Barack Obama
I Won't Be on CNN Tonight for the Dobson - Obama Dust Up
16 comments
I got a call today from Campbell Brown’s producers to be a
guest on tonight’s CNN Election Center hosted by Campbell. They
wanted to discuss Dr. James Dobson’s comments today about Obama’s interpretation of the
Bible and what Dobson called Obama’s “fruitcake interpretation” of the Constitution.
I had to turn them down because I’m in the Midwest speaking to a media
conference and tonight’s show schedule conflicted. You never know
where these things will go. They were going to set me up against
Roland Martin – a CNN advisor and Democratic Strategist. These
calls are tough because in this case I have feelings both ways: ...
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Fundraising Ideas from Obama
4 comments
An important technique all churches, ministries, and
non-profits can learn from Barack Obama’s presidential campaign is how
they focused their fundraising. While Hillary Clinton was
focusing on a handful of major donors, Obama concentrated on many more
smaller donors – primarily using the web. While no one would turn
away a million dollar gift, understanding the difference is
important. Here’s why: ... read more
Is Obama Losing His Story?
10 comments
The USA Today editorial pages – as well as every other
newspaper in America – are reporting how Barack Obama has broken the
relationship with this supposed pastor of 20 years, Jeremiah Wright, after
he viewed the tapes of Wright’s bizarre appearance at the National Press
Club on Monday. But this blog isn’t about politics – it’s about
media, and telling your story in a media-driven culture. That’s why what
interests me is ... read more
Barack Obama: Brand Reality Versus Perception
3 comments
When a product, person, or organization has to enter a
particularly hostile or challenging market, they essentially have three
choices: 1) Stay true to who or what you are, 2) Change who you are, or 3)
Change how you’re perceived. It doesn’t matter if it’s product sales,
non-profit work, or politics, perception matters, and in a media driven
culture, how you’re perceived is just as important as who you are. ... read more
Why The Jeremiah Wright Issue Won’t Go Away
21 comments
I’m in Houston this week visiting with some friends and
clients like Joel Osteen and others, and doing a book signing at a
bookstore convention. While I get ready for the signing, I’m sitting in a
hotel room watching the news networks circle the latest Jeremiah Wright
statements like sharks to blood. Just when surveys revealed that Barack
Obama had survived the original controversy because of an excellent speech
last week, this new wave has hit, and who knows what might come
next. He might have weathered the original blast, but there’s a
legitimate question about his ability to survive the continued burst of flack. Whatever you think of the
controversy, there’s some interesting media issues at work here: ... read more
The Perception Dept. - When Friends Don’t Help
25 comments
In the last couple of weeks we’ve heard a lot about the
“friends” of our presidential candidates. But the candidates have been
quick to distance themselves from certain friends and endorsers, and in a
hot political season, who you’re taking advice from becomes a very public
issue. It started when John McCain received the endorsement from Pastor John Hagee from San Antonio,
who’s vitriolic comments about the Catholic church have created a wave of
upset Catholics. Members of the Catholic church are ... read more
Obama's Media Strategy and Shallow Pulpits
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I wrote earlier about what I believe to be a
deliberate strategy by Barack Obama to use words to inspire and motivate
his audiences rather than actually offer specific steps for actual change.
That's not a "for or against Obama" comment. It's a comment on
strategy. I say this, because it's not that different from a lot of
pastors out there today. They don't really know the Bible that well, and
have become motivational speakers more that actual teachers and pastors. In
my book, "Branding
Faith" I talk about the fact that ... read more
Will Obama Change Strategy? A Lesson.
16 comments
Up to now, Barack Obama’s political and media strategy has
been to be the “voice of change.” No content, but loads of
“change.” It’s actually very planned. If you listen to
Obama, you won’t hear much related to actual policy, experience, or
strategy. His concept up to this point has been that hopefully, he
can look good, spout the change manta, and gather momentum. That way,
he doesn’t really have to ... read more
Why Huckabee Is Still In The Running
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In reading the responses to my earlier Mike Huckabee posts
regarding media strategy and resilience, it’s obvious that his followers
are committed and passionate. He was a self-admitted long shot from the
beginning, and I think it would be instructive to see what’s kept him in
the race so long – particularly since he came out of nowhere. Certainly
– as his fans have repeated on this blog and elsewhere - the keys are his
honesty, authenticity, commitment to his word, leadership, and his
spiritual perspective. All that would be true, but it’s not the whole
story. His candidacy is a excellent lesson for any underdog, and from the
perspective of a media consultant, there are some other significant reasons
he’s kept in the running for so long: ... read more








