Obama may intentionally draw fire for his SC nominee to deflect opposition from HC & Environ legis.

[Pirate Smile]

By drawing fire to its Supreme Court nominee, Obama’s aides believe that healthcare and environmental politics may face less intense opposition.
:evilgrin:

Obama’s Secret Supreme Court Strategy

by Richard Wolffe

The president will reawaken his dormant grassroots network to push his imminent High Court pick, The Daily Beast’s Richard Wolffe reports – a plan designed to divert attention away from his real summer agenda.
The White House is planning to revive President Obama’s 13-million-member grassroots campaign network, largely dormant since last year’s election, as it rolls out its first Supreme Court nominee as early as this week.

Senior Obama aides tell the Daily Beast that the network, which revolutionized fundraising and online political networking during the 2008 campaign, will be an important factor in a series of high-profile political struggles unfolding over the next two months. Besides the Supreme Court fight, the senior aides expect to bring universal healthcare to the president’s desk, while simultaneously making significant progress on global warming legislation, including a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases.

By drawing fire to its Supreme Court nominee, Obama’s aides believe that healthcare and environmental politics may face less intense opposition.

All three initiatives would move ahead before Congress disappears for its month-long August recess, and all three face intense opposition from a conservative movement desperately seeking to rally its own supporters.

The revival of Obama’s grassroots machine represents not only an effort to neutralize any Republican onslaught, but also something of a diversionary tactic. By drawing fire to its Supreme Court nominee, Obama’s aides believe that healthcare and environmental politics may face less intense opposition.

-snip-
Now the adversaries and the issues represent a far better opportunity to energize Obama’s supporters than the dry details of a federal budget. Conservative groups are planning to demonize the new Supreme Court nominee on a range of cultural issues, including abortion and same-sex marriage. While there is little chance for Republicans to defeat the nominee in a Senate firmly under Democratic control, movement conservatives believe they can rebuild their membership with extensive advertising and online activism.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-05-25/obamas-supreme-court-diversion/

[anonymous171]

1. That wouldn't be such a bad idea. He should pick the most socially liberal judge he can find. nt

[blue_onyx]

13. I doubt he will

He's not the most socially liberal politician himself so I don't see him picking a super liberal nominee either.

[Cha]

2. The hypocritical groups can go suck

on their eggs. bush got his radical SC Justices in and we're entitled to whomever Prez Obama and his team chooses.

[jaxx]

3. If the pubs didn't have abortion they'd have nothing.

Freaks.

[depakid]

4. Much as one would like to believe the premise of the article

Fact is- anyone Obama picks is going to be vilified by the right. Makes no sense whatsoever to attempt to placate them (nor did they even make the pretense of doing so in return these past 8 years).

[Radical Activist]

8. placate?

I'll admit I didn't finish the article but I didn't see anything about placating the right.

[depakid]

9. There wasn't anything in the article about it

The premise there is that Obama will try to draw their fire by picking someone likely to offend their ideology. My point was, that's not really necessary to get thier ire up (and I'd surely like to see Wolffe's take proven to be correct).

[DrToast]

12. That's the opposite of placating them.

[depakid]

14. Yes- that's the opposite of attempting to placate them

which as mentioned, makes no sense- but which time and time again, Democrats (including the president) try to do.

What Wolffe is saying is that in this case- the strategic angle is NOT to go that way. Time will tell if that's the tack the adminstration's going to take. Or not.

[sandnsea]

5. The Daily Beast?

Yeah okay, whatever. I've not found them to have the inside track on anything, and really worse analysis than MoDo, if that's possible.

[Pirate Smile]

7. It's Richard Wolffe. I focus more on the author than the website. I generally

find him pretty credible although certainly not perfect.

[sandnsea]

10. He's a terrific journalist

Not a terribly good political gossip.

"The president is so "distracted by his vice president's indiscipline" that he has been forced to rebuke privately Vice President Biden, according to a new book by Richard Wolffe."
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/philip_sherwell/blog/2009/05/23/obama_distracted_by_bidens_indiscipline

Obama "so distratcted"??

I doubt it.

I don't think he's going to choose someone as important as a Supreme Court Justice to divert political attention either. He'll choose exactly who he believes is best for the job.

[Pirate Smile]

11. I agree. I think the RW is going to throw a fit no matter who he picks. Perhaps the Obama aides

just don't want the press playing it up as a big deal - they expect it, they welcome it. Instead of looking defensive, they can look like they planned it. They may be sick of looking reactive and want to get back on offense.

Obama will absolutely only pick who he thinks is the best choice.

[Radical Activist]

6. Dormant my ass.

Don't they know about the regular meetings, calling and door knocking going on at Organizing for America?

[Thrill]

15. Sounds like he pulled this out of his ass.

Unless the pick is Karlan or Sullivan. They are the only two mentioned that would possibly fit this strategy