White House revamps communications strategy

The Washington Post ^ | February 15, 2010 | Michael D. Shear

[Cheap_Hessian]

White House officials are retooling the administration's communications strategy to produce faster responses to political adversaries, a more disciplined focus on President Obama's call for "change" in Washington and an increasingly selective use of the president's time.

The messaging adjustments are the result of an end-of-the-year analysis in which White House advisers said the president's communications team had not taken the initiative often enough and had allowed drawn-out debates in Congress, and relentless criticism by Republicans, to drown out his message.

"It was clear that too often we didn't have the ball -- Congress had the ball in terms of driving the message," communications director Dan Pfeiffer said. "In 2010, the president will constantly be doing high-profile things to be the person driving the narrative."

Senior White House aides described the changes as an aggressive response, aimed at producing fresh momentum for the president's faltering agenda and regaining the advantage ahead of the congressional midterm elections in November.

Vice President Biden's appearances on two Sunday morning talk shows were part of the new response -- in this case, to rebut former vice president Richard B. Cheney's accusations that the administration is weak on terrorism. Biden, who taped one of the shows in advance, said his predecessor was attempting to "rewrite history."

[GrannyAnn]

So next year he will be on TV before and AFTER the superbowl. Can't wait.

[LibLieSlayer]

Hey hussein... people do not buy bullsh!t once that they find out that it is bullsh!t!

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

Double super secrete lies.

LLS

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

Obama standing in the Diplomatic Room surrounded by men in dark suits will be replaced, as often as possible, by scenes of a more relaxed president in crowds. The goal is to have Obama travel outside of Washington -- what they call "the bubble" -- at least once a week, advisers said.

Change the backdrop and go out of town more. Hmmm! I really don't think that is what the American people are looking for. tee hee tee hee

[Upstate NY Guy]

"In 2010, the president will constantly be doing high-profile things to be the person driving the narrative."

Please do Obumbler, the more often the better. And drag the Dem congresscritters along with you. Bring them up on stage with you and really explain to the voter how your leftist agenda will help America. Drive that narrative home!

[dforest]

There is nothing this communist WH could do to make themselves any thing other than corrupt and communist.

People have caught on.

[Joan Kerrey]

So next year he will be on TV before and AFTER the superbowl. Can’t wait.

---

Don’t be surprised if Obama actually becomes the half time show next year.

[Dallas]

These liberal rags allowed Clinton to re-invent himself how many times?

How many do-overs will their Messiah get?

[ruralvoter]

Bring back the styrofoam columns from the Ben Hur movie set. It worked during the campaign!

[bwc2221]

I'd love to see Obama hire that dingbat Nicole Wallace. She was Bush's Director of Communications and screwed up Palin’s VP campaign. If anyone could sink Obama communications any lower, it's Nicole.

[fightinJAG]

I don’t see what the WH says it is going to do now as much different from what it was doing. Big whoop.

I expect the same results as well.

[American Constitutionalist]

Obama's sudden shift to appear more moderate in his attempt to buy votes with a $ 8 Billion loan to build new Nuclear Plants...

[GrannyAnn]

Funny!

[upchuck]

"In 2010, the president will constantly be doing high-profile things to be the person driving the narrative."

Hey GOP, you reading this? That's absolutely perfect! Every time nobama makes some big hoopla speech his ratings drop even further.