Fighting Perception of Weakness, Obama Puts Onus on Lawmakers

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/08/fighting-perception-of-weakness-obama-puts-onus-on-lawmakers/243730/

The White House, burned by failed efforts to work with Republicans and dismayed by a growing perception that President Obama is a weak leader, has made the decision to put more pressure -- and blame -- on Congress when Obama returns to Washington after his family vacation.

That represents a strategic shift for a president who burst onto the national scene in 2004 with a call for national unity and a condemnation of "those who are preparing to divide us." But it reflects a growing concern among the president's senior advisers that the battles over the past six months about Libya and Egypt and the debt ceiling have done serious damage to his leadership image.

They do not want to risk letting that damage become permanent, according to two senior White House officials who asked not to be identified so they could speak frankly.

The first sign of the new strategy emerged on Monday night at the president's town-hall meeting in Decorah, Iowa. The very first question was a surprisingly pointed one from a woman who was there with her daughter. After noting that Obama had built "a tremendous amount of trust" during the campaign, she pressed him on why he had surrendered to Republicans on so many key points in negotiations over health care, taxes, and the national debt.

[Pholus]

1. I, for one, welcome the President to the "Professional Left." No more hippie punching - yea!

Oh, never mind. He still wants to be "the only adult in the room." So, more hippie punching.

[AnneD]

2. Our perception started.....

From your choice of advisors.

When we tried to remind you of your democratic principals, we were dismissed as the loony left at best.

You repeatedly undercut your strong negotiating power by giving things away BEFORE you even went to the table.

You have been my most disappointing vote and frankly I will always see you as the great Capitulator in Chief.

It is one thing to be stabbed in the back by an enemy, it is another to be stabbed in the back by a friend.

[LARED]

3. Fascinating strategy

In order to fight a perception of weakness they are going to do more of the same things that created the perception in the first place

[badtoworse]

4. What does Obama stand for?

Can anyone say with certainty? Strong leaders are not afraid to take a position on an issue and fight for it, even if it means "dying on that hill". Regardless of how crazy the Tea Baggers might be, they took a stand and fought to the last ditch for it. You have to respect that. Obama would do well to emulate their tenacity.

You can't be an empty suit and a strong leader at the same time. He needs to stand for something and fight for it. The time start doing that was 31 months ago. Perception is reality in many people's mind at this point and that will be difficult to change.

[malaise]

5. No one can say he didn't try

Indeed he bent over backwards for compromise - that failed. Time to hammer them.

[badtoworse]

6. Have you ever negotiated anything?

You don't start by putting a compromise on the table. You'll get eaten alive every time that way.