Howard Fineman and a very good quick essay on how Obama can improve his image.

[RBInMaine]

As an ObamaFAN I think this article is very good. Campaigns are always learning curves. Many people are still getting to know Sen. Obama. In order to be successful and dig into the opponent's base, a candidate has to look at the soft spots and re-adjust tactics. On the image issue, Howard Fineman of Newsweek has put together a great short essay on 7 steps Obama could take to deal with this. A great quick read at the URL below. Fineman makes several excellent points that Team-Obama should consider. It begins as follows:

"Senator Obama, you stand accused of being an out-of-touch, arugula-eating Ivy League elitist who couldn't convert a one-pin spare if the presidency depended on it. I don't have a dog in this fight (despite what Hillary Clinton supporters sometimes think of me) but here are my suggestions for how to reach, and be seen reaching, the "the real America" as you continue to grind toward the Democratic nomination. Obviously, you've got to talk in more meat-and-potatoes terms about how your economic proposals will help working people. But that's only part of what you need to do:"

For the rest, check out this link or see Real Clear Politics site. (Would be cool to get some feedback on what others think.)

http://www.newsweek.com/id/133790

[DesertFlower]

1. i think he should take some advise from fineman. nt

[terrell9584]

13. In all honesty

What he needs to do is to copy the strategy that Bob Graham used to become Governor of Florida back in the 70s. You may say it is corny, you may say it is corny but it got Graham elected. Graham was the son of a millionaire who had married a debutante who spoke like an old Florida aristocrat and who clearly was the son of privilege background wise. However, he was willing to work alongside the working people in his state and it won him their undying respect. Even today, he remains the most popular statesman in Florida. Obama honestly needs to rip off that idea.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. here's more and I love it: Accept the theatrics, understand icons (abercrombie and fitch??)

ACCEPT THE THEATRICS. I know that you find some of the ritualistic aspects of politics silly if not phony. Your whole candidacy is about "authenticity," and you want to remain true to what you are, or what you have become, after a sometimes confusing mixed-race and intercontinental upbringing. But you have to surrender—with a smile—to the cheesy theatrics of American politics. I know you are cool. Lord knows you are cool. But you have to look like you are enjoying making a fool of yourself.

UNDERSTAND ICONS AND SYMBOLS. You should fire whoever allowed three guys in Abercrombie & Fitch shirts to stand behind you at your big post-Pennsylvania rally in Indiana. You don't need Abercrombie & Fitch—you need Smith & Wesson. I know you are a constitutional-law professor and you appreciate intellectual subtlety, but you have to know what the kids who love you know—that semiotics is all. Branding is all. And you need more brands in your quiver. Including the flag. The next time someone asks you about the absence of a flag pin on your suit, say this: "I don't need to wear patriotism on my lapel because patriotism is in my heart." And don't assume that a speech, however well crafted, will take care of it. Two years ago, you gave a brilliant defense of the need for faith in the public square, but that should have been just the beginning of that sales effort on the score, not the end of it. Let's hear it again.

[ErinBerin84]

3. Chuck Todd kind of mentioned this yesterday

Chris Matthews went off on his "She has become Norma Rae!She's the populist!" and Chuck Todd said "Even though HE has the more populist policies."

[chefgirl]

4. Good Read

Yeah, I have to admit, although I usually don't trust Howard Fineman, he just may be onto something this time.

I just watched Obama's speech in front of a gas station today where he was talking about gas prices. He was reading from his notes, and I couldn't help thinking how much more effective it would have been if he had just turned around and made reference to the sign right behind him.

He didn't sound at all like he was trying to actually talk to the people in the crowd, but read to them. Just seemed so out of character for him. He's usually so good on the stump.

Maybe this campaign is starting to wear on him...and who could blame him?

Then again, every time we've thought Obama might be down and out in this campaign, he's managed to come through. I'm keeping the faith for now.

-chef-

[Jersey Devil]

5. Isn't he doing this already? BB game Saturday is for what other reason?

You think maybe he is taking time out for a physical fitness class?

He's got this covered. Don't worry.

[BklynChick]

6. i thought he made some good points.

[Political Heretic]

7. As much as I HATE to say it, he's right about Theatrics and Symbols

It's hard for me to take too, but its the way the game of American politics is played and won.

[rodeodance]

8. ha ha ---you admit BHO is out of touch!!---ha ha --fineman is the answer. what a hoot!!

[David__77]

9. He just can't win these petty arguments.

If he's not "effete," he's a "scary Black man." Jesus.

[KittyWampus]

14. Fineman is talking about winning- PERIOD. Symbolism and learning how to manipulate public opinion

is important. Democrats have absolutely SUCKED at it.

The GOP will provide the narrative of effete or scary black man... it's Obama's job to provide the alternative narrative.

And to do it so it sticks using symbolism.

Fineman has it right.

[woolldog]

10. I read it earlier and it's spot on.

especially the part about his response to the flag pin question. I think sometimes Obama over-intellectualizes and it gets him into trouble. He gives a convoluted repsonse to questions that can be answered really simply. A perfect example of that is that flag pin thing.

I also like Finneman's point about accepting some of the theatrics of running for office. Embrace retail politics.

[Rageneau]

11. This is like Tucker Carlson giving "cool" lessons to Snoop Dog.

[Tatiana]

12. LMAO Fineman saw "Barbershop" (the movie with Ice Cube)

My favorite part:

DEFEND THE CITIES. You cannot accept the premise—successfully pushed by Republicans since the days of Ronald Reagan—that our big metropolitan areas somehow aren't in the "mainstream." (Not surprisingly, this notion arose when many of the cores of those places came to be dominated by African-Americans in the '60s.) But the whole point of America is that there are many mainstreams, and it is un-American to say otherwise. Back in, say, the 1950s, no one ever said that Brooklyn was not America. Heck, it was the very embodiment of the American ideal, underdog Dodgers and all. And don't forget that for the first time in human history, more than half the population of the world lives in metropolitan areas.

I'm so sick of cities getting a bad rep. How many times did Clinton mention Obama made his "bitter" comments in SAN FRANCISCO (ooooohhhhhh that out-of-touch LIBERAL CITY!!!!!!)? The average American probably has more in common with someone from San Francisco or Los Angeles or NYC or Chicago or Detroit than someone from AnySmallRuralTown, ConservativeRedState, America. Our rural areas are important, of course. But cities don't deserve the bad rep or lack of attention that they are getting, in my opinion.

Big cities and their metro areas deliver big votes (see Cook County IL and JFK).