"Running War with the Media" about Inauguration Crowd Size (and other frivolities) Blurs the Message and Weakens Power.

President Trump and the Republican Party had, by all measures, a very successful inauguration and he is undoubtedly now the president after another peaceful transfer of power between parties and extremely different ideological groups. His supporters were able to enjoy the celebrations and festivities that are all part of coming to political power. This begs the question about why he and the White House communications team would engage in a contest of words about the size of the crowds on the National Mall for his inaugural ceremony. The glitter and glamour of the big day was lost immediately with the harsh rancor of a dressing down of the press.

The newly minted White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, set the tone for his first official press briefing by chastising the members of the White House press corps in a way that seemed like we were still in the throws of the campaign. An evaluation of what he did and said suggests that the White House does not yet feel comfortable that it is in full control of the issues and that it must lambaste the press while justifying that the new president and his staff are forced into a position of having to use social media to get their message out.

"These traits being openly on display detract from the messages on which the Trump administration wants to focus."

Here are some excerpts of what Mr. Spicer said. He said that, "photographs of the inauguration were intentionally framed in a way, in one particular tweet, to minimize the enormous support that had gathered at the National Mall." He followed with, "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration - PERIOD." He later went on in his lecture to the press to say "Senate Democrats are stalling the nomination of Mike Pompeo and playing politics with national security." "That's what you guys should be writing and covering." Within these comments lie the very problems that have continued to plague the Trump team and hint at a deep insecurity and persistent sense of being slighted. These traits being openly on display detract from the messages on which the Trump administration wants to focus. Whether or not pictures were framed a certain way or the ceremony had (or did not have) the largest crowds ever is immaterial to the fact that Trump and the Republicans now have power.

"By only addressing the things you want to talk about you consolidate your power."

One of the most successful strategies the Reagan White House employed was the mantra of "talk about the issues you want to talk about." It seems that the Trump team is struggling with the idea that they are the ones in power now and have the ability to only talk about what they want to talk about. The Obama administration was particularly adept at this tactic. By only addressing the things you want to talk about you consolidate your power. Spicer immediately diminished the power of his message, and that of President Trump, by talking about trivialities that had been tweeted or reported in some kind of comparison to mimic a faux-popularity contest. Any strong leader knows the need to not get into the weeds and to stay laser-focused on your message and your goals. By opening fire on the press for their reporting about crowd sizes on the lawn and how many riders there were using the mass transit system the administration freely gave away message power to the media they so loathe and blurred their own message of the day - "Democrats are stalling a critical security nomination."

"Stick to the message. You are in power and there was a very successful inauguration of a new president."

The message that Mr. Spicer and the administration wanted to get out was clearly an advantageous one politically; "[they] are playing games with national security" by holding up the president's nomination. In any political perspective this is a strong message. The point here is not to debate the politics of whether or not Mike Pompeo's nomination is being held up intentionally or not. It is to make clear that this is a strong line to start out with and to set the tone for how the new administration wants to begin governing right away but is already facing obstructionism. There is no reason that Mr. Spicer and the White House should have shared the spotlight with the tweets and reports about crowd size. Stick to the message. You are in power and there was a very successful inauguration with large enthusiastic crowds.

One of the first things they teach any new teacher about classroom management is to ignore the things that don't matter and not to get into power struggles with people who don't have power. This concept will take the new administration far through realizing that there is no need to address the things that make them feel slighted. Just repay the slight by ignoring the distractions and stay on message.

Mr. Spicer; you, President Trump, and the Republican Party have control over all the levers of government. You don't need social media to get your message out. Whatever you decide is the message will be the message if you stick to it. Your team rightfully enjoyed celebrations of your victory and have been installed into office. I humbly offer that you have no need to step down from your positions of influence and blur your message by addressing things that in the long run are irrelevant. You have the chance to govern now - proving your supporters right and your detractors wrong. Godspeed.

Cory Colby is a recovering middle school and high school social studies teacher who currently serves in education as a professor of government with Lone Star College System in Tomball, Texas. He is the former state president of theAssociation of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) which is the largest association representing the public education profession in Texas. He also is available for professional development opportunities and speaking engagements on leadership, classroom management and engagement strategies.