Bush Needs to Step Up Communication Strategy (Wizbang)

In my column at the Examiner today I take a look at the Bush administration's weakness communicating their message and responding to political attacks.

The administration has to be more proactive and have a focused strategy to convey their message and that has been either lacking or insufficient.

The problem begins with the president. He does a great job on the road touting good economic news. He speaks movingly and persuasively about the mission in Iraq when talking to groups of real people.

He has trouble, however, working that same passion into more formal speeches that actually get airtime from the networks. Without properly conveying to the public the virtues and successes of various policies, it is impossible to build public support.

Without sustained support for a policy or action it is almost certainly doomed to fail. It is time for the administration to step up its communications game with a more aggressive strategy.

Update: The Anchoress describes one of those appearances where Bush is good at communicating -- the kind with real people. He is also excellent in small groups in the White House like those hall of famers and the like. Unfortunately, those don't get much television coverage. She also has a message I agree with wholeheartedly.

I cannot imagine what it is like to be this man, to wake up every single day and deal with a seething, BDS-afflicted press out to take him down, and a "loyal opposition" bent on giving him as much hell as possible in a time of war.

He makes me nuts sometimes - I wish he'd fight back more - but I can understand why he won't waste his energy on anklebiters and partisan snipers when he has troops in harms way, and people at home to keep safe. And he has kept us safe. And yes, I still pray for him, every day. Do you? Have you stopped? Maybe you should start again.

Update II: Granddaddy Long Legs has an excellent post on this subject. Read it all.

Comments (55)

The eyes of the many are ho... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 8:25 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

kim:

The eyes of the many are hostile.
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Posted on March 20, 2007 08:25

The problem isn't with the ... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by groucho | March 20, 2007 8:26 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

groucho:

The problem isn't with the communication strategy, it's with the message. People understand it and are just not buying it anymore. Quite simple, really.

Posted on March 20, 2007 08:26

We are pack animals. When ... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 8:27 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

We are pack animals. When eyes are artificial, the dynamic is inauthentic. That explains the private magic, and the public impotence. Well, that and the lying MSM.
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Posted on March 20, 2007 08:27

Naw, what part of his messa... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 8:28 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Naw, what part of his message has been discredited. I mean for real, not in your MSM mirage.
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Posted on March 20, 2007 08:28

And what, really, has been ... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 8:30 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

And what, really, has been wrong with his execution. The economy may be the best you'll ever see; al Qaeda is on the run. Who could ask for anything more?

Oh yes, better pay for out soldiers. Look what the free market would bring their skills.
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Posted on March 20, 2007 08:30

'our soldiers'. Well, your... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 8:31 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

'our soldiers'. Well, yours, too.
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Posted on March 20, 2007 08:31

I agree, Bush does not defe... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by bill | March 20, 2007 8:33 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

bill:

I agree, Bush does not defend anything, I guess he thinks that's a virtue. The MSM and their, party the Democrats, are out to destroy Bush and he doesn't seem to know. One big flaw is there are no defenders that go out on TV nightly to drive the message.

Posted on March 20, 2007 08:33

With all the tens of thousa... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by Oyster | March 20, 2007 8:33 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Oyster:

With all the tens of thousands of words Bush has spoken in speech after speech, too many people are still focusing on a select few words; "sixteen words" from one address and "stay the course". Both have been horribly twisted, expounded on, examined and re-examined until they mean whatever they want them to mean.

The rest to them is just background noise they filter out.

Just once I'd like to hear Bush himself refer to many Democrats, like Reid, Schumer, Durbin and others as "crying ninnies". THAT would make my day.

The economy may be the best... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by groucho | March 20, 2007 8:40 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

The economy may be the best you'll ever see if you're in the top 1 or 2 percent of income, otherwise things may not be so rosy. As for Al-Queda, do we really know what they're up to? Do we care about Osama or not? Which is it this week, I can't remember.

Posted on March 20, 2007 08:40

Wait a minute. Bush is a ba... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by ChrisO | March 20, 2007 8:40 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

ChrisO:

Wait a minute. Bush is a bad communicator? Why didn't someone bring this up earlier? Thank God for your insights.

When I saw the post title, ... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by Mark Roth | March 20, 2007 8:46 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Mark Roth:

When I saw the post title, I remembered again all the great hopes pinned on Tony Snow when he joined the Administration as press secretary.

Posted on March 20, 2007 08:46

Hey, ChrisO, Fred T is a go... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 8:50 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Hey, ChrisO, Fred T is a goooood communicator.
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Posted on March 20, 2007 08:50

It takes a real pro to put ... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by BarneyG2000 | March 20, 2007 9:15 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

BarneyG2000:

It takes a real pro to put lipstick on a pig.

