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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAre You Better Off Now Than You Were 4 Years Ago?
That's the famous question used in every re-election of an incumbent President. For some ungodly reason, the Obama Administration is running away from that question.
If I was running this campaign, I would embrace that question. Remember, the question is "are you better off NOW than you were 4 YEARS ago?" Not 5, 6 or 3. Four years ago.
Here's what I would do. I would post on my official on-line campaign web site the news from exactly 4 years ago, every day, until election day. For instance, on June 30, 2008, Gas prices were $4.10 a gallon. Are you better off on June 30 2012, where prices are $3.33 a gallon than you were on June 30 2008? Of course you are. Think of the possibilities as we approach election day. September 11, 2012, we can talk about the fact that bin Laden was still alive then, still threatening America with internet releases. September 15 to 21, the crash of the Stock Market, as Lehman Brothers' collapses. A Jobs report that had us losing 500,000 jobs a month. GDP growth at minus 3.5% (which was later revised to over minus 9%).
The beauty of this strategy is that it really is not us making the accusation, it's the Romney campaign that asks that question. We're only defending ourselves with facts. We can remind the American people, every day, of how bad off we were 4 years ago and how far we've come to recovery, and blame our opponents for bringing it up. We can do that, starting today, and the contrast would be striking, every day, right up to election day.
The Media would pick this tactic up, replay the online spot, and we could drive this home, every day, for next to no money.
We could put 30 second spots together to highlight the major days (Gas at $4.10 on June 30, the killing of bin Laden when ever he was in the news with an internet thereat in 2008, the war in Iraq, and the Lehman Brother's collapse in the middle of September). We could do all that by just snipping the actual news. We could use Reagan's on words "are you better of now than you were 4 years ago?" We could even use Romney's own words, and answerer "Yes". Pick the actual date, highlight the fear and anxiety we all felt at the time, and contrast it to today, where everything may not be perfect, but it sure is a hell of a lot better than 4 years ago.
Please. Please, I beg the Obama campaign to embrace this idea. I know it's a winner.
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kentuck
(111,079 posts)They do not put the economic disaster of 2008 into an overall context.
It was the failure of our Party to define the severity or the longevity of the crisis that we were facing and we left it open for the Republicans to define. And that is exactly what they will do.
In reality, we are much better off than we were in September and the last 3 months of 2008. But, since we survived it, it must not have been so bad?
louis c
(8,652 posts)I agree with you, that the lies have become fact. Most people think the bailout on 2008 was Obama's.
The important part of this tactic is to use actual news stories that appeared 4 years ago, with President Bush speaking and contrast that to today. It's not rocket science. Gas Prices $4.10 then, now $3.33. Stock Market at 7,000 then, now 12,500. bid Laden alive then, dead now, minus job growth then, now plus 2%, job losses at 500,000 a month then, now 27 months of positive job growth,. It would be a daily drum beat. As I said, put it as a web ad. It costs peanuts. It will be picked up by the media.
I agree with you, that people actually think they were better off 4 years ago. That's why this strategy is so important. We have to replace lies with facts.
It will work. The strategy now, will not. If people believe the lies, our only defense is the truth. If it doesn't work, nothing else will and I refuse to give up.
kentuck
(111,079 posts)And the latest story we hear is that average Americans have lost 40% of their wealth from 2007-2010. They blame that on Obama and the Democrats. The media has no incentive to tell the people the truth or to put the facts into perspective.
liberal N proud
(60,334 posts)I don't think I have heard it.
It is usually used by whichever side thinks it will work to their advantage.
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)I was way better off 4 years ago. It's one of the reasons I'm not particularly happy with some of the Democrats in Washington. They should have done a better job of at least calling out the Rs when nothing got done.
In the last 30 years there's been very few times I didn't have to hold my nose when voting. I vote D because there is no viable Socialist party in the U.S.
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)
aikoaiko
(34,169 posts)By your strict definition (4 years ago, not 5 or 3), the shit had only just begun to hit the fan and had not impacted the middle class yet. Of course none of that is Obama's fault, but its a loser strategy.
