Romney: U.S. economy ‘getting better’ under Obama

[babylonsister]

Posted with permission.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/romney_us_economy_getting_bett034919.php

Romney: U.S. economy ‘getting better’ under Obama

By Steve Benen


House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) appeared on “Fox News Sunday” yesterday and argued that President Obama’s policies “have actually made our economy worse.” Then he said it again. And again. All told, the House Republican repeated the claim five times in one interview (and in each instance, host Chris Wallace offered no pushback whatsoever).

For those who care about reality, Boehner’s claim isn’t true. Since the president took office, every aspect of the American economy — job creation, economic growth, manufacturing, the stock market, etc. — has improved considerably. Repeating a lie five times doesn’t make it true.

But what I find especially important about this is the extent to which Mitt Romney, the likely Republican presidential nominee, disagrees with Boehner.

Consider this remarkable exchange between Romney and conservative radio-host Laura Ingraham late last week: (thanks to F.B. for the tip)

INGRAHAM: You’ve also noted that there are signs of improvement on the horizon in the economy. How do you answer the president’s argument that the economy is getting better in a general election campaign if you yourself are saying it’s getting better?

ROMNEY: Well, of course it’s getting better. The economy always gets better after a recession, there is always a recovery. […]

INGRAHAM: Isn’t it a hard argument to make if you’re saying, like, OK, he inherited this recession, he took a bunch of steps to try to turn the economy around, and now, we’re seeing more jobs, but vote against him anyway? Isn’t that a hard argument to make? Is that a stark enough contrast?

ROMNEY: Have you got a better one, Laura? It just happens to be the truth.

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this may be the most important statement Romney has made since launching his 2012 presidential campaign. Think about it: the likely GOP nominee argued, on the air and on the record, that the economy is getting better under President Obama, and it “happens to be the truth” that Obama took steps to turn the economy around, resulting in more jobs for American workers.

If Laura Ingraham had asked a Democratic ally of the president the same question, she likely would have heard a similar answer.

What’s more, as I noted over a week ago, Romney keeps saying this. He told voters in South Carolina and New Hampshire that under Obama, the economy is “getting better.”

Romney’s message, of course, comes with a catch: he believes the economy is improving, but he doesn’t want the president to get credit for it. But as Ingraham noticed, that’s an argument that will fail miserably.

A month into 2012, the Republican is effectively arguing, “Sure, Obama inherited a deep recession. And sure, he took a bunch of steps to turn the economy around. And sure, we’re now seeing more jobs being created and more economic growth. But vote against him anyway.”

This isn’t just a tough sell; it’s an impossible one.

[catbyte]

1. I saw that on Rachel Maddow. Stunning.

I think he's running for President just to massage his ego and to stave off boredom. He doesn't have a clue.

[louis-t]

2. This WILL hurt his chances.

Truth doesn't matter to the base. It's something they don't want to hear. They'd much rather have their delusions and a ranting, raving, screaming candidate. It's their nature.

[CoffeeCat]

3. Mitt Romney--sharp as a sack of wet mice

I saw this exchange on the news and I about peed my pants.

I live in Iowa, so I heard Romney give many speeches, and one line he said repeatedly was, "Barack Obama didn't inherit a bad economy--but he made it worse." Over and over he said this--attempting to drive home the point that Obama had made the economy, and our country, worse.

So--now we have reality--that certain economic indicators have improved (I personally don't feel that the economy is improving. The important indicators are worsening and some of the positive indicators are being spun positively, but that's another point.) However, those economic indicators are better--and Romney has now been forced to say--when confronted with those improving numbers--that the economy hasn't worsened.

Romney even came out and said, "I did not say the economy was worse."

Oh YEAH you did. Hundreds of times in my state alone. It was one of his MAIN points about why we need Obama out--because he made the economy worse.

Romney--by admitting that the economy has not worsened under Obama--just blew one of his main talking points out of the water.

Seriously. Romney is by far, THE WORST, campaigner we've seen in modern times. He is way worse than George Bush.

Romney may have been a CEO, but we all know figurehead CEOs who have surrounded themselves with bright people. Romney
is looking weaker and weaker every day.

[indykatie1955]

6. Republicans Made a Big Mistake by Placing Their Bets on the Economy

Even with their resistance to policies that would speed the recovery they should have known that improvement would occur without their help. Now that it's happening they have nothing. The spectacular turn around at GM is representative of an Obama success that would not have occurred if they had their way. There are not enough Obama haters to deliver the election to the republicans and I think the few remaining reasonable republicans know this. Romney, should he win the nomination will be a terrible candidate in an environment where income equality is a legitimate concern being discussed outside those "quiet rooms that Romney talked about. The problem though is that Newt would be an even worse candidate. Fortunately for Dems, the Republican primary and delegate process isn't conducive to a new candidate getting in and winning the repub nomination at this point in the game. Repub pundits and others are now floating the idea that Romney may need to go and a stronger candidate brought in. It's sheer fantasy in my opinion.

[zbdent]

4. Need to make this into a campaign commercial ...

and whomever is the Repug candidate, it should be played against the R ...

with a list of times Boner and the TEAhadists put up roadblock after roadblock ...

[BlueCaliDem]

8. I totally agree. This is the best strategy

I've heard, read for some time. I hope the DNC is paying attention.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

11. Just show clips of Boehner shouting "hell no!"

Last edited Mon Jan 23, 2012, 05:35 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't know if anybody has seen it but the website "Barely Political" does what they call an "auto-tune-the-news" segment where they mash a bunch of news clips together, set it to music and do weird things with the voices, etc. and they did one around the time that Sarah Palin resigned that also has clips of Michele Bachman and John Boehner railing against climate change legislation (cap and trade?) where he shouted "Hell no!" It's really fun to watch.

http://www.barelypolitical.com/autotune/episode/PRX_20090711/sarah-palin-quits-auto-tune-the-news-6

[Pirate Smile]

5. I saw that on Maddow and thought it was HUGE. Couldn't understand why more

people weren't jumping up and down about it.

[City Lights]

7. President Obama thanks you, Mittens, from the bottom of his heart.

Now I understand why Republicans usually stick with a stringent list of talking points. Let them speak off the cuff and the truth comes out.

[spin]

9. The improving economy is why Oama will get reelected...

assuming that is actually improving and that Europe doesn't drag us into a second recession.

[center rising]

10. OOPS!!!!

[pritiebella]

12. Spam deleted by Violet_Crumble (MIR Team)