Read It Here First
EmailThe Bottom Line has obtained a copy of the new book by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe. It won’t hit book stores until November 3rd, but here are ten revealing nuggets from “The Audacity to Win”:
1) Biggest mea culpa: Plouffe failed to research Obama
Rolling Stone had published some inflammatory quotes from Rev. Jeremiah Wright just before Obama was to announce he was running for president in Springfield, Illinois on February 10, 2007. Wright was scheduled to deliver the invocation for the event, but was pulled out when the quotes surfaced. Plouffe realized the campaign had a significant weakness.
Plouffe writes, “ …we had done zero research on our own candidate beyond a small and incomplete package from the 2004 Senate race. With this lapse, we were violating a central rule of politics – know more about yourself than your opponents and the media do. Since we had not scrubbed every quote, vote, speech, and donor of Obama’s, we knew we’d be getting questions we couldn’t foresee, unless he remembered each incident and vote precisely, we’d be scrambling to mount a defense.”
Plouffe continued:
“The incident should have prompted an immediate scouring of the Reverend Wright and all he has said over the years….it’s worth noting that our systemic failure to deal with this issue properly started the day before Obama’s announcement. I still kick myself for how terribly we mishandled our internal Wright work.”
2) The campaign was in denial about Rev. Wright:
By March 12, 2008, when ABC News began to air explosive excerpts from Rev. Wrights sermons, the campaign was in denial about the significance of the Rev. Wright problem. Plouffe writes:
“We had…failed to discuss the various options we might explore vis-à-vis Wright. We never raised with Obama the idea of leaving the church, or discussed with him any detail of how we would respond if inflammatory statements were to emerge. We were in denial. In any competitive enterprise, you need to know everything your opponent knows about you and limit the number of surprises by getting out damaging information about yourself before it can be used to sucker punch you.”
3) But they did test Oprah:
“[Oprah’s] numbers among noncore caucus-goers and primary voters in the early states were even higher than among the general population. We tested her thoroughly before deploying her. We thought some high-profile campaigning with Oprah could reach some of these voters in a more compelling way than the traditional messengers and methods would.”
4) Obama hated campaigning:
By April 2007, Plouffe writes, Obama had become, “increasingly sullen” and on a flight, Robert Gibbs had a heart-to-heart with Obama:
“Are you having any fun at all?,” he asked him.
“None, “ Obama flatly replied.
“Do you see any way we can make it more fun?” Gibbs replied.
“No.”
5) Edwards is as craven as you think:
Sometime after the South Carolina debate Plouffe got a call from a senior Edwards Advisor who said Edwards was willing to announce the end of his campaign and join forces with Obama to defeat Clinton. When Plouffe asked if he could raise this with Obama the Edwards advisor said, “Yes.…Just to be clear we’re going to talk to the Clinton people too. That’s not where John’s heart is, but he is at the point of maximum leverage now.”
“Obama’s answer,” Plouffe writes, “was quick and firm: he would cut no deals.”
6) Michelle Obama weighs-in on the race speech:
Concerned that the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia would not be the best setting for Obama’s speech on race, Michelle called Plouffe to voice her opinion. Plouffe writes, “I think Barack needs to be in a bigger setting for the speech,” she told me. “He needs to see supportive faces and to be boosted.”
Plouffe convinced Michelle Obama that the venue matched the “sober” tone he believed the speech needed to have and she relented.
7) Post Rev. Wright:
A bitter Obama was worried that he had taken on too much water to win the general election. Plouffe writes, “He had told me in the middle of the Wright episode during the Pennsylvania primary that he would end his candidacy if he honestly thought Hillary had a better chance of winning and that he really was damaged electoral goods.”
8) A glimpse of the future:
Obama didn’t find his own campaign’s attacks on the McCain health care plan credible.
Plouffe writes, “We were ferociously attacking McCain’s health care plan, which had at its centerpiece a proposal to begin taxing workers’ health care benefits as income to generate money to cover the uninsured.”
Obama was unhappy with strategy and told Plouffe, “I don’t think people will find the charge credible…and while I can make the case that it’s true, I think it puts too much spin on the ball. Let’s just lay out his position without feeling the need to scare people with some grandiose political scorecard terminology.”
