A Campaign For Hope

Forty-Four Years Ago

Leo — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:59:46 EDT

We're hearing quite a few references lately to what happened forty-four years ago. In discussing swing states, it's often said that the last time xyz state voted the Democratic ticket in a presidential campaign was forty-four years ago. It was also the year the Civil Rights Act became law and the last time a Republican Senator from Arizona served as the party's nominee for President.

While one of Goldwater's campaign themes was "America Needs A Change," consider also that the opposition painted him as erratic. Sound familiar? In three and a half weeks, history may repeat itself with a landslide victory for the Democrats. What's more, the promise of the Civil Rights Act may be realized far sooner than almost anyone would have ever predicted.

McCain Ayers It Out

Leo — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:34:29 EDT

It's the politics of guilt by association, and it's been happening since the presidential campaign began nearly two years ago. Is it a valid point for criticism? I suppose in rare instances it could be, but in nearly all cases it's nothing but a desperate attempt at the kind of intellectual dishonesty that has scarred too many other campaigns during my lifetime.

Think about it in terms of your own life. Would you like to be tied to all the political views, bad judgments, or questionable actions of all your friends and family? How about with people with whom you may have sat on a not-for-profit board? You know, those people you saw maybe once every month or two, assuming you both attended all the meetings, who you hardly knew other than to be able to recognize them on the street. How would you like to be considered to have exercised bad judgment for supporting a worthy cause? This is precisely the reason that a larger number of talented citizens don't run for public office.
The good news is that the more McCain "Ayers it out," the more the lead widens for Obama. That's not only good news for Obama, but with any luck, it's good for the future of American politics.

Listening and McCain's Disdain

Leo — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:33:00 EDT

Last night's town hall style debate was supposed to have been the forum in which John McCain would shine. Let's face it, he's held hundreds of them. I believe the Senator presided over 100 town hall gatherings in New Hampshire alone during the primary season. And it was his performance during those personal exchanges with New Hampshire voters that got him back into the race during primary season.

So why did post debate polls favor Obama? I believe in many respects it's less about what Obama said and more about how McCain listened. McCain's reference to Obama as "that one" only served to punctuate McCain's obvious disdain for his opponent - disdain made evident every time Obama addressed the audience.

You see, the difference between a town hall debate and a town hall meeting is that you have to share the stage with your adversary. How you well listen is just as important as how well you speak. And while it's important in any debate format, it's crucial in the more free-wheeling town hall setting. Over the course of 90 minutes, McCain was often disengaged when Obama spoke, sometimes walking aimlessly around the stage until it was his turn to speak again. There was a restlessness about him as he listened - a stark contrast to words about experience and being the steady hand during tough times. McCain was confident when he spoke but less likeable when he wasn't speaking, and it cost him with viewers last night.

To illustrate the point, I was driving home and had to listen to the debate on NPR. I thought McCain did pretty well in the scheme of things. It wasn't until I got home and watched a re-run on CNN that I realized why viewers sided so overwhelmingly with Obama in post-debate polls. I couldn't watch McCain listen on the radio. Seeing the exchange on TV completely changed my point of view.

It's a great lesson for all of us. While we may never have cause to participate in a nationally televised debate, it's important to understand that regardless of how well spoken one may be, people place a premium on listening. As well they should.

Pal-in Comparison

Leo — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:31:05 EDT

Well, the Dow is falling again today, but considering that the Senate didn't do anything that was unexpected, last night's vote had little effect on the reaction of Wall Street and companion global exchanges. We'll have to wait for the House vote for that. Of course the big story today is the Biden-Palin debate.

It will likely draw a bigger audience than Obama-McCain 1. First of all, it's not taking place on a Friday night, and second, people will be watching this for the same reasons they watch NASCAR or the Indy 500. People want to see the crash. They'll be watching and listening for the gaffe, stumble, or clever one-liner. Between the two candidates, the viewing audience likes the odds. Look for big numbers tonight.

Much has been made of the McCain campaign's efforts to lower expectations for Sarah Palin. Of course, recent Palin interviews have helped that cause as well. But tonight, it will be interesting to see what standard the viewing audience chooses when it comes to judging her performance. Does Palin have to be more substantive than Biden? Up for the job as Vice President? Show she has the capacity to step in as President? Of just perform better than she did during the Katie Couric interviews?