I was still optimistic in 2008. The last 3 - 4 years have been crushing.
deutsey
(20,166 posts)So that's something.
However, I'm concerned about the corporate feudalism that seems to be the defining force shaping this country in the 21st century.
Not Me
(3,398 posts)Is the country better today than it was four years ago.
Particularly economically. Things have stabilized, we are growing jobs, the stock market (and many peoples' retirement funds) has recovered, and corporations are making money. You'd think conservatives would be happy.
I think the middle class has been hit really hard, and until they have buying power, there cannot be a real recovery.
KG
(28,751 posts)
madrchsod
(58,162 posts)other than that...no change
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)Really? On what do you base this assumption? I haven't seen any indication that M$M will even report real news that might be beneficial to the President.
bhikkhu
(10,715 posts)...grand plans in the toilet, more expenses than income, house and job teetering on the edge. It took as couple of years of scraping by and re-jiggering to get by, but fortunately its all worked out. I wouldn't ever say things are easy, as I am prone to finding challenges if they don't find me, but things are much better now. This year is better than last year, which was better than the year before, which was better than the year before...and I'm looking forward to the years to come again.
Throd
(7,208 posts)
theaocp
(4,236 posts)When you have three groups: better, worse, and staying the same (treading water), two of the three will defer to worse. I'm also treading water and it means I'm not doing better. I think a lot of folks are in the same boat.
coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)today (unemployed, no insurance and savings almost gone).
That said, I would have been a fuck of a lot worse off had McCrazy been elected. And the thought of Willard being elected fills me with an absolute dread that not even W could engender.
lpbk2713
(42,753 posts)I'm glad just knowing BushCo and their co-conspirators are no longer
plundering and pillaging and stacking the deck in their favor.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Four years ago I was unemployed. I now have a job where the pay is not great but I do have benefits that allow me to afford the one very expensive medication (Cymbalta - anti-depressant and mood stabilizer) that I badly need.
Upton
(9,709 posts)our household has lost about 40% of it's income. I really don't think the strategy you're suggesting is a good idea..
Xyzse
(8,217 posts)2008 was disgusting, I woke up to see my investments in Mutual Funds and retirement savings crash down 40% I think.
I stopped looking in to my accounts a week or two after.
I still have my main job, which has shafted me in hours and other things, however I think I am making a little bit more with my side jobs. I have less debt at the moment which is good. I still do what I did to pay off my college debt faster a long time ago. Basically, my whole paycheck goes to a mutual fund(which has much better rates than a savings account) where I make a check to myself for all of my expenses(minimum is 250). Because it is not on a debit card or anything, it forces me to live within means. It is actually pretty cool.
I also started working out in a more religious manner. Tony Horton and Shaun T are my high priests, Zuzanna from Body Rock is my deva and I can do Bikram Yoga and 15K races for fun(and eye candy). It has kept my outlook in life far more positive, even if politics is depressing.
My health is far better than it was 4 years ago, but 2008 was a disaster, I had stress related issues during that time as well since I lost a parent late 2007.
So yes, I am doing much better than 4 years ago, no thanks to the company I work for(that shafted me on hours and pay, thank goodness I can compartmentalize) oor the current gridlock in Congress that has created much uncertainty.
I can't say that is due to what is going on in Washington as most of this to me was personal. However, I am thankful that gas has gone down, which WILL in a few months push prices down a bit.
lynne
(3,118 posts)- of the 4 adults in my household, 3 were laid off within the last 2 years. While all 3 got other jobs, it took quite a time to get those jobs and they were only part time with less hours and less hourly wage.
Probably not a good idea to embrace.
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)I'm still paying close to $4/gal for reg in CT.
I am not sure this strategy would work.
While there have been some improvements with the economy, I feel that times are still tough for a lot of people.
I would like to see more of a "Getting America back on track" type campaign.
Highlight the positive things the admin has done in close to four years, and then have a point-plan to show where America can go in the next 4 years under an Obama admin.
Response to louis c (Original post)
Evasporque This message was self-deleted by its author.
The Link
(757 posts)It could have been so much worse.