Obama is now, of course, facing critics who say his health care plan contains a similar tax.
9) Plouffe plays hardball and Obama balks
Plouffe writes that he green-lighted a documentary about Senator McCain’s association with Charles Keating during the savings and loan scandal of the 1980s. Obama was angry when he learned from watching television that the campaign was releasing the film. Obama took Plouffe and Axelrod aside and asked, “Why wasn’t I consulted?” Plouffe tried to explain, but, as he writes, “Obama cut me off. “This is not a run-of-the-mill ad. This is a big bomb. And I should have made the final decision on whether to use it and when.” He was clearly frustrated”
10) Election Night 60 Minutes Interview = Miller time
Plouffe reveals that during their 1:00 am 60 Minutes interview with Steve Kroft, he and Axelrod had filled their coffee cups with beer. “It could not have tasted better,” Plouffe writes.
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===we had done zero research on our own candidate beyond a small and incomplete package from the 2004 Senate race.===
And wasn’t it just blind luck that MSM joined you in doing zero research on your candidate?
Posted by: Axey | October 30, 2009, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
George, are you going to ask Plouffe if Rev. Wright loves America?
Posted by: Sean | October 30, 2009, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
I’m tickled pink everytime. Just when you think someone w/ a vital connection to this campaign cannot possibly be anymore alienated from the pulse of what American voters need and want…ABC news throws us a curveball!! hahaha This cements in the black & white the truth that Obama is behind the game, not ahead of it, and therefore certainly not up to even acting like the US president, let alone building a legacy for himself.
Posted by: HA! | October 30, 2009, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm
Obama wasn’t having any fun, he was sullen. I found him sullen and arrogant from day one.
Posted by: womenofAZ | October 30, 2009, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm
All they had to do was ask me if he was going to win. I predicted it back in June 2008.
People were just tired of a Bush / Clinton in office since 1980 (Bush Sr. was Vice President..then President). There was no way it was going anywhere near a Clinton, a Bush or Republican. No relation whatsoever.
People have had it with either being talked to like an idiot by their president..or..if knowing what they know now..and if they didn’t really know…all they knew their retirement future and current savings were down the tubes or any home investment was holed!! Or they got sick in the system without a job.
So…anything “BUT” an old wealthy white man was next in line!
..and he is one suave dude with an actual education and experienced background….finally.
Now..let’s bring da funk music back!
Let’s have our quality of life back.
Let’s make it a party again!
Democrats and liberals have ALWAYS kept the money home. They just don’t send it overseas or give it to their international corporate friends. Historically, that is what it has been for over a hundred years!
So now..its time to cycle it again…and keep the money home and finally trickle back up.
The question is..will we be able to tell our children and grandchildren how this is the second Big screw by Republicans? (See Roosevelt speech from Madison Square garden 1936)
I hope we can…oh yes…that’s right..
YES we CAN!
For those who didn’t see it coming..well if you continue to watch Fox news..you will stay uninformed about what everyone else is doing or thinking…how out of the loop do you have to be???
Must suck to be a Fox News watcher..to keep getting dumber and dumber about the rest of the world.
Posted by: Sassy Lou | October 30, 2009, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
If anyone in the press had done any fact checking at all starting with Obama’s book,his activities in Chicago & Rev. Wright Hillary would be in the White House today. Another word for Illinois (I live there) Politics is corruption. Votes aren’t cast they are bought. The Chicago Press just chuckles & says “That’s the Chicago Way”. If you want to sell newspaper you have got to do some investigation & get some news to report. Woodward & Bernstein where are you????
Posted by: cherylfeil | October 30, 2009, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm
Sassy Lou, you must be right out of the Obama mold, you keep talking, but don’t say anything useful…I assume your leg tingles while watching MSNBC in your trailer…
Posted by: Jerry | October 30, 2009, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
No matter what allegedly happened behind the scenes, we elected the best choice of Obama and Biden for this country. Our situation is tough enough with intelligent, well-educated, caring and compassionate people in office. Can you seriously imagine how screwed up things would be with McCain and Palin in the W.H.? I cringe when I even consider such a disaster! In my opinion, we escaped a bullet.
