Many here have said that I am too supportive of the President--that I am an apologist, Obamabot, etc. I have always said that I prefer nuance. That Obama is a blend of good and bad. Some have rightly challenged this, saying my nuance seems to always favor Obama. So...here is my problem with Obama.
The guy can't communicate for shit. Which is odd, given how good a public speaker he is.
Join me below the fold for a complete run-down of my problem with Obama.
Today, we finally had a vote on the DREAM act. We lost. This truly saddens and horrifies me. But, Obama finally was willing to lose one, to not compromise, to throw the differences between democrats and republicans into high relief. As stated yesterday by Kos, the Spanish language stations even broadcast the vote live.
This was a big deal. We could finally communicate what democrats and republicans stand for. It was all set up perfectly.
41 (almost entirely republican senators) voted against cloture. The distinction was clear, and people were watching.
And so, Obama released his statement on the DREAM act.
In an incredibly disappointing vote today, a minority of Senators prevented the Senate from doing what most Americans understand is best for the country. As I said last week, when the House passed the DREAM Act, it is not only the right thing to do for talented young people who seek to serve a country they know as their own, it is the right thing for the United States of America. Our nation is enriched by their talents and would benefit from the success of their efforts. The DREAM Act is important to our economic competitiveness, military readiness, and law enforcement efforts. And as the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office reported, the DREAM Act would cut the deficit by $2.2 billion over the next 10 years. There was simply no reason not to pass this important legislation.
It is disappointing that common sense did not prevail today. But my administration will not give up on the DREAM Act, or on the important business of fixing our broken immigration system. The American people deserve a serious debate on immigration, and it's time to take the polarizing rhetoric off our national stage.
I thank Senators Durbin, Reid, and Menendez for their tireless efforts. Moving forward, my administration will continue to do everything we can to fix our nation's broken immigration system so that we can provide lasting and dedicated resources for our border security while at the same time restoring responsibility and accountability to the system at every level.
Its not a minority of senators, its the republicans. In fact, Obama does not use the word republican in the statement at all--not even once.
This, right here, is the thing that exasperates me about Obama. He does not seem to know how to capitalize on these moments. He should have hammered the republicans--hammered them hard. But instead we get disappointment about "a minority of senators."
If we want to win in 2012, Obama needs to start communicating much better, cause right now he sucks.
UPDATE: I see many here are saying that Obama is not responsible for the bill failing to pass. I agree. That would be on the heads of the 36 republican 5 democrats who voted against cloture. But that is not my point here. My point is that Obama's wimpy statement failed to capitalize on the failure of the bill to pass. 36 republican and 5 democrats is not a bipartisan bill. If Obama 'accidentally' lumped 5 democrats who voted for the bill into a blistering attack on the failure, that would also serve as a warning to them about future votes.