Obama's opening salvo: Hope, change and fear

AP Photo/Steve Helber

This post originally appeared on Slate.

Barack Obama once wanted to "Win the Future." Now he's just hoping to get there. "Forward" is the new message of his re-election campaign, which he outlined Saturday in the first two official speeches of his 2012 presidential campaign. While his message still contains the old slogan's optimism of a brighter tomorrow, the force of the president's new argument is not so much that Americans could achieve greatness but that they must lock arms to keep Mitt Romney from dragging the country back to a dark past. Hope and change are still alive, said the president, referring to his 2008 election themes. But this time fear is also his running mate.

The president spoke in Ohio and Virginia, two battleground states. Though the day was billed as Obama's first official campaign day, it was really just the day that he dropped the last veil. The president, of course, has been campaigning for some time now. He's been in Ohio and Virginia a lot. For months, his domestic travel has rarely taken him outside of a battleground state. The issues he focuses on are aimed at key voting blocs. He's held regular meetings with his campaign strategists in the White House. The surest sign that he's been campaigning has been the regular denials from administration officials that the president was engaged in campaigning.

What made Saturday notable, however, is that the president referred more directly to his opponent than he has before. Romney is now real, and Obama started right away to build the case for why the former governor is uniquely qualified to screw things up. The short version: He has a defect born of party and experience.

His first task was to tie Romney to the unpopular House Republicans. "Now after a long and spirited primary, Republicans in Congress have found a nominee who will rubber stamp this agenda if he gets a chance."

Then Obama turned to Romney the person. He praised him as a patriot and family man--right before he described him as constitutionally incapable of understanding the national moment. Obama, who often has been characterized as too lawyerly and professorial, said Romney was too obtuse to understand regular people and their struggles. Romney had drawn the wrong lessons from being governor and running a "large financial firm." (Expect Obama to make many references to his "financial firm"; Romney prefers "business," a more benign word that brings to mind a chain of restaurants or a manufacturer instead of money manipulators.)

The president recounted how a woman from Iowa (swing state!) shared a story of her struggles and Romney responded by talking about productivity. The problem is not productivity, said Obama, but that as hard as people are working their wages aren't going up. "Governor Romney doesn't seem to get that." (Romney had other reactions to suffering Iowa female voters.)

Both candidates are in a race to show that the other is out of touch. This was Obama's opening gambit. He would like it if the rest of the campaign is simply a competition between which of the two men can empathize in public with voters. Obama isn't great at it, but Romney is worse. "Corporations aren't people," said Obama, rebutting a line Romney argued during the Republican primary, "people are people."

The bulk of the speech outlined the stakes as we've heard the president outline them before. This election is a choice he pointed out repeatedly, between his vision of government that helps people achieve their dreams and Republicans who want lower taxes and less regulation that he says will make the water dirtier, rob students of a chance to get an education, and ignore displaced workers who want a chance to retrain for new jobs. "This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class," said Obama.

The president outlined a host of issues that affected women--from contraception to abortion--that were under threat. To show just how much he wants to goose his lead with this important voting bloc, he made a rare reference to his daughters. "I want women to control their own health choices just like I want my daughters to have the same opportunities as your sons! We are not turning back the clock! We are moving forward!"

The president made several references to his blockbuster 2008 campaign arguing that hope and change were still alive. But the rhetorical sleights of hand highlighted just how tough things will be for him. He tried to reframe the choice as Romney has presented it. The election is not a question of whether people are better off, he said, but whether they will be better off. (Alas, in 2008 the president said "the real question is will this country be better off four years from now.") At other times today, his attempt to argue that the country is on the path to success and can't afford to turn back set him up for some awkward sound-bites. Acknowledging that the progress he wants to continue hasn't been enough, the president asked the audience "Are we satisfied?" The crowd roared "No!" If Mitt Romney doesn't ask the exact same question of his audiences from now until Election Day his advisers should lose their licenses.

