By DANIEL HENNINGER of the Wall Street Journal:
There may be good reasons for Obama to go negative, but doing so could wreck his presidency.
Here's a quiz: For which of the following reasons is the 44th president of the United States bad-mouthing Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, bankers, mine operators, insurers, Glenn Beck, the tea party, the Supreme Court and whoever he hammers as we go to press:
a) He's rallying his base.
b) He's rallying the Democrats' base (one overlaps but does not equal the other).
c) He's changing the subject from 9% unemployment.
d) To reverse his sinking approval ratings.
e) It's what Saul Alinsky would do.
f) It's what Barack Obama likes to do.
Astute readers instantly saw that the answer is, all of the above.......
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There may be any number of good, political reasons for Mr. Obama to let it rip. But let's cut to the real reason this is happening. The answer is (f): It's what Barack Obama likes to do.
And it's a mistake.
Even Achilles had a heel, and Mr. Obama's may be his decision to be his own Saul Alinsky. Defining, demonizing and making a mockery of one's opponents was one of Alinsky's main rules for community organizers. But community organizers, though often charismatic, can also be annoying jerks.
(To read the rest of Mr HENNINGER's column click on the title for a link)
