As usual, I have a different take on Obama’s press conference remark that Cambridge Mass. police acted “stupidly” by arresting a prominent black academic just because he was being disorderly.
Most press reports describe that statement as an “off the cuff” remark. I doubt it. Obama’s prior press conference outted the administration’s careful selection of questioners and their likely (or assured) questions. The mere fact that the question was last in the press conference leads me to conclude that it was orchestrated, and that the President’s answer was deliberate.
Why?
Though Obama campaigned as a grand uniter, he governs as a divider – rewarding folks he deems good guys (i.e. those who agree with him), and punishing those he considers bad guys (i.e. those who disagree with him).
RealClearPolitics observes “Obama maintains the strong support of his base … he continues to be the most polarizing modern president.”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/07/23/obamas_public_support_cracking_at_6_months_97574.html
Cutting to the chase: Obama’s overall approval rating is 94% among blacks.
But 40% of whites and “others” strongly disapprove of his performance as president.
And, though his total approval among blacks remains sky high, the approval intensity is dropping. Shortly after the inauguration, over 80% of blacks strongly approved of his performance as president. That number has slipped down to 64% – still high, but eroding.
My take: Obama is a win at all costs guy. With his overall approval ratings falling and his chaotic healthcare plan faltering, he is going back to the well – revving up his core constituency – getting their intensity level back up – framing issues as “us” versus “them”. Watch that theme spill over to the healthcare debate.
Though I think he was trying to be clever, it looks like the gambit failed. Most news shows led with the “stupid white cop” story – pushing healthcare to the backburner – and stoking even greater polarization. Not good.
As the expression goes: “Too clever by half.”
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The Homa Files 
July 24, 2009 at 11:07 am |
Ken,
I’d like to remind you that the civil rights legislation in the 1960’s was strongly opposed by conservatives including folks like Ronald Reagen. It took all of Lyndon Johnson’s political capital to gain approval for civil rights legislation. Today this legislation is widely accepted as settled law except in the deep south where resentment persists that the right to discriminate against blacks was taken away. Conservatives also resisted social security.
Healthcare is one of those noxious issues that a lot of folks are unwilling to tackle. It’s a smelly oder that permiates everywhere, but nobody is willing to open the lid and get to the root of the bad oder. It’s like we have to drag conservatives into the future because they see the world through a rear view mirror.
We all know that your good friend George Bush took months of vacation at his “ranch” after he was sworn into office in 2000 to recover from the election campaign.
July 24, 2009 at 2:15 pm |
Shouldn’t all of our conservative second amendment folks be rising up for Gates right now? Are we really okay with police hassling a citizen in his own home? Even if he is a black man…