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April 28, 2008
Rove's Recommendations For Obama
In case you missed it, former GOP political guru and current Newsweek contributor Karl Rove has some words of advice for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
While the Republican sage's words were no doubt unsolicited, at least some of them are worth consideration.
Yes, that's right -- as deeply ironic as it may be for Karl Rove to offer sound advice to a Democratic candidate, some (not all) of it has merit. Rove has six suggestions for Obama, so let's quickly examine them.
1. Obama needs a new stump speech. We agree. Rove recommends introducing something fresh that focuses on the general election. Obama has often looked lately like he's going through the motions rhetorically, undermining his top-notch oratory skills. He's also looked tired. Some fresh text might liven him up a bit and help him recapture his political mojo.
2. When faced with a political problem, pick an explanation and stick to it. Again, we agree. One of Obama's chief selling points has been his straightforwardness and refreshing lack of double-talk. His gradual backsliding on the Rev. Wright controversy has made him appear more like any other politician.
3. Bolster your Senate record to improve your resume. This one, not so much. After all, this advice is coming from the man who masterminded the election of the current president, who had few life achivements of any kind, much less governmental.
4. Spend less time campaigning and more in the Senate. Again, not so much. First of all, it's not realistic. How much can he actually get accomplished legislatively in the next few months? More important in the short term is to communicate more specifically and effectively with voters about a policy agenda that is relavent to them.
5. Stop attacking. We're of a mixed mind on this one. Yes, he needs to preserve, as much as possible, his fresh approach and departure from politics as usual. On the other hand, you cannot sit back and allow your opponents to attack and negatively define you. Just ask John Kerry (and Karl Rove.)
6. Be concrete about what the American people can expect from you as president. Sure. Here Obama's relative inexperience hurts him. He simply does not have the breadth of political and policy experience of either of his two opponents, so he's learning as he goes. He's proven a quick study in this regard, but needs to get better still, and fast.
Obama has had a difficult period in his campaign of late. We view it as an unpleasant but necessary rite of passage if he is to be victorious in November. He needs to take his licks, adjust and emerge stronger than before his troubles began. We think he can.
Posted by houtopia at April 28, 2008 10:06 PM
Comments
So who is this masked man giving this biased statement? We give Barack so much latitude--too much, I think. I pity those who over estimate their intellegence--they cannot spell economics.
Posted by: Bill Miller at April 29, 2008 09:51 PM
Your question/comment betrays a lack of understanding of what a blog is. Blogs are not journalism, at least not in most cases. They are opinion. I merely offered my take on Rove's article. Nobody is paying me to write my opinions and nobody has to agree with them.
And since you've decided to comment, I challenge you to substantiate your comment. You've made a couple of totally unsupported assertions. What is your basis for them?
Posted by: houtopia at April 29, 2008 11:21 PM