Obama Should Play Hardball

Obama Should Play Hardball. By Matthew Rothschild
The Progressive, February 17, 2009

It’s time for Obama to start playing hardball.

Forget about bipartisanship. The Republicans have.

And take the fight to them.

He should fan out across the country several days a week, targeting states with contested Senate and House seats.

And he should tell the voters in these states that their own elected officials voted against jobs in their area.

Their own elected officials voted against rebuilding schools in their neighborhood.

Their own elected officials voted against repairing roads and bridges in their county.

Their own elected officials voted against tax relief for people like them.

Their own elected officials voted against giving families like them a $2,500 tax break for sending their kids to college.

And then he should ask these same voters to contact those legislators and register their disapproval, and then register their disapproval again at the polls the first chance they get.
This is how Obama can turn the heat up on Republicans and make some of them come to their senses—or lose their jobs.

Playing nice didn’t get Obama anywhere.

Flexing his muscle and his popularity will get him a lot further.