Obama Lectures Democrats on Voter Apathy

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Septembre 28, 2010
All Rights Reserved.                                

            Telling voters that it’s “inexcusable” and “irresponsible” for Democrats to sit out the midterm elections, President Barack Obama took the defensive in a Sept. 17 interview with “Rolling Stone Magazine.”  Barack hoped for the same kind of enthusiasm that propelled the first African American into the presidency Nov. 4, 2008.  During the ’08 campaign, Democratic voter enthusiasm stemmed from the abysmal state of the economy and voters’ desires for a regime change in Washington.  Ultimately, voters got their way, lashing out at the dismal performance of former President George W. Bush, leaving the country in the worst recession since the Great Depression.  Now the tables are turned with Republicans, as a group, unified behind the idea of reversing Obamacare.  Republicans have done a good PR job of tying the failing economy now to Obama’s “socialist” policies.

            Obama wants Democratic voters to grab the same enthusiasm seen during the ’08 campaign.  Then, Democrats, like the GOP today, unified behind ending the Bush-Cheney reign, giving the campaign considerable energy.  Obama wants Democrats recapture the same enthusiasm seen during the ’08 campaign.  Democrats, like the GOP today, unified behind ending the Bush-Cheney reign, presiding over the worst economy since the Great Depression.  As things got worse under Obama, the GOP has done a masterful job of tying the recession to Democrats. “It is inexcusable for any Democrat or progressive right now to stand on the sidelines in this midterm election,” said Barack, hoping to get out the base.  Democrats and Republicans alike feel the sting of unemployment, the disappointment of failing to end two wars that see young Americans go to their graves.

            During the ’08 campaign, Barack made much ado about the Washington gridlock and bitter partisanship under the Bush administration.  Soon after taking office Obama escalated the Afghan War, adding thousands of new troops when public sentiment expected an exit strategy.  He pushed for an unpopular health care reform, against the wishes of Democrats and Republicans.  Barack’s health care reform bill got not one single Republican vote, making it the most partisan legislation in U.S. history.  When Bush pushed for a Medicare prescription drug plan, he received strong backing on both sides of the aisle.  Barack’s health care reform bill only created more partisanship and division, doing exactly the opposite of what he promised during the campaign.  Watching some of Barack’s program’s fizzle has created disillusionment for many Democrats with high expectations.

            Democratic turnout in the midterm elections won’t be easy.  Barack’s former appeal involved high expectations that, so far, haven’t panned out.  Voters backed Obama in part as a backlash against Bush and for his strong antiwar stance, expecting exit strategies in Afghanistan and Iraq.  When that didn’t happened and he added 40,000 more troop in Afghanistan, certain Democrats, independents and crossover Republicans lost the buzz for his presidency.  When the economy didn’t rebound as expected, voters also found themselves disillusioned.  Rightly or wrongly, voters show growing amnesia and impatience with Barack’s economic policies.  Motivating Democrats gets difficult when the Party remains discontent with current economic, national security and social policies.  Instead of berating voters, Barack should point to progress and promise to complete his economic goals as soon as possible.

            Whatever happens in November, Barack needs to shift gears, reset his priorities and win back his former supporters.  If he gets back to basics, ends the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, focuses on jobs and the economy, he’ll reassure disgruntled voters currently losing faith in his leadership.  “The idea that we’ve got a lack of enthusiasm in the Democratic base, that people are sitting on their hands complaining, is just irresponsible,” said Barack, exposing the kind of frustration rarely seen the man called “no drama Obama.”  Bashing fellow Dems for their lack of motivation does very little to get out the base.  Barack should show more empathy for a battered Party, no longer offering the kind of “hope” that left the Dems in charge of fixing a broken economy.  Obama needs to get back to basics, namely, inspiring voters not lecturing on getting out the vote.

            Barack’s loss of popularity stems only partly from the sluggish economy but more from a breakdown in the kind of communication that rocketed him into the Oval Office.  Getting out on the stump enables Obama to put his best foot forward, countering GOP propaganda that the country went to hell-in-a-hand-basket only since he took office.  Getting out the base in November requires the president talk about his accomplishments and future plans to deal with voters’ frustrations felt on the street.  If the president renews his commitment to end both wars, save precious tax dollars back at home and work tirelessly to create more private sector jobs, his numbers should head upward.  If he continues to remain silent, not answer his critics and accept the GOP defining his presidency, then he faces more problems.  Looking ahead, staking new goals and selling his agenda should improve his fortunes.

About the Author  

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.