B-Man Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Is the White House Lying or Just Bad at Crisis Communications? By Ron Fournier President Obama's decision to stick with his schedule of fundraisers and photo opportunities amid twin foreign policy crises elicited one of the most disconnected and disingenuous statements you'll ever see from a White House. "It is rarely a good idea to return to the White House just for show, when the situation can be handled responsibly from the road," said Jennifer Palmieri, the White House communications director. "Abrupt changes to his schedule can have the unintended consequence of unduly alarming the American people or creating a false sense of crisis." Where do I start? First, the phrase "just for show" is indicative of the Obama White House conceit that their guy is above politics. The fact is, all presidents do things just for show, because the office is inherently political, and one of the levers of power can be found in the public theater. Think of Abraham Lincoln's split rails, William McKinley's front porch, Theodore Roosevelt's whistle-stops, Franklin Roosevelt's fireside chats—oh, and Barack Obama's entire 2008 campaign, not to mention his "bear-on-the-loose" jaunts with ordinary Americans. The hypocrisy is staggering. How is playing pool and drinking beer with the governor of Colorado not "just for show"? Obama and his team consistently respond to criticism by dismissing the media's focus on "optics," even as they craft and control the president's image more aggressively than perhaps any previous White House. Second, while Palmieri is correct that gutting a presidential schedule is rarely a good idea, there are times when it is. You could make an argument that Thursday was one such time, when the Gaza Strip erupted with violence and Russian President Vladimir Putin's allies shot a passenger plane from the sky. A president can bring calm and clarity to a confusing situation, or he can add to public anxiety. About the time a Russian news agency reported 23 Americans were aboard the downed liner—a report that was responsibly attributed and distributed by U.S. news agencies—Obama was ordering lunch with a single mother at the Charcoal Pit in Delaware. That tweet was based on my knowledge of how a White House works in crisis. It happens: Harrowing news pierces the security bubble, and a presidential aide tells the president, "I think we should go, sir." Let's figure out what's happening, and make sure we're not the part of an embarrassing split screen on cable TV. The Russian report was wrong, which isn't a surprise, and which doesn't substantially alter the urgency of the moment: Let's go, sir. Later on Thursday, I confirmed with a White House official that there was a discussion among presidential aides in Delaware about the poor timing of the restaurant stop. The third problem with Palmieri's quote is the most obvious—"unduly alarming the American people or creating a false sense of crisis." Unduly alarming? False sense of crisis? A ground war in the Middle East and raining bodies over Ukraine are cause for alarm. These was no false crisis—no more than the string of second-term controversies that have undermined Obama's credibility are "false scandals." This points to the fundamental problem with Obama's communications ethos: He and his advisers are so certain about their moral and political standing that they believe it's enough to make a declaration. If we say it, the public should believe it. That's not how it works. A president must earn the public's trust. He must teach and persuade; speak clearly, and follow word with action; show empathy toward his rivals, and acknowledge the merits of a critique. A successful president pays careful attention to how his image is projected both to U.S. voters and to the people of the world. He knows that to be strong, a leader must look strong. Image matters, especially in an era so dominated by them. In the story that quoted Palmieri, New York Times journalist Michael D. Shear reported that White House aides "gave no consideration to abandoning the president's long-planned schedule" on Thursday. No consideration, really? Is this White House so stubborn and out of touch that presidential advisers didn't even consider tweaking his schedule? Unless the White House lied to Shear, the answer is yes. http://www.nationaljournal.com/white-house/is-the-white-house-lying-or-just-bad-at-crisis-communications-20140721 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 (edited) http://www.nationalj...ations-20140721 It has been my limited experience that people who are undeniably convinced they are 100% right 100% of the time undoubtedly meet an otherwise predictable and fun-to-watch downfall when they are the last person to realize they've been wrong most of the time. There was a time I thought Obama was smarter than this, and was more aware of truths than he and his staff were letting on, but I remember the report of his attitude following the beatdown he got from Romney in the first debate. The entire world saw an embarrassing failure, and Obama walked off the stage convinced he just kicked Romney's ass. I fear he carries that thought with every single thing he does. Edited July 21, 2014 by LABillzFan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 http://www.nationalj...ations-20140721 Good thing the die in wool Republicans have been driven from the board. It has been my limited experience that people who are undeniably convinced they are 100% right 100% of the time undoubtedly meet an otherwise predictable and fun-to-watch downfall when they are the last person to realize they've been wrong most of the time. There was a time I thought Obama was smarter than this, and was more aware of truths than he and his staff were letting on, but I remember the report of his attitude following the beatdown he got from Romney in the first debate. The entire world saw an embarrassing failure, and Obama walked off the stage convinced he just kicked Romney's ass. I fear he carries that thought with every single thing he does. Ibid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 And at 1:00, President Obama boards Air Force One, en route to West Coast fundraising swing Obama Pledges to Dutch, ‘We Will Not Rest,’ Heads to Fundraisers But I'm probably being too hard on the guy, of course the president MUST spend the next three days attending fundraisers! That money's not going to raise itself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koko78 Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 And at 1:00, President Obama boards Air Force One, en route to West Coast fundraising swing Obama Pledges to Dutch, ‘We Will Not Rest,’ Heads to Fundraisers But I'm probably being too hard on the guy, of course the president MUST spend the