Kos: Obama marketing fail

[brentspeak]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/11/11/919467/-Barack-Obamas-marketing-fail

by kos

Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 09:00:05 AM PST

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/11/owning-it.html">Atrios notes coverage of the fiscal commission draft report:

The leaders of President Obama's deficit commission on Wednesday offered an ambitious plan to rebalance the federal budget by curbing increases in Social Security benefits, slashing spending on most federal operations and wiping out more than $100 billion a year in tax breaks for individuals and businesses.

That was from the Washington Post. Then there's a Fox News headline:

Obama Debt Panel Eyes Cutting Social Security, Home Deduction."

Here's the http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/11/us/politics/11fiscal.html">NY Times:

A draft proposal released Wednesday by the chairmen of President Obama’s bipartisan commission on reducing the federal debt calls for deep cuts in domestic and military spending starting in 2012, and an overhaul of the tax code to raise revenue. Those changes and others would erase nearly $4 trillion from projected deficits through 2020, the proposal says.

The plan would reduce projected Social Security benefits to most retirees in later decades — low-income people would get higher benefits — and slowly raise the retirement age for full benefits to 69 from 67...

There's no indication that Obama supports any of this, of course. But his advisors told him that voters cared about the deficit and that he needed to do something about it. So, he decided to grandstand on the deficit with this ridiculous commission.

Well, he now owns everything in this draft report, including the stuff hateful to the left and the stuff hateful to the right. And for the "middle" that isn't paying attention to politics much? They get to hear about how Obama wants to take away their mortgage deduction and raise the retirement age.

Is this fair? No. But it was predictable. As predictable as the ads in 2012 accusing Obama of scheming to slash defense spending, cut medicare, screw seniors with a higher retirement age, and raise taxes.

[ProSense]

1. Don't think it's a fail.

<...>

There's no indication that Obama supports any of this, of course. But his advisors told him that voters cared about the deficit and that he needed to do something about it. So, he decided to grandstand on the deficit with this ridiculous commission.

Well, he now owns everything in this draft report, including the stuff hateful to the left and the stuff hateful to the right. And for the "middle" that isn't paying attention to politics much? They get to hear about how Obama wants to take away their mortgage deduction and raise the retirement age.

Is this fair? No. But it was predictable. As predictable as the ads in 2012 accusing Obama of scheming to slash defense spending, cut medicare, screw seniors with a higher retirement age, and raise taxes.

What Obama currently owns is making a tough decision, which is going to be made this year. No one is going to remember this in 2012.

When the final report is issued, if the members can come to agreement, Obama will own the decision he makes.

The thing is that everyone gets to see up front the types of proposals being debated. This may kill some of them for good.

[benlurkin]

2. I haven't heard anyone who supports this

Dem, Repug, nobody.

Has anybody came out in support, yet? (honest question-I could be missing it)

[mzmolly]

4. You haven't heard anyone who supports the spin, with good

reason.

[mzmolly]

3. I'm glad I took time to actually read the proposal.

The media could have reported that the plan includes early retirement options, measures to prevent poverty for seniors, reinstating the child survivor college benefit and so on.