard for the people on health care reform, instead of recess for August, will the CONGRESS show the same commitment to the people's needs?
So today we're hearing GOP salivating over failure of health care, they are dreaming repeat of 93, proving GOP misjudging the MOOD of the country and underestimating Barack Obama as they did last fall.
In 1993, Bill Clinton couldn't pivot and blame Congress for failure of health care reform b/c from the start Hillary had alienated so many Congress DEMS, they joined GOP in placing blame squarely on HER mismanagement. It was a clusterfuck of Pres taking TOTAL blame for totally bungling it and giving it so publically to First Lady fed into sexists preconceptions.
This time 90% of Congress Dems are on Obama's side, they have PRAISED how he LET Congress do their jobs, write bills.
Obama stated 3 principals he campaigned heavily on and have most public support and left it up to Congress to come up with a plan/bill. Unlike Clinton, Obama made Congress OWN the bill. Meanwhile, he went ahead and confronted AMA and other special interests and basically twisted their arms to get onboard so yeah they could fight off any hints of their great fear, single payer.
If Health reform goes down, Obama will pivot like the ruthless street fighter he can be, and shove the failure down GOP and Congress throat.
He's already fucking preparing that defense in his latest STRONG statements, demanding Congress get it DONE. He's set himself up on the SIDE OF THE PEOPLE clamoring for real life CHANGE but being blocked by CONGRESS and special interests.
And I suspect he will soon suggest Congress POSTPONE recess to actually STAY and work hard for PEOPLE. You think it will go over well with public that Congress takes off for vacations instead of work when millions are out of job and paying Cobra and losing health insurance???
Good grief, have GOP totally missed Obama's already PIVOTED to defend his flank. He's already got OFA energized and out with ads AGAINST his own DEMS.
Good grief, GOP, Obama played exact game with Hillary Clinton already who stupidly did NOT see the pitfalls of being part of the INSIDERS. She played up her experience in a country who views the INSIDERS as the PROBLEM!
Obama's already PIVOTED to protect his FLANK in case of failure. He's gotten bolder and bolder in his comments, he's going to stick the knife big time next week... he's going to take his message to THE PEOPLE. I'm on YOUR SIDE here, fighting hard, it's those insiders so resistant to CHANGE who are screwing US.
Plouffe wasn't on that plane just for a friendly ride to All Star Game, at OFA there's already big smiles b/c they know the pinpoint ad targeting strategy is classic Plouffe and feistier Obama spells he's doing his infamous counterpunching.
GOP have consistently underestimated Barack Obama.
And every time I get scared and believe me health care is #1 issue for me, it's WHY I donated, why I called for Obama, I remember a very smart Eugene Robinson on election night, "I've learned never to underestimate Barack Obama."
He's NOT perfect, he's NOT a god... but he counterpunches better and more successfully than any politician I've seen in 30+ years.
The classic counterpunch is to block failure attacks and fling them right back at opponents LAP.
What WE need to do is make sure we have his back so I just donated $15 to OFA. yeah, its just a few bucks, but it's all extra I had this week. But I will try to give again over the next two weeks b/c I am ready for the message I hope is coming, will CONGRESS go on vacation while millions of Americans do NOT have health insurance, are declaring bankruptcy or being denied CARE!!?
The PRESIDENT is staying to WORK HARD on health care, why won't Congress?
And seriously what answer will GOP have for THAT message?