next three days attending fundraisers! That money's not going to raise itself He will leave no dollar bill unturned in his quest for the truth of what happened over Eastern Ukraine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 He will leave no dollar bill unturned in his quest for the truth of what happened over Eastern Ukraine. But in truth...what, exactly, is he supposed to personally do right now about MH17? It's in the hands of the experts sifting through data and writing reports right now. His role is to stay the hell out of the way and let them work. A role, quite frankly, I wish he'd take on more often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 And at 1:00, President Obama boards Air Force One, en route to West Coast fundraising swing Obama Pledges to Dutch, ‘We Will Not Rest,’ Heads to Fundraisers But I'm probably being too hard on the guy, of course the president MUST spend the next three days attending fundraisers! That money's not going to raise itself Of course he's coming out west. He just signed an executive order Monday giving special workplace protection to the LGTB community. A tool like Obama doesn't do something like that without flying out west and passing the hat. He did the same thing with gay marriage; announce he's in favor of it, then flies to California to cash in. Otherwise he, like most leftists, genuinely don't give a flying rat's asshair about LBGT, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koko78 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 But in truth...what, exactly, is he supposed to personally do right now about MH17? It's in the hands of the experts sifting through data and writing reports right now. His role is to stay the hell out of the way and let them work. A role, quite frankly, I wish he'd take on more often. Sir, I shall never let the realities of life get in the way of an opportunity to make a joke. Especially one directed towards Obama. Obviously there is nothing he can do right now but go on with business as usual. It's nonsense for any of Obama's detractors to demand that he be huddled in the Situation Room with flags at half-mast pouring over whatever minute-by-minute data that may be coming in from an investigation taking place on the other side of the planet with his national security team. I highly doubt that anything more insightful than what is already known is going to be revealed within the next day or two. 'Russian trained and supplied separatists !@#$ed up' isn't really going to be new information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 (edited) Obviously there is nothing he can do right now but go on with business as usual. It's nonsense for any of Obama's detractors to demand that he be huddled in the Situation Room with flags at half-mast pouring over whatever minute-by-minute data that may be coming in from an investigation taking place on the other side of the planet with his national security team. I highly doubt that anything more insightful than what is already known is going to be revealed within the next day or two. 'Russian trained and supplied separatists !@#$ed up' isn't really going to be new information. How apropos that attending fundraisers is described as "business as usual" ........................... Like Tom and Koko, I agree that Mr. Obama does not need to be sitting in the White House, personally monitoring Russian responses. The farther away the better. But last I read, there are several other problems facing Americans. Perhaps, rather than going to the west coast for handouts (and arm twisting) for the democrat party, he could meet with leaders of Congress face to face or perhaps his own cabinet (who he barely talks with) You know, what President Clinton used to refer to as "the people's business" But, I ask too much.....................he is incapable of leading. Five years of hapless demonstration has confirmed this. If there was any type of mainstream, antagonistic media , he would be done completely. . . Edited July 23, 2014 by B-Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 But last I read, there are several other problems facing Americans. Perhaps, rather than going to the west coast for handouts (and arm twisting) for the democrat party, he could meet with leaders of Congress face to face or perhaps his own cabinet (who he barely talks with) Why the !@#$ would he do that? He doesn't need either when he's got a pen and a phone. And if he actually tried to work with Congress, he'd lose the brainless "obstructionist" political rhetoric that plays so well at fund raisers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deranged Rhino Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Of course he's coming out west. He just signed an executive order Monday giving special workplace protection to the LGTB community. A tool like Obama doesn't do something like that without flying out west and passing the hat. He did the same thing with gay marriage; announce he's in favor of it, then flies to California to cash in. Otherwise he, like most leftists, genuinely don't give a flying rat's asshair about LBGT, :lol: You make great points right up until the end, where you lose it with ridiculousness. You're too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeYouToTasker Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 You make great points right up until the end, where you lose it with ridiculousness. You're too much. I read his critique to be of leftist politicians, and blind partisans, and I believe it to be accurate. Did you interpret it another way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deranged Rhino Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I read his critique to be of leftist politicians, and blind partisans, and I believe it to be accurate. Did you interpret it another way? I find it convenient, and untrue, to claim that "most" on the left aren't sincere in their desire for marriage equality or that it was done merely for political gain. It absolves the right of their sins on this issue in a nice, neat package. Allowing them to take the moral high ground on an issue where they've been woefully lacking -- if not outright obstacles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 You make great points right up until the end, where you lose it with ridiculousness. You're too much. The difference between us on this item is you see a man who is passing the hat because he passed some legislation, and I see a man who passed some legislation so he can pass the hat. Again, you can play the partisan card all you want, but beyond executive orders and keeping up with Biden to comment on gay marriage,, what has Obama really done to lead on the LGBT movement? Has he hired a tranny to run the EPA? Doe she have a bi-sexual in charge of energy? How many