Underestimate Obama At Your Peril

I received an email from a friend in Los Angeles last Monday telling me that my buddy Chris Matthews quoted me on the midnight edition of Hardball. Earlier on Monday, I had emailed Chris to vent my frustration. For the last week or so I had been throwing things at my television while listening to Washington insiders tell me what a naive, stupid rookie Barack Obama was. It seemed to me that I had heard it all before, beginning early in the primary season, when Hillary Clinton's campaign manager, Howard Wolfson, called the Obama campaign "amateur hour." Then, everyone in Washington chuckled about how Hillary was running rings around Obama, how he was being "too nice" while she smashed him up. Then, in July and August, those who really understood politics insisted that "Obama's letting McCain define him," and he was blowing the election.

Each time, this Obama guy paid attention to his own clock, and stepped up when he needed to. By holding back on Hillary while he methodically collected delegates, he was able to win over her supporters and actually make many of them enthusiastic for him in the fall. By reacting to McCain with grace, he was able to look like the grownup when the stuff hit the fan.

I think Washington insiders underestimate Obama at their peril, and often look silly doing it. They act like the kid who used to be the smartest kid in the class, until the new kid came along. They remain in denial, convinced they know better.

I try civil cases for a living. To me, the way Washington reacted during the first week of February reminded me of how an occasional client will react with panic while the other side is putting on a case. The client is worried that I'm not doing anything to stop them, and I'm letting them control the agenda. The savvier client stays calm. He knows we are right on the merits, and he knows how it will all play out. The truth is, the other side gets to put on their case. They get to talk, too. Even if it is stupid. You have to sit there and look respectful (and hopefully graceful and confident) while they are doing it. When it's our turn, we will cross examine them and put on evidence, and take out their entrails.

Obama chose to begin by letting the other guys -- the guys who have been wrong for eight years -- have their say. He was nice to them. He had them over for drinks and the Super Bowl. In return, they treated him like a dog, and the people inside the Beltway laughed at how dumb Obama was.

Now, Obama is having his say. He's putting on his evidence. Here in Florida, he called one of his witnesses, our Republican governor, who actually has to deal with the mess his party in Washington has created for him. Obama is driving a wedge between local Republican officeholders and Republican congressmen and senators.

Recently I heard the host of Morning Joe suggest that Washington might have gotten it wrong by beating up on Obama for two weeks, as 67% of the people agree with the way Obama is handling the crisis while 58% are unhappy with the Republicans in Congress. In fact, Obama has again treated his adversaries with respect, whether they deserve it or not. Again, he looks like the grownup, because he is. People outside of Washington really like that.

Some of the experts are saying, "Well, he could have done all this a week ago." But, in fact, now is the time the rubber is meeting the road. Now, its voting time and conference committee time. It's closing argument time. You want to win the case when the jury begins to deliberate.

As I say, underestimate this guy at your peril.

Comments

[globalcitizenlinda]

Thanks for capturing my sentiments in this article exactly. People who do not know BO's brilliance always appear to under-estimate him.

I have been trying to impress it on all those I talk to that Prez Obama is like a skilled boxer who will let the opponent lay out all his cards then he will pounce at the right time and with the right punch.

It is therefore not a surprise that BO had a big Muhamad Ali poster in his Senate office since he is ready to "sting like a bee"!!

Think about it, how can it be that a president is able to win almost a trillion dollars for his programs during the first 3 weeks of his presidency. At this rate, I will not be surpised if we have health care reform by this december.

Prez Obama, keep on keeping on because we the people have your back

[DofG]

President Obama:

"The Chess Master"
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/opinion/10herbert.html

[StillIRise]

My sentiments exactly. From the beginning of the campaign until three weeks into his presidency, virtually every time we - both Democrats and Republicans - have second guessed President Obama, have questioned his decisions or predicted gloom and doom because of something he did or said; each time we concluded that he didn't know what he was doing or that he should have done it our way, he always came out on top, and we were left to marvel his brilliance! President Obama is a fundamentally good person and his vision is of a scope that few of us can appreciate. He truly wants to be a good president, the President of all Americans, political stripes aside. His rare strength of character and his commitment to his convictions confuse us because we are so used to seeing strength in partisan belligerance and verbosity, and because it conflicts with our paradigm of a strong politician, we see his strength as weakness. But what we don't understand is that President Obama's goodness and his willingness to extend himself to others do not render him stupid. He knows what he's doing, and he's as aware of all the landmines laying in his path as we are.

[MsMicki]

Wow, StillIRise! I couldn't have said any of that better. You were right on!. Mr. Fein sums up my feelings that I have had since the primaries, too. I have been ready for Obama as president since Dec. 2007. From that time on, I have watched him prevail over odds that nobody else could have survived. He has indeed shown more character and strength in his willingness to "not do" things. Things that we would have done immediately out of emotion. That's why we voted him our Prez. Because we could see the "adult" in him as well as the empathy and common sense attitude that has eluded our past leaders (if you want to call them that).

I say, Rethugs really need to take off the tin foil hats - THEY AREN'T WORKING!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!

[wanttruth]

Great post, StillIRise. I agree.