Obama was at pains to beat back negative images that have attached to him over his first term. He repeatedly affirmed that he supported business and free enterprise and echoed his inaugural address' insistence that risk-taking in business was crucial to national prosperity. He repeatedly asserted that America was the greatest nation on earth since Republicans seem to think this is in doubt.

The president concluded his remarks sounding a theme that Bill Clinton made famous in New Hampshire in 1992 when he pledged, "I'll never forget who gave me a second chance, and I'll be there for you until the last dog dies." Today, Obama said: "I am asking you to believe in me," reminding voters that he once promised that he "would wake up every single day fighting for you as hard as I know how. I have kept that promise." It was a brief look back on a day otherwise all about moving forward.

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[bbglow]

If the republican campaign methods promote name calling and branding Americans seeking meaningful high-paying employment as communists or socialists then I predict republican defeat.

[bbglow]

@ agentz-, I have a college education and am self-employed. I am referring to what it takes to create revenue if taxes are off the table. Being independent, I don't see anything in the comments that even rival the derogatory level of calling an American a communist or socialist. And, as far as taxes go, they are at historic lows and the benefit is going to job creation abroad. Republicans act as though the American worker had nothing to do with helping to create their American wealth. And, good luck with that China thing when they get all the technology and American industry is decimated.

[bbglow]

P.S. @ agentz-, if taxes and regulation was so restrictive how is it possible that corporate America became wealthy in the first place. Face facts, some are greedy and don't want to share with US. And ... there are examples of companies that give back to employees, the environment and their communities. If all would do that, regulation would go away on it's own. Regulation is a product of exploitation.

[infantryman1968]

Obama's opening salvo: Hope, change and fear


LOL!


Its been the same message from the Dems for the past 5 years!

[Patriotson]

Obama's socialist reforms and vision for America requires that the legislative branch and judicial branch submit to the total control and power of the executive branch. Having by passed congress in rule through executive orders, Obama seeks to intimidate the judicial branch over Obamacare by threatening to cause a shutdown of medicare payments. Hollande and Obama have much in common with their socialist ideology. Obama now has someone other than Putin to share his "utopia" ideas and visioning for America. Socialism requires the disarming of the citizens it seeks to enslave with Marxist ideology. Fast and Furious failed in that attempt so, other methods must be employed to accomplish the goal for taking the weapons away from America's citizens. Constitution has become the toliet paper for Obama to use while in the White House.

[bbglow]

Republicans need to explain their use of the terms communist, socialist and socialism. If the terms are directed at individuals looking for a handout, I would agree with them. However, if the terms are directed at individuals seeking good paying employment and productive work and is directed at individuals who challenge efforts to lower wages, discourage individual growth and protect bargaining rights then my response is to let the republicans eat cake.

[bbglow]

Mortar and USSR, I keep posting it because the debate needs an adult voice.

[bbglow]

Ya ...

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
fear ? why ? such as the Republican candidate, Obama has all chances.
during his first term President Obama has accomplished things, but not others because Republicans were always there to stop up his initiatives, that explains some failures, however President Obama has ideas for America.
"au revoir"

[lg144]

When is the media going to start reporting and asking republicans about why they conspired to block everything President Obama proposed to help struggling Americans and bring our great nation out of the economic mess they created? And on the very day President Obama was inaugurated no less.

Republican teabagging extremist bigoted insurgents like B itch McConnell can't accept a Black Democratic president and are being uncooperative doing everything in their power to make sure he fails.

President Obama's biggest mistake was expecting republicans to bargain in good faith when in reality they are sabotaging anything President Obama does that might help average Americans at every turn in order to defeat him. Republicans have more allegiance to Grover Norquist and his pledge never raise taxes under any circumstance than the constitution and country. Whatever happened to country first. F"ing treasonous republican hypocrites.

A new book by Robert Draper titled "Do Not Ask What Good We Do" documents how republicans conspired to block everything President Obama proposes to bring the country out of the economic mess that republicans created. Why aren't reporters asking republicans why voters should reward them with votes for their unpatriotic, despicable, treasonous acts?