Posted by: jmb | October 30, 2009, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
Yeah, thank God the Democrats keep the money at home. Well, unless they are busy creating jewels of legislation like NAFTA that is.
Posted by: Richard Cranium | October 30, 2009, 10:35 pm 10:35 pm
The man was meant to be in office – he was voted in by 54% of the country. I lived in IL also – the state is republican except for Cook County, which encompasses Chicago. Pres. Obama was a senator from the State, not a city council member from Chicago – big difference. The Country wanted a change and he offered one. It is quite amazing to watch one individual change the view of this country on a positive basis and give the citizens of the globe hope…that, in and of itself, speaks volumes. It is amazing how many choose to remain in the pain/suffering/blame mindset. He is President because WE elected him and I, frankly, think we made a great choice, because WE COULD!
Posted by: Kathy | October 30, 2009, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
These are hard times and people are genuinely struggling. I think what is more important about all these ‘fine details’ is how are we going to get out of this, and what kind of debt-legacy are we leaving our children?
Posted by: The Therapist | October 30, 2009, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
Richard Cranium- NAFTA was Bush Sr’s baby, Clinton just signed it. Don’t place all of the blame on the dems.
Posted by: Jeremy | October 30, 2009, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
For those of us who were and are disenchanted at first sight; the train has
already left the station folks.
Posted by: Lois | October 30, 2009, 11:49 pm 11:49 pm
Exactly. Don’t place all the blame on the Republicans either. To deny that our current situation is anything but the results of the combined efforts of BOTH parties is to deny yourself the opportunity to actually vote in people who might actually look out for the interests of the country over party and personal pusuits. Neither the Democrats or Republicans have done a very good job of putting the country first over the last few decades and we are living in the results.
Posted by: Richard Cranium | October 30, 2009, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
And there are now 2 William Ayers and Jeremiah Wrights-the ones on the White House visitors list are not one and the same as the ones from Chicago? And it’s not the same John Edwards?
Posted by: djnfla | October 30, 2009, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
” Our situation is tough enough with intelligent, well-educated, caring and compassionate people in office.” What are you smoking? We have been and will continue to be in a “government by ME and for ME” when it comes to American politicians, period. Regardless of who is in the WH, they do not care about the average American struggling to make ends meet. They are in it for the position, the prestige, the power and THEIR future. Get use to it.
Posted by: JBPRG | October 31, 2009, 7:32 am 7:32 am
I am disappointed in David Plouffe’s book. He was thinking of himself obviously as many of the things he printed should have remained private as they were told in private and could come out at a later date not now to embarrass the president. What transpired about the V.P selection did not need to be known while the parties are in power….a president or one running for president should have the confidence of his people and be allowed to express his views without having them posted after he says them. When he is out of power, then write the book. I think he is a self serving person and wrong to do this. Just like the guy who wrote the book on Bush, however Bush was out of power when he wrote it. Still, what is said in the privacy of the white house staff should stay that way. I guess there is no loyalty anywhere.
Posted by: talmag | October 31, 2009, 10:29 am 10:29 am
Strange revelations from Plouffe. Seems like this is more fodder for White House opponents than anything else.
To those that criticize Fox News: I watch Fox News, but not exclusively…not even close. Few do. Duh. Get off your high horses.
Posted by: OhRicky | October 31, 2009, 10:53 am 10:53 am
That’s the good thing about our political system; every 4 years you get to start over. But remember an important lesson; what a candidate says during the campaign means absolutely nothing when he’s president. Hopefully, 4 years isn’t enough time to do significant damage.
Posted by: LongT | October 31, 2009, 11:10 am 11:10 am
Very strange indeed! I certainly know what my pastor believes, no vetting needed there.
Obama either was asleep at the wheel (or asleep in church) or he took no exception to Rev. Wright’s harangues!