Posted on March 20, 2007 09:15

Lorie, the problem w/ the C... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by fea nicks | March 20, 2007 9:24 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

fea nicks:

Lorie, the problem w/ the Chimp's message is that the American people are finally waking up.

The Chimp does well on the road because he always speaks to pre-selected audiences of predominantly Repusslican partisans, the true believers.

His message can't stand on any merits w/ the public in general as the public has already seen the Monkey of Oz behind the curtain.

Posted on March 20, 2007 09:24

Hillary is paying liberal b... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by Ted | March 20, 2007 9:45 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Ted:

Hillary is paying liberal bloggers $20,000 a month: http://www.solidpolitics.com

Posted on March 20, 2007 09:45

From Lorie's article: "... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by P. Bunyan | March 20, 2007 9:45 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

P. Bunyan:

From Lorie's article: "In many cases, the various battles in Iraq were reported as if in a vacuum, with casualty counts being the primary focus, rather than reporting objectives that were accomplished as a result of various missions."

First, I think "many" is a gross exaggeration in that first sentence. "All" or "almost all" would have been a lot more accurate.

Second, it bears repeating that those who want the US to win in Iraq will focus on the positives and those who do not want the US to win in Iraq (the democrats and their propaganda wing, commonly referred to as the MSM) will focus on the negatives.

I don't think we can fault ... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by Publicus | March 20, 2007 9:49 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Publicus:

I don't think we can fault the Bush Administration for failing to get its points across----we all know where the administration stands. We all know that he believes the war in Iraq is important, that he deposed the dictator Hussein, that there were elections in Iraq, etc.

We also know that the war has no end in sight, that there is a civil war, that Al Queda--who had no presence in Iraq--now operates there, etc.

People know whats going on. They are weighing the facts.

Posted on March 20, 2007 09:49

I think a really good solut... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by P. Bunyan | March 20, 2007 9:57 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

I think a really good solution to this problem would be to re-instate the Fairness Doctrine in the media.

Some democrats want to do this, but only apply it the sole segment of the media that is not totally dominated by socialist regressive propaganda - talk radio.

I say bring the doctrine back, but apply it to the bradcast network news and newspapers. That would be the death of the current incarnation of the "democrat" party in this country. Hopefully it would be replaced with something better.

The only way the democrat party continues to thrive is by keeping average Joe (and Barney, Hugh, Lee, ect.) informationally retarded.

Posted on March 20, 2007 09:57

It's true that Bush is a ba... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by Adrian Browne | March 20, 2007 9:58 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Adrian Browne:

It's true that Bush is a bad communicator -- add to that the people that believe he used bait-and-switch techniques and has strayed from Compassionate Conservatism (we have the exact opposite -- a larger yet completely incompetent government) and also there are the people that just do not like what he's selling.

Instead of Public Relations-style obfuscation, I'd prefer the truth.

Posted on March 20, 2007 09:58

Wait. Are you seriously sug... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by Publicus | March 20, 2007 9:59 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Wait. Are you seriously suggesting that the Bush Administration's positions are essentially "secret" because it can't get its words out to the public?

Really?

Posted on March 20, 2007 09:59

Bush said he seeks advice f... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by BarneyG2000 | March 20, 2007 10:03 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Bush said he seeks advice from a higher father. Maybe he should fire Jesus?

Posted on March 20, 2007 10:03

Fascinating news, Ted. May... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 10:12 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Fascinating news, Ted. Maybe this is why Barney thinks TPM is 'necessary'. They get $2500/wk from Hillary.

I've been banned at two of the blogs, FireDogLake and Left Coast. Doesn't Hillary, or Soros, understand that bought and paid for opinion is perverting. No wonder they are losing the ability to talk their way out of a paper bag.

And I think it is really interesting that Hillary's push was against Gonzales. They really wanted McNulty in there.

Is Rocky teetering?
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Posted on March 20, 2007 10:12

Bush called Gonzo this morn... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by BarneyG2000 | March 20, 2007 10:23 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Bush called Gonzo this morning with his full support.

We all know what that means.

Posted on March 20, 2007 10:23

Hillary is buying advertisi... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by BarneyG2000 | March 20, 2007 10:27 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Hillary is buying advertising? Heaven forbid! Where is the precedent for candidates to buy advertising time/space on media?

Posted on March 20, 2007 10:27

BarneyGoogle,There... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | March 20, 2007 10:36 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Sheik Yur Bouty:

BarneyGoogle,

There's a big difference between advertising and astroturfing.

Posted on March 20, 2007 10:36

They really wanted... (Below threshold)

26. Posted by Publicus | March 20, 2007 10:44 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

They really wanted McNulty in there.

