The New Obama Gives 'em Hell

On Labor Day, Carl Levin gave President Obama the text of a speech by Harry Truman—who won reelection despite a bad economy by attacking Republicans so viciously that he earned the nickname “Give ‘Em Hell Harry.” Ever since, Obama’s been giving Republicans hell, the Washington Post observes. With liberals furious over what they see as Obama’s constant capitulations, he’s now fighting with the gloves off for his jobs bill, on a barnstorming tour he intends to continue through December.

“The guy is mad,” said one Democratic strategist. One former administration official says Obama tried to be the “adult in the room” during debt ceiling talks, to no avail. “If you are the adult in the room as they move farther and farther right, you are not pulling back against them." The jobs bill represents a good opportunity for Obama to attack: A recent poll shows that while 61% disapprove of Obama’s handling of the economy, nearly as many support his bill. (More Barack Obama stories.)