The Sequester Freight Train and Sad Fireman Faces

Given the political environment in Washington these days and the sequester freight train now barreling down the track, you can’t blame President Obama for taking a campaign-style approach to policy making, but I wonder how long it will be effective in shaping public opinion.

According to this Washington Post story, in about an hour or so, glum looking firemen and other public sector workers who fear for their paychecks will assemble at the White House to help the President make his case for somehow avoiding the fast approaching budget cuts now popularly known as the “sequester“.

A White House statement said Obama, surrounded by firefighters and other emergency personnel, will press Congress to pass a short-term measure that would delay the cuts, known as the sequester, for a period of time until Congress can pass a permanent fix.

The appearance in the South Court Auditorium of the White House, scheduled for 10:45 a.m., will come as Washington appears increasingly resigned to allowing the sequester to go ahead.

The White House statement said the jobs of emergency personnel who would appear at Tuesday’s event could be in jeopardy if the sequester takes effect.

“If these cuts go into effect, hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost and middle class families all across the nation will feel the devastating impact,” the statement said.

Maybe it’s just me, but a backdrop of a dozen Americans whose lives will be affected by the policy issues being discussed by the man out in front occurring outside of a political campaign just doesn’t feel right.

It’s one thing to have a group of happy Americans standing behind the President when he signs a bill into law that will benefit them, but it comes off as overt, campaign-style manipulation to “pull at heartstrings” via the many sad faces of people who might lose their jobs if people don’t get on the phone and call their Congressman to tell them to do what the President says.