Obama And Critics Use Different Tactics
Critics of President Barack Obama's push for health care reform use old fashion town hall meetings while the administration embraces newer tactics.
The Associated Press reports: "The 20th century community organizer who used 21st century tools for his people-powered White House campaign now finds himself besieged by citizens airing their grievances at 19th century-inspired town hall style meetings. Barack Obama's top legislative goal hangs in the balance and his popularity is suffering as critics co-opt his tech-savvy organizing methods, tag him as a boogyman and disrupt local gatherings on his proposed health care overhaul. Is the groundbreaking campaigner, whose White House political arm is aptly called Organizing for America, being outmaneuvered?"
The AP notes: "Judging by the jeers and rants at Democratic lawmakers' public forums this August, Obama appears to be facing a populist backlash from Americans who want no part of the wholesale change he promised as a candidate. The fierce opposition is threatening to further erode wider public support for his sweeping transformation of the nation's medical system. To sell his plan to a wary public, Obama is expending a ton of political capital and using a strategy that's delivered results before - taking his pitch directly to the people during question-and-answer sessions in local communities. He is certain to face resistance Friday in Bozeman, Mont., where one group expects 500 protesters, and Saturday in Grand Junction, Colo., where demonstrators are all but certain to line the streets just as they did last month when he campaigned in North Carolina and Virginia" (Sidoti, 8/13).
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.