Given that we're a nation at war and confronting the most daunting economic crisis of our generation, I hope we set the bar high for both of them. I hope neither crashes. It would be terrific if we could simply hear 90 minutes worth of sound debate over issues that will shape America's future. Let's watch and see! Go Joe!

Crossposted at http://clientserviceinsights.blogspot.com

Cast Your Vote!

Leo — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:56:37 EDT

As the Pennsylvania primary draws near, have you ever thought about our next president from a client service perspective? Let's assume, as the framers intended, that the president is there to serve us, making his/her clients the American people. In your mind, who will deliver the highest level of client service excellence? Who will listen, keep promises, and lead this nation in a manner that delivers on our country's collective expectations and aspirations - on the important matters and values with which we all share a common bond as Americans. Feel free to cast your vote at Client Service Insights...(CSI/Season 2)!

Not long now!

Leo — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:13:57 EDT

The media have been complicit in not reporting the real math in the Democratic Primary. Barack is not going to lose this nomination, and everyone knows it. Hillary's campaign, badly crafted as it was, is simply hanging onto the bumber of the car. Bill Richardson has signaled that it's time to let it go.

It's an amazing time in our history. I remember writing about how I believed Barack would be the nominee on the day of his announcement both here and on my other blog. I always believed in the candidate, but the campaign has exceeded my highest expectations. There's lots of work ahead of us, but thus far, nicely done.

I'll be shifting my content back to my new blog Client Service Insights (CSI/Season 2). I look forward to talking about all that this candidate and this campaign has taught about the future of America and the world.

The Thrilla In Selma?

Leo — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:12:14 EST

Sunday in Selma is being coined as the big matchup between the Hillary and Barack, as each are giving speeches within a few hundred yards of one another. Of course, Hillary is getting a little help to say the least. The whole "Bill is getting an award" thing serves as thinly veiled cover for the obvious assistance Hillary needs to compete with Barack's star power and ability to draw huge crowds. I predict it will go the distance and the judges' score cards will rule the two-on-one contest a draw. In my book, that' a win for Barack!

"Who Are Those Guys?"

Leo — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 08:26:16 EST

You may recognize the line from Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. Yesterday, on Hardball, Chris Matthews pulled it from his memory bank as a way to describe what Hillary's campaign must be saying about Team Obama. Chris was interviewing Brian Williams, who also invoked his own, albeit slightly altered quote in describing the Hillary campaign, "Something happened on the way to the nomination."

Hillary's hearing footsteps, and they're growing louder and stronger. Those footsteps aren't just Obama's, they're ours. Let's continue to build what may become the most formidible grassroots coalition in our nation's history.

Little "h"

Leo — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 01:04:34 EST

Score one for the Barack Obama new media team! When noting links at the bottom of a blog post, the H, at least the H if used in Hillary, defaults to a lowercase h. (See below).

It's a bit small if you will, but amusing!

How Do You Spell Desperate?

Leo — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:53:42 EST

Apparently, it's H-I-L-L-A-R-Y. Howard Wolfson, Hillary's communications director, was on MSNBC making the case that Obama should disavow David Geffen's remarks about the Clintons and return the $1.3 million raised in LA the other night. All Wolfson did was make his candidate look like an idiot. I thought we'd have to wait until summer at least before the Clinton campaign started getting desperate. With that kind of counsel, Hillary could be out of it before she gets a chance to spend all of her money. Let's hope so.

BarackObama.com Review

Leo — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:52:25 EST

Yesterday, The Bivings Report posted a review of BarackObama.com. The post also includes links to previous reviews of the Hillary and Edwards sites. It's interesting stuff. The Bivings Group is a DC based internet communications firm that I reference from time to time on my professional blog Client Service Insights (CSI).

I'd love to hear your comments on the review, as well as your personal experience on the site. Lately, I've had difficulty just getting on. I'm hoping that site traffic is just so high that the server is simply overloaded from time to time. At the rate this campaign is growing, this issue needs to be addressed quickly.

Inspiring Community Organizers

Leo — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 07:05:18 EST

One of the wonderful phenomenons of this campaign is how this young Senator is inspiring people to not only reconnect with the political process, but also to serve this nation as community organizers. The grassroots effort and local leadership at work so early in this presidential campaign is unprecedented and something with which I hope Seneator Obama is extremely proud.

