If the American government essentially controls a number of companies and industries, does Barack Obama just become the country’s number one salesman? 

Dana Milbank seems to proffer this theory in his mocking piece about the president’s tone during an appearance this morning. Urging Americans to refinance their mortgages, Obama sat with a group of homeowners, employing at least one used car salesman cliche:

“The main message we want to send today is there are 7 to 9 million people across the country who right now could be taking advantage of lower mortgage rates,” Obama said in a photo opportunity in the Roosevelt Room. “That is money in their pocket.”

That’s fine and all. I don’t mind the day-to-day corny photo opps, or the government webpage that looks a bit like a pop-up advertisement. But the whole president-as-sales-manager thing is a little reminiscent of the tactics of the last guy who lived in the White House. Oh well, at least he hasn’t started shilling for Disney World.

Image by GEL**s, Flickr Creative Commons