Dakota Beacon

A phenomenon of late presents itself which can only be understood in the context of the coming 2014 elections.
 
The phenomenon is this. President Obama would have us believe he is fighting as hard as ever to correct the problems that face us -- the economy, immigration, school safety and gun control. But is he getting anything done?
 
 We've got a health care problem? Obama's working on it. We've  got an unemployment problem? Obama's working on it. There is massive  dissatisfaction with the direction of the country. People do not like the  path America is taking. But, at the same time, there is overwhelming support  for Obama personally. He's a likable guy.
 
 Here's the point. This contradiction is the problem. The problem  is made manifest in connecting Obama with his failing policies. For too many Americans, there is no connection between Obama's agenda and the direction in which the country is headed. People like what Obama says he is doing, but  they don't like where America is headed. Far too many people do not connect
 the two.
 
 Obama's strategic objective is to win control of the US House of Representatives in 2014 while retaining control of the US Senate. He already owns the executive branch. With command of all three branches of government,  and with little resistance under a one-party system, he can change America  into whatever he likes. Tactically speaking, how can he accoplish this?
 
 Examples of how he can do this focus on what people want to  hear. For example, a deceiving advertisement targeting North Dakotans airs  on TV. The ad portrays a "good ol' country boy" allegedly from North Dakota.  He claims to support the 2d Amendment and desires to provide for the safety of his family. He is portrayed as "one of us." He is on the outside fighting
 against gun control, or so it seems.
 
 Not so fast. He then segues into a call for "universal  background checks" as if that is something good. In fact, this is the very  measure pushed by Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and opposed by Senators Heidi Heitkamp and John Hoeven. Schumer would criminalize the  private transfer of firearms between law-abiding citizens. It would make  illegal the transfer of a firearm to a family member without federal government approval. The effectiveness of such a "universal background  check" depends on gun registration -- which is illegal under federal law.

 In any case, background checks will never be "universal" because criminals  will never submit to background checks. Schumer's effort, and Obama's  objective, would do just the opposite of supporting the Second Amendment.  For every controversial issue, Obama and the Democrats offer deception.
 
 I may be a cynic but, I am also a military officer schooled in  strategy and tactics. It appears Obama's strategy is to invoke the notion
 that politics is perception and that perception is reality. He knows a majority of people oppose his policies. He knows people do not agree with  him on Obamacare and the Second Amendment and immigration.
 
 Obama and the Democrats are investing in research to sell deceit. Their tactic is to invest time and money to appear to be with the  people on controversial issues and what the people favor while pursuing  policies that produce the exact opposite. The image of bipartisanship with
 first responders standing as props; the image of gun control with policemen in support; the positive image of Obamacare with people in white lab coats surrounding him are intended to mislead and confuse.
 
 The tactic of Obama and the Democrats is to find out what you  and I believe and then posture as if they believe the same thing and are  fighting for us. Meanwhile, they pursue the opposite as they push to change  America into something you and I never wanted or voted for.
 
Voters are unhappy with the direction of the country but they don't get solutions from Obama and the Democrats. They don't get results.  What they get is imagery and promises. For Obama and the Democrats it's all about the 2014 elections. Once they have their way with the voters, the
 voters will have to suck it up.

 
 
 Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or
 bnt@midstatetel.com.