Clintonite spinmaster James Carville makes a simple but crucial point somehow overlooked by critics of Obama's communication skills: in the financial crisis, the president faces a far bigger communications challenge than any modern predecessor.
Recent US presidents have had an easier time honing their message to
soundbites and images. President Ronald Reagan spoke about beefing up
defence spending, conveniently flanked by soldiers in uniform. When
President Bill Clinton was pushing for passage of the Deficit Reduction
Act in 1993, deficit reduction, inflation and interest rates were
something people understood. It was tangible and could be felt by
consumers. President George W. Bush effectively used the September 11
attacks to frame the push for war as a moral choice between the evil of
the terrorists and the inherent goodness of the American people...
... The same cannot be said, however, about the banking crisis that has
handcuffed the US and world economies. It is impossible to break the
explanation of the crisis into a sound bite or image.
(HT Clive Davis)
You've probably seen this already:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5977462.ece
Very amusing writing Chris Ayres, even if you don't agree with him. But if many more people start doing this sort of piece, this viewpoint may get traction.
Posted by: ejoch | March 27, 2009 at 12:08 AM