Posted by: Ed Taylor | October 31, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am
The whole lot of politicians needs to be changed… like dirty diapers. Both parties have proven what self centered, egotistical, GREEDY crooks they really are. They CLAIM to represent the people,but the real truth is they are ALL legislative prostitutes; the sexual affair they have with corporate America and its lobby dollars is sickening, and congress’s response to the corruption that took place with our tax dollars as the banks got bailed out for FAILING and congress let them pay performance bonuses for FAILING; to refer to anyone in either the democratic OR republican party as a representative of the people…is a FLAT OUT LIE! Too bad for even the very few honest ones (like Ron Paul)… If the candidate is either Republican or Democrat, DON’t EVEN think of picking them, no matter what promises (lies) they may say. Even an honest person in either Party will inevitably get corrupted. INDEPENDENT 2010/2012 !!!
Posted by: andyupnorth | October 31, 2009, 11:49 am 11:49 am
By April 2007, Plouffe writes, Obama had become, “increasingly sullen” and on a flight, Robert Gibbs had a heart-to-heart with Obama:
“Are you having any fun at all?,” he asked him.
“None, “ Obama flatly replied.
“Do you see any way we can make it more fun?” Gibbs replied.
“No.”
Hey, Barry,…Nowhere in revelations does it say that the “Beast” has any fun..Just do what you must to fullfil prophecy.
Posted by: mesndblues | October 31, 2009, 11:52 am 11:52 am
It will be fascinating to see if this book has any “legs”…..so far the Obama aplogists are out in force. In this exerpt of the book, the Obamas come across pretty much as delivered: the product of a carefully crafted gang, rather the pupptet, if you will. We have had the new and improved package foisted upon us, only to learn what an empty box it is. The Obamas are celebrities….carefully designed by the PR people. I wonder how long it will be until the author of this “outrage” will be standing????
Posted by: Virginia | October 31, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
Think about politics and those who are working so hard to get these jobs. Would you spend millions to get a job that only pays a few thousands ? In the end it’s about the almighty trophy of being a senator, congressman, or president. They have to take care of the donors for the next term. This administration wants what every administration want a second term.
Posted by: James | October 31, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
Republicans keep saying this is a Christian nation, I think some of the posters on this site need to refresh their understanding of the definition of Christian.
Posted by: I see you! | October 31, 2009, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm
I would guess that Obama knows as little about Christianity as he did about Rev. “Wrong”, after all genuine Christians could not support abortion!
Posted by: Ed Taylor | October 31, 2009, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm
obama is a liar who ran a brilliant campaign, he usae the “hope and change” beautifully. by not offering anything of substance to focus anyones mind on, he just allowed EVERYONE to form their own hope and or change in their mind and that allowed the people to form a GOOD opinion of him. brilliant but he was totally without a resume to to the job of president. i believe he is the brainchild of soros and aa super think-tank.
Posted by: plainolcitizen | October 31, 2009, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
“The man was meant to be in office – he was voted in by 54% of the country.” ————–No this is wrong. He was voted in with 54% of the 110 million people that voted. We have over 300 million in this country. So YOUR WRONG.
Posted by: coastlinecascott | October 31, 2009, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
I thank GOD that he has put President Obama in office. This proves that GOD has not blessed the Christian right.
Posted by: democratic | October 31, 2009, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
talmag — You very eloquently stated what I think but would never have been able to phrase so well. Thanks. You have spoken for at least two of us!
Posted by: xtch3 | October 31, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
Sissy Lou said: “Must suck to be a Fox News watcher..to keep getting dumber and dumber about the rest of the world.”
To make an informed judgement like you did would require lots of time watching Fox News which according to you, would make you dumber and dumber.
If you haven’t watched Fox, know nothing about the network, know nothing about the details of the stories reported and still feel free to make a judegement, you’re qualified to be president (“acted stupidly”)
Posted by: Gwen | October 31, 2009, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
“…to refer to anyone in either the democratic OR republican party as a representative of the people…is a FLAT OUT LIE!”
Hopefully, there are a few but your point is well taken. Another problem we have is blind loyalty by party followers. We need to hold both parties accountable. Republicans did not during the Bush administration and Democrats aren’t holding the Obama administration accountable. Too much blind koolaid drinking by both parties.
Posted by: Tom | October 31, 2009, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
George is a cative of FOX and Hannity..He did a number on the Clintons after he left WhiteHouse….I would not trust this little guy as far as I could throw him.
