Sacred Rituals

Bill Clinton’s Rhetorical Switcheroo

May 25, 2012

“We’re facing a tidal wave of anonymous, unlimited spending,” the e-mail read. “It’s unprecedented.” But this message wasn’t about Obama racking up $5 trillion in new debt. And it wasn’t from another Romney CPAC hoping to raise money for the Republican challenger. The missive came straight from former president Bill Clinton warning that the GOP was […]

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April 16, 2012

President Obama’s visit to Florida Atlantic University last week may have served as a preview of his reelection campaign’s coming attractions. The president hasn’t appeared particularly messianic battling the Supreme Court over Obamacare, faulting a Republican House for the poor economy, or blaming “Big Oil” for high gas prices. “An America Built To Last” and “Fair Share” don’t sound quite […]

March 28, 2012

The Obama campaign cancelled its discount sale of 2012 “Hoodies” on its reelection apparel site. The campaign came under criticism for appearing to exploit a racially charged situation in an appeal to black voters. The unstated referent was obvious. The hoodie had become a shorthand symbol for standing in solidarity with slain teen Trayvon Martin and his family. “Million Hoodie” marches and […]

January 31, 2012

Obama for America workers will receive and process campaign donations on-the-spot with their mobile phones, reports POLITICO. Square mobile credit card readers are being issued nationwide to campaign personnel at all levels—headquarters staff, field organizers, and volunteers. Team Obama will be the first to utilize the technology in a presidential contest. With traditional fundraising, donating money at an event requires filling out […]

January 30, 2012

Immediately after delivering his SOTU address to Congress, President Obama hit the sawdust trail to reinvigorate his devotional movement. After bringing his “fair share” gospel tour through Iowa, Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada, the president climaxed with a revival meeting at the University of Michigan. Obama wooed the youth vote—a key constituent along with women and […]

January 27, 2012

Obama’s State of the Union speech was predictable, essentially the same campaign speech that established his reelection narrative nearly two months ago in Osawatomie, Kansas. But Team Obama is working to reenergize devotees leading up to and following the address by using every channel of social media available. First, senior advisor David Plouffe previewed how citizens […]