In my initial post, on the day of Obama's announcement titled Public Service, I said:

"The reason I think he'll win is because of what has shaped him. I'm not talking about his parents, mixed race background, political experience, or his time at Harvard Law School. Obama's greatest asset is his experience as a community organizer. It should be required duty for anyone who plans to run for public office. Grassroots community service promotes people who listen, people who care about the challenges that face average Americans, and those who truly understand that one person can make a difference.

"Obama is a once in a generation candidate whose commitment to public service is actually greater than his personal ambition. He's a powerful combination of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Whether one is a Republican, Democrat or Independent, we owe it to ourselves as a country to listen as Obama makes his case for hope."

One person will make the difference in this campaign. You!

My President's Day Wish

Leo — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 07:59:08 EST

How about a three-year term for our sitting president? Everyone wins. The country can get back on track and W can go home to Crawford where he'd rather be anyway. We'll hold a national primary on September 18, 2007 and a general election on November 5th. (Seems all the states want to move up their primaries anyway, so let's really give them their wish.) General election winner Barack Obama could then of course take the oath of office on January 20, 2008.

It could be introduced into the Congress as the Obama-McCain Crawford bill. It would receive bipartisan support and the president would probably sign it. The Constitution? Bush hasn't minded tinkering with it before, why would he stop now?

For those of you who have a day off, enjoy! If you don't, then don't work too hard and relish the easy commute.

Obama Is Really O'Bama

Leo — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:22:23 EST

Just when you thought you had a grasp on Barack's heritage, we find out in a piece that ran in The Spoof, that there may be more to Barack Obama's lineage than meets the eye.

According to the article (click on the link above for the complete story), "It seems that Barack Obama has Irish roots after all, not just like Kennedy, Reagan, and Clinton, but better, thus making him eminently suitable to be a President."

I'll have to check to see if there's an Irish-Americans for O'Bama group! Hope you're all enjoying your weekend!

Raising Kaine

Leo — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 10:55:25 EST

It should be a great day today as Governor Timothy Kaine of Virginia will endorse Barack Obama for President - probably just before tonight's annual Jefferson - Jackson Day fundraising event. Comments found on the site Raising Kaine - The Voice of Progressive Virginia are somewhat mixed, which is some respects may make the endorsement that much more significant.

Rush, Renounce Being An Idiot!

Leo — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:30:31 EST

As many of you have heard by now, Rush Limbaugh inserted foot in mouth again yesterday commenting on a statement Obama made during his 60 Minutes interview.
For those who may not have had a chance to read the actual transcript of Rush's call for Barack to renounce his being black, it begs the question why Rush doesn't renounce being an idiot. As you'll conclude from the transcript, Limbaugh would be faced with the more difficult task.
LIMBAUGH: Steve Kroft said, “Your mother was white; your father was African. You were raised in a white household. Yet at some point you decided you were black.”
[OBAMA CLIP]: I’m not sure I decided it. Uh, I think, uh, you know, if you — if you look African-American in this society, you’re treated as an African-American, uh, and, uh, when you’re a child in particular, uh, that is how you begin to identify yourself.
RUSH: So are we to conclude here that he didn’t define himself as black, that the way he looks does? (Sigh.) Okay. We’ve got Obama’s wife in here. We’ve got John Howard from Australia coming up, but, “I’m not sure I decided it”? Well, if you didn’t decide it, then how did it happen?
Well, when you look like that, that’s what you are.
Well, renounce it, then! If it’s not something you want to be, if you didn’t decide it, renounce it, become white!
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: Okay, back to our Barack Obama Audio Sound Bite Marathon. What are we up to now? Let’s see. Oh, yeah. Obama just said he wasn’t sure that he decided he was black, that if you look African-American in this society, you’re treated as an African-American, and when you’re a child in particular that’s how you begin to identify yourself. If you don’t like it, you can switch. Well, that’s the way I see it. He’s got 50-50 in there. Say, “No, I’m white.”
Link

Truth Or Fact?

Leo — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 06:34:18 EST

Aren't they just two sides of the same coin? Not in my experience, and not according to Jim Lukaszewski either. As part of a recent radio series called "A Century of Spin," criss communication guru Jim Lukaszewski stated, "Truth is 15% facts and 85% perception."

Lukaszewski illustrated his point this way," if a car accident were witnessed by four people on different corners, each would have a different version of what happened when the cops showed up."

Lately, as a PR professional, I've experienced one too many instances where journalists unabashedly hid behind the facts to tell a version of the truth that suited their needs and biases. My guess is that the truth lies on the street corner that sells the most newspapers.

