Jan 23 2009
Get Enough Support, Not Too Much
My Nineteenth Rule of Media Relations is You can’t make everyone like you and it’s silly to try. Gauge how much support you need and make enough deals to build a successful coalition. No more, no less.
Barack Obama met with Congressional leaders Friday. He is trying to build a consensus for the stimulus package he wants passed.
Members of Congress think they were diminished by George W. Bush so they’re reasserting their equal role in government. The balance of power between the president, Congress and the courts is usually tilted toward one end.
The other two branches do what they can to get power shifted toward them. People who don’t want power don’t do what’s necessary to be in those positions; therefore, the only people in those slots are those who seek power.
Congressional Republicans told Obama about the items they want included in the stimulus package. Obama said a lot of their requests would get into the final bill. He also told them some parts of their wish list would be blocked. They complained and Obama told them, “I won.”
Obama needs some Republican support. That way, he can afford to lose a few Democrats and still get his agenda passed. If the opposition party backs his proposals to a large extent, it’ll be hard later to contrast his vision with theirs.
However, he shouldn’t want 90 votes. The more people associated with his political success, the more favors he’ll have to bestow to keep his coalition intact.
Groups that haven’t a chance to get much done the past eight years are desperate for an opportunity to work with a new president who might be more sympathetic to them. They’ll expect something in return for their help though; this isn’t altruism.
Obama will have to gauge how many compromises he must make to accomplish tasks he deems important. Sometimes, he’ll decide he has to make small deals he doesn’t like to improve the big picture. Other times, he’ll choose to alienate supporters because their demands are too high. The success of his administration will be based on his ability to juggle competing interest groups.
