Obama, dems plot new health reform strategy

Though they've spent years "testing and refining their message," Democrats are back at the beginning, plotting a new strategy to sell health reform, Politico reports.

"What went wrong? Bearing the brunt of some of the criticism is Obama himself - once viewed as a sure-fire closer, now facing grumbling on the left for letting critical months slip by without a constant, coherent and consistent argument. Think 'change' and 'hope' from the campaign, catchwords that Obama practically trademarked. In this fight, his key messages have shifted, from fixing health care to fix the economy, to 'stability and security' for people who already have insurance.

Democratic strategists "want Obama to do more: Pick one message and stick with it. Steer the Democratic fight over the public insurance option out of the headlines and into the background. Stay above the fray and let his top aides fight the point-by-point policy battles" (Brown, 8/20).

The Boston Globe in an analysis: "Republicans, meanwhile, have stepped into the void of the August congressional recess and, in a page taken directly from Obama' 2008 playbook, are using a combination of online organization and message-of-the-day discipline to frame the legislation as a government takeover. … Now, as he struggles with the messy business of governing, some are hoping for a return of Obama' campaign-style focus" (Kranish, 8/21).

Obama on Thursday also rallied his grassroots support with a call-to-action at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, Roll Call reports (Koffler, 8/20).

Obama will meet Friday with former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to talk about health reform, Roll Call reports in a second story (Koffler, 8/20).