When it comes to political campaigns, media not only hide behind facts, but they call political operatives who lie to voters "geniuses." The media are willing accomplices to the tabloid politics of our time.

If truth is in the eye of the beholder as Lukaszewski claims, I can live with that as long as media ask something of themselves and the candidates in the form of intellectual honesty. It will be a big first step toward helping the American people regain trust in our leaders.

Obama has called for something better than the "gotcha" political coverage of the past. Let's hope even one journalist is paying attention.

Psychobabble

Leo — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:45:22 EST

I'm all for the first amendment. However, there are some days when I'd like it if someone in the Congress would introduce legislation that would deny internet/computer access to the intellectually dishonest and the politically impaired.

For the heck of it, I ran a google news search on Barack Obama today. Much to my chagrin, l found an article at the very top of page one by Ben Shapiro titled, Iran: Praying for Obama. Shapiro's prior claim to fame was authoring "Porn Generation: How Social Liberalism Is Corrupting Our Future" as well as "Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth." Nice.

In this article, Ben writes, among other obsurdities, "The political embodiment of that post-modernism -- that nihilistic resignation -- is the modern Democratic Party. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, the Democrats' bright new star, is no more capable of global leadership than Jacques Chirac. Obama's politics of 'understanding' dictates that evil cannot be fought -- it must be placated with psychobabble."

Seems Shapiro does know something about babble and about being psycho.

Where There's Smoke, There's Just More Smoke, But...

Leo — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 06:56:46 EST

If Barack Obama hasn't had a healthy dose of it already, then Maureen Dowd's column in The New York Times today will be among many opinion pieces (now that he's an announced candidate) that will cover everything BUT his qualifications to be President.

Subjects in today's piece ran from photo shoots, the beach, and smoking to body language, facial expressions, and irritability. Let's just hope Ms. Dowd had a bad hair day, and she'll actually make a positive contribution to helping voters understand which candidate we should send to Washington.

That being said, if Obama is getting irritable in February of '07, he'll be screaming at his own kids by this time next year if he doesn't dial it back a little. I don't care if he's quitting smoking or not, this is a marathon not a sprint. He's out of the gate quickly and positively and that's great. But the lights are only going to get brighter and the power of the microscope more intense. While I can't imagine the rigors of a Presidential campaign, I have run 13 marathons. Staying positive and regarding the pain you feel as simply "weakness leaving the body" is how you survive the marathon. I suspect it may help Obama prevail in a long political campaign as well. Go Barack!

Not Just Semantics

Leo — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:32:54 EST

Obama's reference to wanting to transform a nation rather than simply win the Presidency was a smart use of language, but it was much more than just semantics. That's why it was so effective. There's a growing collective belief that Hillary is driven primarily by winning and being in power. Hillary appears totally contrived; Barack is authentic. At a time when we need to reestablish trust in this country, Barack is off to a great start.

Obama carefully framed his sense of urgency for seeking the office of President. It's not just about winning; if it were, he would have waited. It's about the need for leadership at a critical time in our history. He believes he can provide it, and the courage of his announcement will compel voters to listen to his ideas. Let the games begin!

Supporting Our Troops

Leo — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:20:51 EST

I believe it was in Barack's Democratic National Convention speech that he talked in terms of an Administration that failed the troops, not troops failing a nation. Where do the Republicans get off charging that Democrats don't support the troops?

Republicans oppose taxes that PAY for our military. You can't wave the flag, effectively cut taxes during war time, and then blame others for lack of support. Republicans sent our troops into this war. Republicans didn't provide the body armor and equipment necessary to protect them. Republicans sent in too few troops to get accomplish whatever it was they were trying to accomplish for reasons that still change every week. Our injured soldiers come home without the care they need or deserve. Families are left motherless and fatherless. I could go on and on.

Barack used unfortunate wording yesterday, in terms of "wasted lives", but let's be sure that in the 2008 campaign, we don't allow Republicans to shift the blame on Democrats for their dishonesty. We're one America, with many voices. Dissent isn't just a value of convenience. If we're going to fight for Democracy in Iraq or elsewhere around the world, then let's at least be sure we have one here at home. That's supporting our troops.

