It's all about S-T-R-A-T-E-G-Y

Perhaps the one thing I've enjoyed (or tolerated rather) on the FOX News Web site are the videos from "The Strategy Room," which is a 9 hour commercial-free Web video with no teleprompters, no scripts and no Britney Spears...or so they claim. 

One particular video I'd like to focus on in regards to Obama is one that discusses debate strategies. I chose this video in particular because 1.) It was one of the only videos that mentioned Obama's name; McCain took most of the spotlight this week for his dramatic debate hold-up and 2.) Bill Burton, Obama's campaign manager, was an interviewee, which helps to point to our specific interest: FOX News coverage vs. Obama's campaign strategy

Exhibit A: Language

In the video, Burton refers to all political moves as being "for the American people." I point this out because I have learned, and maybe you will too, that everything is "for the American people" no matter the partisan platform. Take a look at the CBS exclusive interview with John McCain and he too will tell you that it's all "for the American people." Here, we have shared communication strategy. 

According to Burton, there would be no better time than now to make sure the American people know where their candidate stands in a time of crisis. Which candidate could handle the leadership position as president of the United States in a time of crisis? 

Not only did Bill Burton get some time in the spotlight, but liberal voices on the video said that John McCain would have to show up to the debate or, again, the "American people" would see through it. 

But what was "it" exactly? Well, for the Obama campaign's sake, I think they were replacing "deception" with "it." As some political analysts in the room argued, "Where was McCain Monday and Tuesday?" Really, why has the political debate been on the back burner when Wall Street took a blow if it was so important "for the American people" to be addressed on this issue? 

We cannot forget about McCain's buddy, George W. and, just in case anyone forgot, he would be the current president of the United States. Not that anyone cares at a time when McCain and Obama are running neck-and-neck, economic drama has been in every news headline and the election is a just about a month away. Things are getting hotter viewers. Watch out for some heated coverage. 

He said, She said

I'm glad FOX's coverage of the election this week entailed a two-sided, balanced angle: McCain slashed Obama with a "lack of leadership" while Obama casted McCain as a "free-market gambler." And the news? The economy is in pretty bad shape. (Insert: flair of sarcasm)

Nonetheless, I'm sure this kind of coverage wouldn't resonate well with Obama's campaign  much more than it did last week. Obama's message has repeatedly stressed the unimportance of petty attacks that have nothing to do with the voters or "how we get America back on track" as he made clear in his two minute "Plan for Change" ad released Sept. 17 (See below) . 

That man doesn't parallel the Obama FOX projected - one that ridiculed McCain for his party's lack of economic grip and who called the 72 yr. old Republican candidate a "great deregulator." Not to mention Obama's use of "scare tactics," according to McCain's campaign. 

According to FOX, McCain offered more "specific guidelines" than did Obama for handling the Wall Street crisis and FOX News contributor Fred Barnes said in an article that trade around the world is key to building a strong economy, a point of view Obama doesn't share. FOX did not cease to mention several times how Obama declined to offer a plan. McCain, on the other hand, was reported to have created a plan to end the crisis. However, the "plan" as it was reported consisted of mere suggestions of what's to be done; however, we must stay tuned for McCain's call for a bipartisan oversight board for overseeing the government's "$700 bailout plan." Yea, FOX accidentally forgot to include whether that number referred to hundred, thousand, million, trillion or billion. At this point, the number may be so exponentially high that FOX may be conspiring an optical illusion to ease its viewers.  

Perhaps there's some truth to Barne's statement, but while Obama may not preach about international trade, he has other plans for strengthening a suffering economy, most of which focus on creating jobs on our home turf. A couple of his ideas: Create 5 million green jobs, create jobs through fair trade and address predatory credit card practices. 

And while Obama wants to address the "real issues," FOX is predicting that the Illinois senator's objective in the first upcoming debate will be to attack McCain by linking him with President Bush's foreign policy. This could be positive coverage for the Obama campaign because it puts that much more pressure on McCain to overcome his "more of the same" reputation built by Obama campaign strategists. 

Even FOX reported the importance of strategy for McCain. One of McCain's closest advisers said that he will have to prove to skeptical voters that policy difference between his vision and the Bush administration's is real and that his solution to economic crisis will help America become more competitive in the international scene. 

I guess we'll have to wait until Friday at 9 p.m. to see how the first live debate unfolds and evaluate whether or not the predictions were accurate. See everyone in front of the tube! 

Obama's Plan for Change

Party Animal?

Based on how Fox news portrayed Obama partying with celebs on Tuesday night, I can only imagine David Plouffe rolling his eyes. Clearly, the message Fox was sending in its recent coverage was one that does not resonate with Obama's campaign message. 

The article that appeared on Fox's Web site (actually an AP story) painted a picture of Barack abandoning his concern for economic turmoil and the needs of hardworking people in order to make it to a night of "hobnobbing with Hollywood notables" at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills. The fundraiser, which consisted of a dinner worth $28,500 a plate and entertainment by Barabara Streisand, was considered "glitzy" at minimum. 

However crucial the raised $9 million was to support Obama's fight for the 44th presidency between now and Nov. 4, I'm sure Obama's campaign strategists weren't exactly thrilled that Fox didn't provide a story on what Barack had to say about a much bigger issue in the news this week - the mess on Wall Street. 

In fact, on the list of Wednesday's top stories, it wasn't even mentioned. Instead, the first headline on the top of the list was, "Palin on FOX News: 'Economy is a Mess,' Workforce is Strong." Hmm...

Of course, that wasn't the only headline on the Top Stories feed. The other top stories concerned a couple of "real" issues -like Biden's charitable gifts and the decision made by a former top Clinton fundraiser to support McCain.