[Jetling]

I must like how your mind works...si­nce I've observed and said the same things since the buzz he was going to run started.

I disagree with one of your premises, though: McCain and Bush's college transcripts indicate they were perhaps the richest kids growing up, not the smartest. Rich kids usually believe they're smarter.

[AhnAmuru]

Nice article, though I prefer a Napoleon Bonaparte analogy.

Barack's strategy reminds me of Austerlitz - feign retreat and then swiftly deploy the imperial guard to smash four army groups. Brilliant manoeuvre

[waldotrish]

Our President Obama shot back with a " in your face" comment. Considering all the opposition he went through to get to this place I think he can handle his business. We just have to do our part. So I ask that everyone keep our President in your prayers as he tries to lead this nation back to greatness because we have fallen so far away from the way we used to be. Respected, admired and even feared. We made the right choice people in choosing Barack Obama for our President.

[coco51]

But isn't that the way of Republicans, they are prone to "misunderestimate," "fool me, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again" ala their fearless former War President George Walker Bush.

[TomTheAlmostUgly]

"When it's our turn, we will cross examine them and put on evidence, and take out their entrails."

I had to laugh at the vivid mental image that creates.

Also, it's true -- both Hillary and POW Johnny laughed at the newbie right up to the point where they discovered they were holding their own intestines in their red-covered hands, and then they said, "How did THIS happen?"

[buzzygirl]

I agree with you 100 percent, but you are wasting your time. We saw this during the primaries and during the general election. Some of us said the exact same thing, but the chattering class are the ones with the crystal ball.

They know it all. And so, when the next round comes, as the president pushes his other programs, you will hear the same thing.

Joe Scarborough for his part, takes his cue from the Republicans, spewing their talking points. He has no credibility as far as I am concerned.

But then again, the media at large are full of themselves. They accuse this president of being arrogant, just ask Maureen Dowd, elite, just ask Dana Milbank, and the lists goes on and on.

If only they would take a quick look in the mirror, they'd see what they've been trying to project on this president all along.

Many in the media are hopelessly useless.

[moxieme]

CAN WE ALL SAY IN UNISON....­PRESIDENT OBAMA...NO­T OBAMA, PRESIDENT OBAMA! As weary as I had grown I had enough respect for the Presidency as an institution of our nation to call former President Bush, President Bush. I am a recovering, reformed, transformed Republican. Barack Obama is now formally and honorably PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA!!!

[privategirl]

It's funny that you would notice that.

Presedent Obama seems to make it easy for you to forget that he is the President.

What I noticed while watching him yesterday when he was in Florida was how comfortable the crowd was with him. He looked more like a Community Worker reaching out to the folks in the neighborhood than the President of the United State. There is something to be said about him having that as his background. He was made fun of during the primaries and election, but one has to remember the connection of those who work closely with the people in the neighbor. It's like starting from the ground up.

[Kiwuck]

President Obama and his First Lady have returned us to the way it used to be. The Founding Fathers refused titles because they wanted to be known as one of the people, not as aristocrats.

The First Couple, just by being themselves, have returned us to that way of thinking of them as part of us, instead of the way it's been recently, of being superior to us.

Government of the people, by the people, for the people, instead of government of the peons by the priveledged for the priveledged.

[StillIRise]

I've been aware of this too, and am always conscientious about remembering to honor him with his rightful title, whether in using his name in speaking or in writing. But my husband and I were also discussing how truly remarkable and wonderful it is to have a President and a First Lady that the American people feel so close to and so comfortable with that we can call them Barack or Obama and Michelle. This became especially noticeable to us when Michelle was visiting the pre-school, and all the little children were calling her by her first name. I realize that some people say "Obama" with disrespect, but I think they're a lot more who just feel like they know them well enough to call them Barack and Michelle.

However, since that distinction is not always so clear, especially on this blogsite, I'll continue to refer to him as President Obama.

[TXDeb]

Dito.

Our President personifies the office and is setting a new standard of excellence for all Americans to reach.

[blaqntelligence]

Mr. Fein,
I think we all, his supporters included, underestimate him.
I screamed at the television all during the primaries.
All during the elections.
All during the bailout/stimulus.
I'm tired now.
I think I'll go, sit down and let President Obama run things his way.

[fem56]

I remember making this comment a while back on a blog. Hillary knows better! I was reading about how some of his campaign advisors are standing on the sidelines frustrated and disgruntled not being part of the action now after working so hard. I bet he will bring them in at just the right time.

[MaryKathO]

I've been saying the same thing for quite some time. Obama is usually 5 steps ahead of his opponents and brings in the 'closer' at JUST the right moment. Because Washington is an 'insider' kind of town, reluctant to accept change, this Obama dude is gonna take them some time to get used to. While they continue to spin their wheels clammering from the 'peanut gallery' Obama will be on to the next task. leaving them in the dust! All us 'rubes' out here in the 'boonies' get it...it's time Washington did as well.

[HeartT]

Here, here. And if Americans follow his lead and voice their desire for this bill every way they can. Phone calls. Emails. Blogs. Letters. YouTube, etc. You will see a stronger and more confident electorate unwilling to have their votes and their leadership choice marginalized. Government of, by and for the people.