I can't believe all the handwringing there is over Barack Obama executing a simple pivot move commonly known as the Take-Away. You would think nobody had ever seen this done before.
So many people sell him short it's amazing he convinced them to vote for him in the first place. The man's genius is totally unappreciated by the masses.
Join me below the fold; I'll explain the maneuver.
The Take-Away is an old sales trick used on people unwilling to commit forcefully to purchase. It goes something like this:
Customer: Well you know, I really want this car, however I'm just not sure that I'm willing to spend that much for it.
Salesman: I completely understand that, and I appreciate what you're saying. If I'm right what you're telling me is that this car is a little beyond your means and maybe we should go over here and look at some of our less expensive models.
Now look at what the salesman did in one very smooth exercise. He empathized with the customer and what he was saying and then restated it in such a way that he was actually denying the customer the right to buy that car. He did it by telling the customer that all he could afford was this cheaper model over here. If the salesman has laid the proper foundation the next exchange should go something like this:
Customer: Now just you wait a minute, I never said I couldn't afford that car. I could afford it with no problem! I'm just not sure.
Salesman: I don't understand it then. If you have the money and that is the car you really want then I would imagine you're ready to do what it takes to own that car. Let's go inside and start the process so you can have what you really want.
The salesman just called the customer weak, cheap and broke, and the customer wanting to save face declared I am no such thing. What he did was take away the customer's final obstacle and objection to owning that car by telling the customer he probably could not afford to drive that car anyhow.
Let's take a look at what Barack Obama has done.
He's been selling the American people on that public option since early in his campaign. It's all he's ever talked about. Now suddenly he gets some pushback from the Republicans, which I'm sure he expected, but when it comes to standing up to them he finds the Democrats to be a little light in the britches when it comes to backing it up. So what does Obama do? He does the Take-Away, and quite skillfully I might add. Maybe we don’t need a public option after all, he opines.
Look at the rage on the part of Democrats all across the country and the massive effort against the Republicans and the Blue Dog Democrats that he's ignited. He's just been sitting back and waiting for the right moment, and that moment was when the Congress critters were home on vacation. Now Democrats are chafing at the bit to get this legislation passed with a public option and pestering their Congress critters to no end. While Barack Obama enjoys a little R and R at Martha's Vineyard he has stirred up a shit storm for those who oppose the public option and are back home on recess facing their constituents.
So you can say that the Democrats lost the initiative if you want, but what I've seen is Barack Obama execute one of the most perfectly timed political moves in my life. Barack Obama is not going anywhere without a public option. People forget these are the people who killed his mother.
Like he said at his first meeting with a group of Republican senators when describing his style, you come straight at me and I'll come straight you, but if you try to blindside me I will crush you. I think Obama just stepped on some Republicans and a few Blue Dogs along the way.
The Take-Away performed to perfection. Mr. Obama, my hat is off to you. You are indeed the master.