He’s really good at the sound bite–as boring as the guy is, he’s got a talent for summing up the state of a debate and even more talent at reflecting what the average person on the street thinks. Despite being in DC for a long time, he’s especially attuned to chatter of constituents more than chatter of the chattering class and that’s tough when you are surrounded by the chattering class–he cuts through it far better than most. Today’s example:
“The problem is that the country doesn’t think Social Security is in a crisis,” said Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) “I don’t think the president’s message of `Social Security in a crisis’ resonates.”
The president has been conducting a 60-day national road show, with dozens of appearances across the country to promote his plan. Almost all of those forums, however, are attended only by strong supporters of the president.
The failure to connect effectively with younger voters on the issue, especially when Bush contends that he wants to change the system to protect them, is a strong measure of his challenge, LaHood said.
“Unfortunately, the audience the president really has to try to engage and energize hasn’t been engaged or energized,” he said.
If Bush has a tough sell on Social Security, his challenge in addressing rising anger over gasoline prices is even greater. He conceded as much, saying there was no “quick fix” other than jawboning major oil producers into increasing supply.
He had little to offer other than sympathy to consumers in the near term and a pledge to pass a more complete energy plan in the long term.
LaHood named high gasoline prices as the No. 1 issue he hears about in his home district, which includes Peoria.
“I don’t know if they really see a connection between the president cozying up to the Saudi Arabians [and the prospect of lower gas prices],” LaHood said of the photo opportunity this week that showed Bush holding hands with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. “I don’t know if that picture was that helpful.”
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