June 15, 2004
BUT THE HIATUS FROM REALITY CONTINUES:
Kerry Sidesteps Job Growth as He Hits Bush on Economy: The senator spotlights middle-class struggles, overall employment losses since 2001. (Matea Gold and Michael Finnegan, June 15, 2004, LA Times)
After a weeklong hiatus, John F. Kerry resumed campaigning Monday by sharply attacking President Bush's stewardship of the economy, shrugging off the recent spike in job growth."The fact is that the middle class is going backward, and those trying to get into it are sliding backward, working harder, two or three jobs, can't get ahead while the people at the top are doing better and better," Kerry said, speaking at a fundraiser hosted by rock singer Jon Bon Jovi. [...]
Although Kerry's description of the economic climate ran counter to a substantial pickup in new jobs, campaign officials said that the candidate's diagnosis reflected widespread public sentiment.
"We believe that the economy will be a defining issue in this campaign," Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill said during a briefing with reporters Monday in Washington. Americans, she said, "are uneasy about the direction of the country and increasingly eager to change course."
The campaign painted a dismal picture of Bush's economic record, despite the recent surge in job creation. About 1.3 million jobs have been lost overall since Bush took office.
"If you get D-minuses for 3 1/2years in college, one semester with a B-minus doesn't put you on the honor roll," Kerry economic advisor Gene Sperling said.
Bush campaign officials stressed the recent job growth trends, saying that 1.4 million jobs have been created since August, the fastest rate in 20 years.
"John Kerry will travel around the country this week delivering a message of doom and gloom and pessimism completely disconnected from reality," said Bush spokesman Steve Schmidt.
"The economy is firing on all cylinders."
Of course the economy will be the defining issue of the campaign, which is why it will be a landslide. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 15, 2004 9:41 AM
Rightwingnews notes a recent survey that showed 57% of the people surveyed believed more jobs have been lost over the past several months rather than +1.2MM. Hopefully this survey is either flawed or simply reflects a lag of recognition by the public. Otherwise we would be looking at a repeat of '92 where the economy was doing fairly well but the media convinced people it wasn't
Posted by: AWW at June 15, 2004 10:00 AMA few key ads with graphics will solve this problem - and the blogosphere, cable TV, and Rush won't let the media lie about this for long.
Posted by: jim hamlen at June 15, 2004 10:32 AMFor John Kerry, Osama's favorite candidate.
Posted by: Peter at June 15, 2004 10:47 AMAWW:
This is exactly my concern. I know OJ thinks differently, but the media (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Rat Party™) only has to convince the public that the economy stinks for the next four-and-a-half months.
One fellow on Lucianne.com says his job allows him to speak regularly with ordinary citizens about the economy, and when he asks them why they believe the economy is doing badly, they do not cite personal circumstances but instead mention all the negative reports in the press.
I agree with Jim: For God's sake, I hope the Bush team starts running graph-laden ads pointing out the true strength of the economy. They can't afford to sit back and let the Boston Fog Machine tell voters that Bush has ruined their livelihoods. Because, given half a chance, he will. He already is.
Posted by: Matt at June 15, 2004 11:19 AMBush has started an ad here in NH that points out the job growth. They have to continue pounding it out. Kerry's a fool to open on this subject but undoubtably counts on the MSM's burial of any good news on any subject.
Posted by: Genecis at June 15, 2004 11:35 AMMatt - I'm still concerned but noticed after my post above that at the Kerryspot at NRO it noted the White House was sending out faxes/fact sheets/qoutes from economists on how well the economy is doing. I would expect more of this as the summer ends and people start paying attention to the race.
Posted by: AWW at June 15, 2004 1:11 PMMy $.02
Unfortunately, so many salaried people are focussed on their 401k and IRA (as well as home values) that it might take a significant runup in the Stock Market to effect the presidential race.
We've had a significant run-up in the stock market - 45% over the past year.
Posted by: Sandy P at June 15, 2004 1:56 PMGranted Sandy P, but I was thinking of the day that Bush took office.
Posted by: h-man at June 15, 2004 3:09 PM