Obama’s belated media blitz on Syria

President Obama will sit for interviews with six — count ’em, six — television networks on Monday in an attempt to advance his position in favor of an attack on Syria. The lucky networks are ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN and Fox News. The lucky interviewers will be Diane Sawyer, Scott Pelley, Brian Williams, Gwen Ifill, Wolf Blitzer, and Chris Wallace.

The following day, Obama will make a speech about Syria.

I’m glad that Obama is finally stepping up to the plate, but doubt that his last minute blitz will change many minds, either among the public or among its elected representatives. At most, his attempts at persuasion may cause some folks who agree with him to contact their elected representatives. Right now, congressional offices seem to be hearing almost exclusively from opponents of intervention. This phenomenon has probably had an influence.

But it’s unlikely that Obama, disliked as he is by conservatives, can spur many pro-intervention Republicans into action. And I doubt that there are many pro-intervention Democrats out there — only Democrats who are willing to hold their nose and back the president. These folks aren’t likely to be roused into action.

It seems to me that the intervention resolution probably is doomed in the House. The Senate is another matter, and if Obama can somehow pick up a few undecided Senators, it could make the difference in that body.

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