Why Obama Stays Silent on Foiled Terrorist Attack - Project calm just as Bush projected panic, anger

[jefferson_dem]

Why Obama Stays Silent

Marc Ambinder notes that by not making a public statement on the terrorist plane attack on Christmas, President Obama is trying a "tough and novel approach" in dealing with such incidents.

Here's the strategy: "Let the authorities do their work. Don't presume; don't panic the country; don't chest-thump, prejudge, interfere, politicize (in an international sense), don't give Al Qaeda (or whomever) a symbolic victory; resist the urge to open the old playbook and run a familiar play."

"In a sense, he is projecting his calm on the American people, just as his advisers are convinced that the Bush Administration projected their panic and anger on the self-same public eight years ago."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/12/27/why_obama_stays_silent.html?utm_medium=pwire.us-twitter&utm_source=direct-pwire.us&utm_content=site-basic

[Kahuna]

1. But but but....Obama is just LIKE bush.

:sarcasm:

[babylonsister]

2. Rec'd. This is the kind of leadership that was so lacking. nt

[liberaltrucker]

3. K&R

:thumbsup:

[timeforpeace]

11. Sure, we like it, but obviously it's not going over well with the rest of the country.

[Cha]

14. What do you mean, "not going over with the rest of the country"?

Obama's non panic and keeping a cool head? Sure it is.

[Xipe Totec]

4. Keep it cool

[Prism]

5. I much prefer this approach

I think the President is correct to diverge from the "running around like headless chickens" reactions of the last administration.

[Clio the Leo]

6. lol the press keeps going.... "When is he going to raise the terror alert level!!?"

.... um, how about never. ;)

[Cha]

15. To ORANGE!

Who could forget the Orange Alerts?:bounce:

[sandyj999]

7. This is the correct approach. And about time. n/t

[OHdem10]

8. One man's panic and anger is another man's Toughness and Strength.

It is truly a matter of style. No one is going to please'
everyone.

[global1]

9. Besides Snowstorms This Is All That The News Outlets Keep Talking About......

they are fanning the fires.

[backscatter712]

10. Obama's doing it correctly.

It's time to dial down the paranoia level instead of crassly using it to promote more authoritarian douchebaggery.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. If that's what he's doing .........

...... then good. I'm impressed.

[Cha]

13. Pres Obama's a natural at this.

[eridani]

16. This is one area in which the administration has definitely been exemplary n/t

[jenmito]

17. I started a thread on this subject, with Rep. Clyburn saying basically the same thing:

His rebuttal to Peter King's criticism of Obama's (lack of) reaction: "I think that the President, in his response, (to the attempted terrorist attack) is doing exactly what he SHOULD do. I think that in so many instances, these terrorists get more benefit from the REACTION they cause than from the action they take. And so I believe that for the President to be very measured in his reactions, not elevating this thing to the point that it would be satisfactory to TERRORISTS is exactly the way to do it."-Clyburn on Face the Nation today.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=97924&mesg_id=97924

[niceypoo]

18. Some moron sets his crotch on fire

My oh my, condition orange!!

[ProgressOnTheMove]

19. The main factor is no-one was hurt and as he's mentioned before he likes to be in charge of all the....

facts before commenting. He's always very sage in a crisis, it made me more relaxed knowing the fear campaign was not about to go into motion at least from the WH anyways.

[jeanpalmer]

20. Could it be he's staying slient

because it's being reported this bomber was recruited in retaliation for Obama's bombing of Yemen? His bombing of Yemen nearly cost 290 people their lives.

[jeanpalmer]

21. What's cool about this

is not only did 290 people not lose their lives, but the bomber himself survived. Now we can interrogate him and find out what his motivation was. Did he do this in retaliation for Obama's bombing of Yemen? If that's confirmed, Obama has a lot of explaining to do about that decision and how his bombings in the ME serve to reduce the threat of terrorism. This incident seems to indicate what many war critics have been saying: wars and bombings merely incite the victims to further acts of terrorism.

[Betty Karlson]

22. Good point. N/T