Roll up his sleeves and go on an Appalachia listening tour. Meet with people living in shacks and trailers and remind Americans of the extent of white poverty (most of the poor in this country are white), as Bobby Kennedy did decades ago -- but with a difference by promising the following:
Once elected, bring rotating groups of such people (together with their black, brown, and yellow urban counterparts) to the White House as advisors -- not window dressing, but real advisors, as part of his planned C-Span public meetings initiative.
Will it win Appalachia? Maybe not, but it may very well help assure a second term, while bringing new peoples' voices to bear on policy.
Here's what Obama should do:
Roll up his sleeves and go on an Appalachia listening tour. Meet with people living in shacks and trailers and remind Americans of the extent of white poverty (most of the poor in this country are white), as Bobby Kennedy did decades ago -- but with a difference by promising the following:
Once elected, bring rotating groups of such people (together with their black, brown, and yellow urban counterparts) to the White House as advisors -- not window dressing, but real advisors, as part of his planned C-Span public meetings initiative.
Will it win Appalachia? Maybe not, but it may very well help assure a second term, while bringing new peoples' voices to bear on policy.