Research

A disturbing strategy emerging from the Obama White House, as Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) noted on the Senate floor earlier this week and we noted yesterday, is aggressive targeting of anyone who speaks out against their policies.  On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” this morning, NBC White House Correspondent Savannah Guthrie warned of the risk of “a White house that's in campaign mode”:

Kim Strassel describes this trend as “the Chicago Way” in today’s Wall Street Journal:

When Barack Obama promised to deliver "a new kind of politics" to Washington, most folk didn't picture Rahm Emanuel with a baseball bat. …

A White House set on kneecapping its opponents isn't, of course, entirely new. (See: Nixon) What is a little novel is the public and bare-knuckle way in which the Obama team is waging these campaigns against the other side.

What makes these efforts notable is that they are not the lashing out of a frustrated political operation. They are calculated campaigns, designed to create bogeymen, to divide the opposition, to frighten players into compliance. The White House sees a once-in-a-generation opportunity on health care and climate. It is obsessed with winning these near-term battles, and will take no prisoners. It knows that CEOs are easily intimidated and (Fox News ratings aside) it is getting some of its way. Besides, roughing up conservatives gives the liberal blogosphere something to write about besides Guantanamo.

The Oval Office might be more concerned with the long term. It is 10 months in; more than three long years to go. …

There's also the little fact that many Americans voted for this president in thrall to his vow to bring the country together. It's hard to do that amid gunfire, and voters might just notice.

One thing is for sure: The Obama White House needs a reminder that they’re actually governing now, not campaigning, though given that the President’s schedule has him at political fundraisers #24 and #25 for the year today, it may take a lot to get that message through.