lesbians has he publicly appointed to high-profile positions? The answer? One...though Hillary argue she's not a tranny. He sends his stooges to yell about the war on women, but what has he done to address his own office? Nothing. He talks about equal pay and fair share and opportunity, but who has suffered more under this president than young minorities? And exactly how much will the poor be helped with all the illegals streaming in the country? I don't need to be partisan to see that the only things this president cares about is his next round of golf and doing whatever he can to salvage whatever pathetic legacy he's leaving behind. I need only watch his actions. Or inactions. They tell the story that even a politically intelligent person like yourself could see if you weren't so busy trying to convince people you're so politically intelligent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deranged Rhino Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 The difference between us on this item is you see a man who is passing the hat because he passed some legislation, and I see a man who passed some legislation so he can pass the hat. Again, you can play the partisan card all you want, but beyond executive orders and keeping up with Biden to comment on gay marriage,, what has Obama really done to lead on the LGBT movement? Has he hired a tranny to run the EPA? Doe she have a bi-sexual in charge of energy? How many lesbians has he publicly appointed to high-profile positions? The answer? One...though Hillary argue she's not a tranny. He sends his stooges to yell about the war on women, but what has he done to address his own office? Nothing. He talks about equal pay and fair share and opportunity, but who has suffered more under this president than young minorities? And exactly how much will the poor be helped with all the illegals streaming in the country? I don't need to be partisan to see that the only things this president cares about is his next round of golf and doing whatever he can to salvage whatever pathetic legacy he's leaving behind. I need only watch his actions. Or inactions. They tell the story that even a politically intelligent person like yourself could see if you weren't so busy trying to convince people you're so politically intelligent. What's hilarious is you don't even recognize when we agree on things. What makes you a clown is your insistence on turning everything into an anti-Obama rant. If you took what I said to be an endorsement of Obama then what more can I do but call you a clown? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 ... what more can I do but call you a clown? You can do so without realizing the irony of your post. How about we flip this to be more positive for the sake of placating the part of you who has convinced himself that he's an intellectual. Let's list all the things Obama has done, above and beyond the normal "I'm president so I can give out medals" thing, that is a true action of bold presidential leadership that makes him stand out. I'll start. Okay. Your turn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 (edited) Unimportant........................but funny how he tells different "fundraiser" versions. Latest Obama claim: I don’t learn anything from the news by Dave Boyer In scandal after scandal in the Obama administration, President Obama has said he didn’t know about the problems until he heard it on the news. But the president changed his tune about his supposed ignorance at a Democratic fundraiser near Seattle on Tuesday night. Mr. Obama told supporters that he doesn’t watch the news because, “Whatever they’re reporting about, usually I know.” That contrasts with the (Documented) explanations that the president and his aides have given from scandals in the past few years ranging from long wait times and deaths at the VA, to the IRS targeting tea party groups, to the Fast and Furious gun-running operation, and the Department of Justice spying on news reporters. In each of those cases, Mr. Obama or his aides have said the president learned about the scandals from news reports. Read more at: http://www.washingto.../#ixzz38IjOMqtz Edited July 23, 2014 by B-Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koko78 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Unimportant........................but funny how he tells different "fundraiser" versions. It's like he's not even trying to keep his stories straight anymore. Just as well, he knows he's a lame duck who is just going to go make millions on the book signing/speaking circuit as soon as he's out of power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I find it convenient, and untrue, to claim that "most" on the left aren't sincere in their desire for marriage equality or that it was done merely for political gain. It absolves the right of their sins on this issue in a nice, neat package. Allowing them to take the moral high ground on an issue where they've been woefully lacking -- if not outright obstacles. What would make you think that the left is sincere about anything? If anyone other than a democrat was in office don't you think that they would be screaming and wailing about such things as Fast and Furious, drones, NSA spying, IRS targeting, Gitmo etc.? Right now it's crickets from the left and that tells me a lot about their sincerity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deranged Rhino Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 You can do so without realizing the irony of your post. How about we flip this to be more positive for the sake of placating the part of you who has convinced himself that he's an intellectual. Let's list all the things Obama has done, above and beyond the normal "I'm president so I can give out medals" thing, that is a true action of bold presidential leadership that makes him stand out. I'll start. Okay. Your turn. Do you wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat screaming, "OBAMA!"? What would make you think that the left is sincere about anything? If anyone other than a democrat was in office don't you think that they would be screaming and wailing about such things as Fast and Furious, drones, NSA spying, IRS targeting, Gitmo etc.? Right now it's crickets from the left and that tells me a lot about their sincerity. The issue was whether or not people on the left are sincere about marriage equality, nothing else. And the answer to "what would make me think that" is the fact that we now have 19 states which allow gay marriage and that number is going to hit 50 by the end of the decade. That's incredible progress, breathtaking when you consider it, and it couldn't have happened without earnest supporters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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