The President's Speech: Good content, wrong tone.

This was a prime time Presidential Address from the Oval Office.   He did not sound angry enough.

President Obama said Americans:

   **are fighting ISIS everywhere

   **are working with allies to do destroy ISIS

   **have suffered a contemptible attack in San Bernardino by radicalized Muslims, who acted on a "perverted interpretation of Islam."

   **are reviewing the protocol for her entry to America on a visa

   **are carrying out significant air strikes against ISIS assets

   **are not going to be using significant American ground troops because they backfire when used in the Middle East

   **are facing a wave of fear in our country which plays into the hands of ISIS

   **discrimination against Muslims and defining this effort as a battle against Islam, rather than jihad, plays into the hands of ISIS

   **Americans need the assistance of the the millions of loyal Americans of Muslim faith, some of whom are serving well and honorably in our armed services

   **Americans will be safer if we adhere to our values.

What President Obama said was perfectly reasonable but I don't think the tone served him--or Hillary--very well.   President Obama didn't sound angry.   He sounded descriptive.  He did not embrace the Americans' fear.   He did not sound passionate.   His voice did not shake with contempt for the disgusting, cowardly act of shooting up a Christmas Party.  I wish it had.

The Fox News people put on an instant analysis immediately after the speech.   They were predictable in expressing dismay that Obama said that discrimination against Muslims was a problem.   

Then they put on Marco Rubio.   Marco Rubio sounded intense, passionate, angry, and he began by saying that people he is talking to are scared, too frightened to leave the house.  There was very little difference in actual policy between Rubio and Obama, but Rubio sounded angry and passionate and intense.

This may provide a pathway for Hillary:   she cannot condemn Obama's policies and does not need to.   The government under Obama is already investigating Americans, bombing ISIS assets, developing a coalition, and using drones constantly for targeted killings.  This is what the Republican candidates want too.      

Hillary can embrace Obama, plus sound angry, getting both the policy right and the mood right.