“President Obama steps out of Washington and onto the 2010 campaign trail today in what looks like the start of a nine-month effort to save the Democratic majority in the Senate.” That was the lead in a Feb. 18 story on the ABC News website. One of those stops was right here in Denver at a rally and fundraiser for Sen. Michael Bennet.
While a handful of moneyed Democrats anted up as much as $15,000 to have their picture snapped with the prez, thousands of disgruntled motorists spent an extra hour or more languishing in rush-hour traffic compounded by security arrangements for the event.
For this president, it was hardly a “man bites dog story.” So what’s new? It’s his specialty. Yes, other presidents have hit the road to stump for their policies and party’s candidates. But no president in history has made so many speeches and public appearances in such a short period of time.
According to Mark Knoller of CBS News, in his first year in office, President Obama has given 158 interviews and 411 speeches. (One can only imagine how many teleprompters he’s worn out.) One Sunday morning, he was on five different public affairs talk shows, and the next evening he showed up on David Letterman’s “Late Show” set.
Mortimer Zuckerman, editor in chief of U.S. News & World Report, hit it on the head: “His promiscuity on TV has made him seem as if he’s still a candidate instead of president and commander-in-chief. He — and his advisers — have failed to appreciate that national TV speeches are best reserved for those moments when the country faces a major crisis or war. Now he faces the iron law of diminishing novelty.”
You can go to the well too many times. Presidential novelty can be squandered. The more times he appears in other than legitimate crisis situations, the less likely people are to pay attention. How many times can you ask the networks to televise you blaming yet something else on George W. Bush? The Obama infomercial is wearing thin. Next, he’ll be selling Vegamatics. As it is, he seems to be on TV more than Dealin’ Doug.
John F. Kennedy enjoyed press conferences. He handled them deftly and gave them often. It helped that the Washington press corps was in love with the guy. George W. Bush faced a hostile press and often stumbled during press conferences, so he did them less often. Obama shines in this format and, like JFK, is aided by an adoring press. So he’s given more press conferences than Bush but fewer than JFK. It’s hard to fit them in his speaking schedule.
Some have psychoanalyzed Obama as a classic narcissist. Perhaps they’re right if he’s obsessed with his svelte look, the sound of his own voice and truly believes that his clipped and dulcet tones can persuade almost anyone about almost anything.
Speaking in front of doting, enraptured audiences is a huge ego boost. Obama thrived on that kind of adulation as a candidate. He certainly ran a better campaign than he’s run his presidency, so stick to what you’re good at. He’s the Pied Piper of Platitudes and is clearly more comfortable in the role of orator in chief than commander in chief.
Communicating with the public is part of any president’s job, especially in this media age. Reagan and Clinton were both great communicators. But it’s only part of the job. Sure, you can get things done in flight on Air Force One, but Obama has a perfectly good desk in the Oval Office with a lot of fun toys and a large staff at his beck and call. He is, after all, the chief executive officer of the United States. It’s an administrative job, for heaven’s sake. CEOs necessarily put in a lot of office time. You can’t administer something while you’re making a speech.
Mike Rosen’s radio show airs weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon on 850-KOA.
