Obama created momentum by identifying enemies against whom to campaign, and has continued that practice in office. The only change is that in an earlier incarnation, the enemies were groups, whereas now the enemies are individuals.
As characterized by Politico:
None of this is news to anyone who has read this blog. Some of us saw it for what it was at the outset:Once chastised for not being tough enough, President Barack Obama has lately been getting personal with his political adversaries — singling them out for scorn in speeches, interviews, asides and even in his weekly radio address.
Rather than just going after big groups of bad guys — insurance companies, lobbyists, the media — Obama has adopted a strategy that gives a face to the enemy.
By setting himself up against specific opponents, he provides a point of contrast that’s useful in invigorating a base hungry for bare knuckles and bravado — and forces those in the middle to choose between him and his villain du jour.
- "Race" As Political Weapon
- Obama and Rahm Emanuel: When Will You Stop Being Surprised?
- Barack Got Enemy
- A Window Into His Divisive Soul
- A Clintonian Defense of Our Nixonian President
Update 4-28-2010 - via HotAir, an Editor at CNBC flails away:
Is this a watershed moment in MSM coverage of Obama? Or just a slow leak?Will someone please rein in our relentlessly hectoring President? Barrack Hussein Obama has taken his gift for inspirational oratory—one of the traits that got him elected—and turned it into something darker and more insidious.
Bam is a bully.
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Saul Alinsky's rule 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.
ReplyDeleteMake some individual, as a bad example, stand for an entire group. Shout to the people: If you don't want more of HIM, then give me the power to control THEM. It is classic Alinsky, and Hugo Chavez.
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