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One of the best reads on Obama comes from John F. Harris on "7 Stories Obama Doesn't Want Told."
Harris' article will strike home to most of Obama's critics who will see the 7 news stories as neatly summarized points Obama's opponents have been trying to voice the last few years towards the mesmerized media and followers. Harris also makes clear these 7 perceptions of Obama are issues that Obama must worry about taking hold in the public's mind about his character and job performance. One of these issues is that Obama feels as if he is playing with "Monopoly" money. That point is beginning to take a very strong hold in America's mind, and as Harris points out, Obama realizes the danger as well. This is one reason Obama will focus on cost control in 2010.
Yet the most damage to Obama's image may come from Obama's own Chicago gang in the White House. Harris' third point of Obama's "Chicago-styled politics" is reflected in the way his aides take pride in being nothing but "old campaign hacks". The problem is that much of the American public took Obama at his word in that he wanted to bring a non-partisan style of politics to Washington. Yet what we have seen is Harris' description of old style politics:
The examples of Chicago-style politics include their delight in public battles with Rush Limbaugh and Fox News and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. (There was also a semi-public campaign of leaks aimed at Greg Craig, the White House counsel who fell out of favor.) In private, the Obama team cut an early deal — to the distaste of many congressional Democrats — that gave favorable terms to the pharmaceutical lobby in exchange for their backing his health care plans.
The bribing of politicians is clear for all to see as votes are bought and others are strong-armed. Americans do have a distaste for political corruption that is blatantly acted out on the large public stage health-care reform has provided. It isn't that Americans are naive,but when these so called "Chicago politics" are openly approved of and acted upon by those in power, the voters will soon show their disapproval and 2010 is upon us.
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