The White House is currently waging war on Fox News while issues needing critical attention are being left to wallow in the background. Although many critics of the administration have labelled the attacks as an extension of the typical bullying tactics from Obama's Chicago home or the Administration's thin skin in dealing with objectors, careful examination reveals an underlying strategy. The bickering masks a carefully orchestrated effort to distract attention from the real agenda.
Anyone who has practiced or studied the Art of Prestidigitation, commonly referred to as magic, understands that the key to its success lies in misdirecting the audience's attention. The magician may use a cloth, a curtain, smoke, or simply point to his other hand as a distraction in order to successfully perform the trick or illusion.
The Obama campaign masterfully diverted the public from the Chicago Senator's lack of experience and questionable associations by mesmerizing the people with an almost hypnotic chant for change and hope. Like the late night cable channel psychic, Obama sized up his audience and tailored his message so that it emphasized the topics of interest to the greatest numbers. Obama then delivered speeches to the masses with such inspiring rhetoric that he totally mesmerized audiences. The message sounded too good and felt so right that it had to be the "way."
Now in the position of having to deliver upon its promises, the White House faces scrutiny with many of its positions not passing the fact-checking being done by Fox News. Could this present a problem for the administration? Not if your Chief of Staff is Rahm Emanuel who issued the infamous memo last Fall that stated, "Rule one: Never allow a crisis to go to waste." Following Rule One, the White House immediately cranked up the Crisis Machine sending representatives out enmasse into the media outlets to discredit Fox News as an arm of the GOP and not really a news organization.
While a disagreement between the White House and the media is not typically a crisis, elevating it to such status offered an opportunity for the administration to restart and even ramp up its misdirection strategy ability used so effectively during the campaign. By incessantly attacking Fox News, the Administration creates a smoke screen designed to confuse and distract. With each attack wave, the focus is drawn away from the back room deals being cut for health care reform, as well as cap and trade legislation. Negotiations for both bills continue secretly in partisan committees under the influence of special interest groups that supported Obama during his campaign. These actions negate Obama's campaign pledges of bi-partisanship, openness, and transparency in the process. Likewise, the drama distracts attention from Obama's indecision about the Afghanistan troop build-up issue, thereby buying himself time with far left liberals whose support he needs in order to get the pending legislation passed.
Also lost in the haze: The stimulus is not working as sold and the housing market may take another downturn with the expiration of the first time buyer tax credits. Proposals for a second stimulus package and the administration's over zealous attempts to further expand regulation of the private sector through Net Neutrality Act and the Fairness Doctrine continue with little challenge. Few people seem concerned by the reports that the explosive growth in national debt may jeopardize the country's previously exceptional credit rating, making it more difficult and expensive to borrow money.
However, there is still time to step back and see the reality, not the illusion. In fact, the act may be unravelling on its own as hecklers, in the form of the other networks, have begun to question the administration's actions. Yesterday, the other members of the White House media pool refused to participate in a scheduled interview with the administration's Pay Czar when it was discovered that Fox News had been excluded. It could be that the attacks on Fox News are becoming less distracting which begs the question what will the administration use as the next distraction?
Pay attention and don't allow yourself to get distracted by the illusionist.
. . .
.jpg)
