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Posted on 05/25/2013 8:11:54 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Scandal is the worst thing that can befall a president. Yet as debilitating as scandals always are, the ones Obama now faces are particularly so. They intimately and simultaneously strike at his public persona, which has been his strongest asset, while seemingly verifying his critics' worst accusations.
Scandals leave a president weaker for four reasons. First, they are decidedly negative issues. No president, or politician for that matter, seeks out negative issues. All go after the overwhelmingly popular, which is why politicians so quickly and frequently embrace symbolic ones.
When pressed, a president takes on "tough" substantive issues, which are "tough" precisely because they alienate large numbers of voters. Balancing the budget is not hard in itself - it is hard because doing so requires cutting spending or raising taxes. However, even with tough substantive issues, roughly half the electorate often supports a president.
Not so with scandals. Scandals alienate all but your most fervent supporters, and in some cases, even them. They are political no-win situations.
Second, presidential scandals are concentrated. Because Congress is diffused over many, its scandals can bring down an individual, but leave the institution just momentarily tarnished. The institution and the individual are separate. Ultimately, “the presidency” is one person....
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
>Scandal is the worst thing that can befall a president.<
.
Yeah, right.
It didn’t hurt the Klintoons and it will not hurt the Obamas.
The American public is too jaded to care.
Oh it’s not so bad. In fact id like to see him show up in public somewhere. By surprise. No cameras or anything and just visit with the American people. I know they’ll be full of support and sound advice...
The writer forgets that Obama is a Democrat.
Now if her were a Republican, he would have been impeached by now.
Never underestimate the stupidity of the people living in the new Obamanation.
The Obama administration is certainly guilty of political profiling and targeting much of his opposition voices to this government; that he is the manager of now. Obama was this leader who promised to heal the division of the nation though he’s played the race card in so many aspects in making the country even further apart. He was given a chance by many- now we are seeing the real Obama/Chicago style bullying and corruption.
Thanks for this thread.
_______
Have no fear, author J.T. Young, life-long RINOs such as John “Wacko Bird” McCain will help the Democrats keep scandal-ridden Obama in power.
Obama can keep right on being the tyrant that he has always wanted to be as long as RINO POWER rules our sorry Republicans in Congress - - - - .
It will be framed as racist Republicans out to get a black president.
Half-Black.
Obama’s public persona? If his public persona is his strongest asset, this man is finished.
Democrat voters wear these diversions and crimes as a badge on their chest...they are proud of their boy.
Give up, don't post...log off.
The Indonesian abandoned American citizens to be MURDERED.
No scandal. Just waiting for the negligent homicide charges, and wrongful death suits.
One of the biggest scandals you rarely hear much about is the war Zero allowed Brennan to run in north Africa with virtual carte blanche.
They will rally around him.
Is that a little cold? O yeah; but I'm not running for public office.
Now I'm so confused.
Maybe I should be!
Half white
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