Please explain why the Democrats would want McNulty, a career Republican, hand-picked by Bush, to be the AG. Also, why would the Dems want a guy who was partly responsible for the D.A. firings that the Dems clearly opposed?

Posted on March 20, 2007 10:44

I think you are confusing t... (Below threshold)

27. Posted by Publicus | March 20, 2007 10:45 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

I think you are confusing things. The Bush administration IS successfully communicating its messages. Many people simply don't find him to be convincing.

Posted on March 20, 2007 10:45

"I've been banned at two... (Below threshold)

28. Posted by fea nicks | March 20, 2007 10:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

"I've been banned at two of the blogs, FireDogLake and Left Coast": Posted by: kim

That you were banned, kim, is not surprising, since bimbo eruptions have become passé after Clinton left office.

Posted on March 20, 2007 10:47

fea nicks, look up ad homin... (Below threshold)

29. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 10:55 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

fea nicks, look up ad hominem. You've supped on the degenerate rhetoric the left thinks will save the world.

P, McNulty is doing Schumer's bidding. Read AJStrata.
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Posted on March 20, 2007 10:55

It funny watching the left ... (Below threshold)

30. Posted by Scrapiron | March 20, 2007 10:56 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Scrapiron:

It funny watching the left do the nazi goose step and then watch them try to back up. Doesn't they're interference in the presidents hiring and firing practice carry over to the next president? Doesn't that mean that Rove has 'his job' in the white house no matter who becomes president? The incoming president cannot replace him. Makes sense to me, go for it. Just another result of the stupidity of the dhimmi's, all of them.

Posted on March 20, 2007 10:56

Bush is a prime example of ... (Below threshold)

31. Posted by bryanD | March 20, 2007 10:57 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

bryanD:

Bush is a prime example of Regression To The Mean. He's obviously a lesser specimen than Dad and Grand-Dad, and sensing this fact, he has surrounded himself with favorites and courtiers, instead of the wise counsel of able lieutenants. Was it one of the Ducs d'Anjous (or Bourbons or Berrys?) that insisted that only snub noses like his own would be allowed at Court? One can't expect the folks who prostrated themselves at the foot of Richie Rich, to actually make good on the field of partisan combat, can you? Their modus operandi has been political poisonings and other means not too safety averse.

Posted on March 20, 2007 10:57

Barney, have you ever seen ... (Below threshold)

32. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 10:58 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Barney, have you ever seen 'paid for by so and so' on paid advertising? The key word is 'disclosure'. Look it up. It's useful.
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Posted on March 20, 2007 10:58

BryanD, if you can't contro... (Below threshold)

33. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 11:00 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

BryanD, if you can't control your jealousy, please expose yourself to it, instead of us.
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Posted on March 20, 2007 11:00

You want to examine a degen... (Below threshold)

34. Posted by kim | March 20, 2007 11:01 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

You want to examine a degenerate Imperium, look at the MSM.
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Posted on March 20, 2007 11:01

Kim, you rock. ... (Below threshold)

35. Posted by Jo | March 20, 2007 11:08 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Jo:

Kim, you rock.

Posted on March 20, 2007 11:08

bryanDumbass say what? How ... (Below threshold)

36. Posted by jhow66 | March 20, 2007 11:20 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

jhow66:

bryanDumbass say what? How much kool-aid did you sip?

Posted on March 20, 2007 11:20

"It funny watching the left... (Below threshold)

37. Posted by BarneyG2000 | March 20, 2007 11:28 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

"It funny watching the left do the nazi goose step and then watch them try to back up. Doesn't they're interference in the presidents hiring and firing practice carry over to the next president?" scrapie

Thanks for clearing up this issue for us. I have not heard it put so eloquently and so concisely before.

Posted on March 20, 2007 11:28

38. Posted by BarneyG2000 | March 20, 2007 11:36 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Posted by: kim at March 20, 2007 10:58 AM

Gee kim, look what I found on Hillary's Ad (DailyKos):

"Paid for by Hillary Clinton for President Exploratory Committee"

Ha HA

Posted on March 20, 2007 11:36

kim, look up Pink Flamin... (Below threshold)

39. Posted by fea nicks | March 20, 2007 11:37 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

kim, look up Pink Flamingoes and rebt it.

Babs Johnson is your alter-ego.

Posted on March 20, 2007 11:37

those who want the US to... (Below threshold)

40. Posted by Brian | March 20, 2007 11:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Brian:

those who want the US to win in Iraq will focus on the positives and those who do not want the US to win in Iraq... will focus on the negatives.

Ah, the Tinkerbell strategy shines again. Clap your hands and focus on the positive, and we will magically win!

Gee, and I always thought that those who want the US to succeed in its policies will focus on the TRUTH, good or bad.

Posted on March 20, 2007 11:47