Posted by: patrik | October 31, 2009, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
“Hey, Barry,…Nowhere in revelations does it say that the “Beast” has any fun..Just do what you must to fullfil prophecy.”
And that is exactly what the “beast” did. “Beast?” what the…
Posted by: J Lo | October 31, 2009, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
…and the fact that Obama sat in that church for 20 yrs to listen to Rev Wright talk down everything about America did not even register with the average idiot voter last November. I guess we should listen to Hollywood and Michael Moore to find out how to vote….thinking is just too hard.
Posted by: bill | October 31, 2009, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
Posted by: democratic | Oct 31, 2009 3:23:12 PM “I thank GOD that he has put President Obama in office. This proves that GOD has not blessed the Christian right.” ****Then apparently you don’t know God. God puts people in certain places, good or bad, to teach us lessons. I for one have had my eyes opened to the downfall of the country since President Obama has been in office. It hs been hading that way for a few years, but it has been on the fast track down hill lately.
Posted by: d | October 31, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
who did they vet?
Posted by: g55rumpy | October 31, 2009, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm
Posted by: democratic | Oct 31, 2009 3:23:12 PM “I thank GOD that he has put President Obama in office. This proves that GOD has not blessed the Christian right.” ****Then apparently you don’t know God. God puts people in certain places, good or bad, to teach us lessons. I for one have had my eyes opened to the downfall of the country since President Obama has been in office. It hs been hading that way for a few years, but it has been on the fast track down hill lately.
***************************************
I’m thinking he sure slapped us with Bush.
Posted by: secondlook | October 31, 2009, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
Never become so patriotic that it blinds you to reality. I go to church..when I’m in town, but I DON’T know what my pastor THINKS! And I sure in the heck has missed ALOT of sermons. Sean, who are YOU to ask whether a person that SERVED in the NAVY for his country LOVES it?..Rev. Wright may have said alot of things, but I don’t compute it to NOT loving his country….I can ask the same of the Anti-Americans that are calling the Prez of the U.S. Hitler, Marxist, Racist….that doesn’t say you LOVE this country…after all, our democracy THE country voted for him, and yet some of you feel it was “unconstitutional” by lying whether Prez Obama is a nationalized citizen. So what country does you and these people live in.
Posted by: sara | October 31, 2009, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
Keating = THREE DEMOCRATS CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION? How the hell, except in the media bias, do you tie this to a Republican? McCain was absolved. There was yet another Democrat, all of whom got funding from Keating. Thats four dems to one repub!! Yet in the vile minds of the liberals, he remains guilty-as-ought-to-be charged, therefore he must continue to be punished. The Obama campaign should have been disqualified for even writing such a peice, let alone airing it.
Posted by: laughsatlibs | November 1, 2009, 5:20 am 5:20 am
1. clearly the wright episode taught them little or nothing considering the continued associations with and elevation to cabinet-level status of people like van jones. 2. the idea that obama hated campaigning is nearly impossible to believe…it’s all he knows how to do…and he hasn’t quit doing it since the day he entered politics.
Posted by: davidfrat21 | November 1, 2009, 6:24 am 6:24 am
good points made by some people regarding he “vetting” of wright. who needs to “vet” their mentor? what a bunch of nonsense this all is.
Posted by: davidfrat21 | November 1, 2009, 6:26 am 6:26 am
talmag, did you voice concerns that insiders should wait until the current president is out of office when ex-bush aides wrote damaging books about bush during his administration?
Posted by: davidfrat21 | November 1, 2009, 6:28 am 6:28 am
Obama is finding out that his “progressive” agenda is not what the country wants. watch the elections on Tuesday. Obama is finished.
Posted by: bryan | November 1, 2009, 7:15 am 7:15 am
So where’s the headlines about democrat government attempts to seize more then 1/6 of the United States economy and bankrupt is all? Still beholden to your government masters George, which means your opinions have no value.
Posted by: shepard148 | November 1, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am
Kathy,
Um…”We” elected the last guy, too. It’s called thinking; give it a shot.
Posted by: Bird | November 2, 2009, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm