CBS got their hands on a memo showing a marked decrease in interest in having the President speak at college commencements.
"As of yesterday we had received 14 applications and the deadline is Friday," the memo said. The memo also urged recipients to, "please keep the application number close hold."I think this story matters as an example of growing disaffection with the President. Now, it's entirely possible the GOP demonization campaign is what's at play, or it's possible that students feel the President's shine has simply worn off. It's hard to know. But I think the White House would be remiss to simply write this off as "the honeymoon is over." It's not just the honeymoon. A lot of damage was by done, by the White House, to the President's relationships with core Democratic constituencies. That is finally being addressed, but it's hard to completely fix something like that once you break it.
A follow-up memo on February 28 reported receipt of 68 applications. Noting the competition among more than 1,000 schools last year, the memo said, "Something isn't working." It called on staffers to ask "friendly congressional, gubernatorial and mayoral offices" to encourage schools to apply.