[marcuscassiu]

Hey Mortar, too many big words?

[lg144]

Sure, blame the president because republican teabagging extremist bigoted insurgents like B itch McConnell can't accept a Black Democratic president and are being uncooperative doing everything in their power to make sure he fails.

President Obama's biggest mistake was expecting republicans to bargain in good faith when in reality they are sabotaging anything President Obama does that might help average Americans at every turn in order to defeat him. Republicans have more allegiance to Grover Norquist and his pledge never raise taxes under any circumstance than the constitution and country. Whatever happened to country first. F"ing treasonous republican hypocrites.

A new book by Robert Draper titled "Do Not Ask What Good We Do" documents how republicans conspired to block everything President Obama proposes to bring the country out of the economic mess that republicans created. Why aren't reporters asking republicans why voters should reward them with votes for their unpatriotic, despicable, treasonous acts?

[USSAmerikan]

Barry had FULL control of congress in his first two years, so your argument, while well crafted, rings somewhat hollow... Barry blew his first two years by hijacking American goodwill into making choices that nobody wanted and still has us above 8% unemployment, such as Obamacare, funding Solyndras and EV companies that have yet to manufacture a drivable car. The 8% unemployment number would be drastically higher if we were not counting those who just fell off the register, gave up looking and are a)Living with relatives b)Living under a bridge. Of course, all of these numbers totally disregard the 18% Under-employed who are flipping burgers with their post-graduate degrees. 50% unemployment for our best and brightest recent-graduates???

[lg144]

You lie USSAmerikan. Democrats had control of congress for about 2 months due to the absence Senators Johnson and Kennedy due to their health issues. So stop your lies about Democratic control of congress for 2 years. I know it's all but immpossible for republicans not to lie but try OK?

[seafairparty]

President Obama offers hope, understanding and the truth which people realize but his opponent wearing Magic Underwear on stage playing the banjo and singing off key just is terrible.

What a contrast!

Advice for Mitten Romnuts should include the following before each pep talk, speech, BS session, briefing or one liner: He should make the following introduction:

First of all "My Lie of the Day" as you may say is just minutes away but who cares what they say about me I am "No Liar."

[Note: This results in cheers and applause from the Christian Right who are too uneducated to be allowed to vote and have the IQ of a golf ball. ]

[Ben37221]

This is an indisputable fact-the republicans wrecked the economy. The economy is much better today than it was when Obama took office. Obama is cleaning up the mess created by the republicans.
The republicans started the Iraq war. Obama ended it.
The republican leader Mitt Romney wanted Detroit to go bankrupt. Obama saved the auto industry, yes, including goverment motors as the republicans use to call GM. We don't hear that any more-I wonder why? Oh! GM is now the number one auto maker in the world-how about that for government motors. Obama will win because he is fighting for the interest of the middle class. The republicans will lose because their interest is protecting the most powerful, and have shown time and time again that they are willing to sacrifice the middle class, the poor and the entire nation to protect the richest amoung us.

[wfw3536]

Don't forget GM still owes the government about 40 billion which we can't afford. If they went through a controlled bankruptcy like a number of other companies like Delta Airlines we wouldn't be on the hook for anything. This just an example of Obama's big government.

[tafhdyd]

USSR.... get you facts straight. The economic demise started under the crooked leadership of Phil Gramm and his GOP buddies changing the banking controls.

[wfw3536]

When is Obama going to start running on his record instead of blaming everyone else for his failures. He can't run on hope and change as 46% of the folks are on food stamps and only 64% of folks are working, lowest since 1981. And then he blames congress, but doesn't admit the dems had a super majority in both houses most of his first two years in office, and what did he accomplish, a health care bill 59% of the folks want repealed, or a failed 800 billion stimulus bill that was wasted. Time for Obama to step and take some responsibility.