The Politico's story of the same name is a remarkably frank and insightful statement into worrisome political dynamics for the Obama administration.

As I've mentioned here on several occasions, Americans form perceptions about what is happening politically on a nearly instinctual basis that resists virtually all attempts at refutation. Al Gore as a pathological liar, comes to mind. In interviews after the end of the campaign, Gore's campaign managers acknowledged that there was nothing to be done about the series of stories that made Gore out to be a serial exaggerator. John Kerry's misrepresentation of his military service gave rise to the term "Swiftboated", which depending on how you view Kerry, means either slander or an incompetent and ineffective response to a devastating charge. Once that perception is in the public mind, you're pretty much screwed.

I recommend reading the whole article, but frankly, you may have already formed the requisite impressions--weak, incompetent, narcissistic and unAmerican. Obama is worried that the contagion will become an epidemic.