Hillary's Achilles Heel

Leo — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:05:20 EST

The good news for Barack Obama is that Hillary's achilles heel is not her vote on the Iraq war and her refusal to admit it was a mistake. It's simply the expected result of a deeper problem. Hillary's real problem is that we know what she's done, but we don't know who she is. And we're not likely to find out any time soon.

Hillary's never communicated her core values to the Amercian people. She's never articulated what in her life has influenced her beliefs and what we can expect from a Hillary Clinton Presidency. She comes across as a "position by polling numbers" candidate. In this morning's New York Times, Patrick Heely and Jeff Zeleny compare and contrast Barack and Hillary's respective weekends in terms of the war in Iraq. Interestingly enough, Hillary's chief pollster Mark Penn was quoted in the article. It's Christmas in February I thought.

The Obama for America campaign should send a mental thank you note to Mark Penn every time he does an interview. Hillary's ship has a leak, and no poll is going to fix it. Barack should continue to hammer home the bio, with a special emphasis on his roots as a community organizer. Barack's story is great, but against Hillary, it's that much more effective. I can feel the leak getting worse already.

Obama's 15 Minutes On 60 Minutes

Leo — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:48:45 EST

The real takeaway for the American people should be, "I want to learn more about this guy." Obama did a wonderful job of just being himself. If people want to pick apart the interview for what could have gone differently, let them. If Obama remains true to himself and doesn't allow people to over handle him, then he has a legitimate shot.

Too often the greatest speech for an aspiring presidential candidate takes place on the day he's getting out of the race. Somehow, the real person shines through in that moment, leaving supporters and would-be voters asking, "Where's this guy been throughout the campaign?" It has to be the most sick feeling in the world for a candidate.

If the campaign and the candidate let Barack be Barack, victory will be sweeter and defeat will be without regret. Personally, I think we're more likely to witness Hillary's "I'm no longer a candidate speech."

I'd be remiss in not mentioning that Michelle is a true breath of fresh air. She was great last night!

O-So-Famous Logo!

Leo — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 14:48:17 EST

Obama is the O in hope. It's a mark of optimism and light. A rising sun over a red and white striped road to prosperity against a bright blue sky. What a wonderful graphic. It will serve to underscore the Obama campaign and the call to unite America. Between now and 2008, this mark will become O-so-famous. Nicely done!

Public Service

Leo — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 12:01:28 EST

Technorati Profile

You'll also find this post at my blog Client Service Insights (CSI)

Link

Yesterday was such an extraordinary day in U.S. history that it warrants a Sunday departure from client service to public service. At the old State Capitol Building in Springfield, Illinois, U.S. Senator Barack Obama electrified a crowd of several thousand to declare his candidacy for President of the United States. At the same place where Lincoln spoke of America as a house divided and challenged its citizens to recall the values of the nation's founding fathers, Obama asked America to join a collective campaign to unite us once again. To join a campaign for hope.

Though there are many political lifetimes between now and November of 2008, we may have witnessed the announcement of the next President of the United States. The prospect of winning is daunting to say the least. Obama has only been in the U.S. Senate for two years. If he were to win, he'd be the only Senator other than Warren Harding and John Kennedy to be elected to our nation's highest office. What's more, he'd be the first African-American president in our country's history.

I'm sure there may be countless other reasons why Obama's prospects for victory are improbable. That's why his courage is so compelling. Yesterday, he invited America to get to know him better. To join his journey of hope. To share his vision for an America that can regain a positive standing in the world. To offer average voters a voice in Washington, and to unite a country that has been carved and divided between red states and blue states for too long.

The reason I think he'll win is because of what has shaped him. I'm not talking about his parents, mixed race background, political experience, or his time at Harvard Law School. Obama's greatest asset is his experience as a community organizer. It should be required duty for anyone who plans to run for public office. Grassroots community service promotes people who listen, people who care about the challenges that face average Americans, and those who truly understand that one person can make a difference.

Obama is a once in a generation candidate whose commitment to public service is actually greater than his personal ambition. He's a powerful combination of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Whether one is a Republican, Democrat or Independent, we owe it to ourselves as a country to listen as Obama makes his case for hope.

I'm ready to listen and maybe even get involved. In another lifetime, I was very engaged in political campaigns at the national level, but the changes that have occurred in how Presidential campaigns have been run since 1988 caused me to walk away from a process I once loved. If nothing else, we should applaud Obama's candidacy because we're likely to see a positive shift in how candidates and the news media conduct themselves in a Presidential campaign. We can only hope.

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