Americans are not getting the message that the White House is on top of the BP oil spill disaster. Why aren't they?
The public is growing restless over the perceived lack of leadership from the Obama White House on the BP oil spill disaster. Mind you, the White House has responded to the crisis with everything the federal government has at this time, but according to the latest polls, their message is falling on deaf ears.
Poll: Majority give Obama, feds failing grade on oil spill response
Nearly three-fourths of those surveyed Monday and Tuesday say BP is doing a "poor" or "very poor" job in handling the calamity. Six of 10 say that of the federal government. And a 53% majority give Obama a poor rating.
http://content.usatoday.com/...
So what exactly is the problem? The problem, as I see it, is that President Obama has stayed in the background too long and too much. He has allowed BP to dictate the storyline. And, as we all know, BP are a bunch of liars, so their story is skewed.
The president is holding a news conference on Thursday, which is a bit too little too late, if you ask me. A news conference will open him up to bickering with reporters and squabbling over the timeline and other facts. He will be under fire.
I believe the president should have addressed the nation from the Oval Office, or even from New Orleans, on national television. An address to the nation is much more presidential than a news conference and it has a reassuring affect. It also allows the president to control the agenda.
The White House is losing control of their message and I think it is time for some heads to roll. If not now, than soon after this situation is under control.
Whose head should roll first? That's simple. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. I think Emanuel has not served this president well. He has lead him down several blind alleys. There are numerous examples of this, but to just name two off the top of my head, I'd say the health-care initiative was botched and now the BP oil spill disaster response is as well.
The White House does not seem to understand that the BP oil spill disaster is not only an environmental catastrophe, it is an event that requires tremendous communication with the nation. It requires a major P.R. campaign to get the message out that President Obama is on top of the situation. But many Americans are not receiving that message and it is because the White House has failed in the P. R. department. This is not the first time this has happened in this young administration.I think Rahm Emanuel is probably the one to blame for this.
I would urge President Obama to replace Mr. Emanuel as soon as he possibly can. His administration and our country may depend on it.