Shortly after the Democrats gaveled to order their 2008 nominating convention at 5 p.m. EDT, CNN's Jack Cafferty did the party of Jimmy Carter a favor by pushing its economic message on his blog and the network's "The Situation Room" program with his question of the hour. Cafferty listed negative-sounding statistic after negative statistic, failing to offset them with even one praiseworthy accomplishment of the Bush administration, before asking CNN viewers if they are "better off" now than eight years ago.
From his Cafferty File blog (audio clip available here):
Ronald Reagan had some success with this question a few years ago and things weren’t nearly as crummy then as they are now: Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago? But this time it’s been 8 years.
Think about it: unemployment is rising. The rate stands at 5.7% and we have lost 463,000 jobs since the first of the year. And so is inflation. It's accelerating at a faster rate than it has in 17 years. Gas prices are up 34% in the last year. Oil was around $26 a barrel when President Bush was inaugurated... it touched $147 a few weeks ago. More than 1 million homes are now in foreclosure.
[...]
Here's my question to you: With the election 71 days away, are you better off now than you were eight years ago?
Things are more dire economically now than when Ronald Reagan challenged double-digit inflation and interest rates under Jimmy Carter? Really?
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
John McCain type answer coming.... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...
August 25, 2008 - 17:26 ET by JWFYes.
Here's my question to you:
August 25, 2008 - 17:27 ET by bigtimerHere's my question to you: With the election 71 days away, are you better off now than you were eight years ago?
It's a miracle he didn't add on... Do you want four more years of the same by voting for Bush/McCain...acutaully I'm shocked he didn't.
That talking point is getting very old already with the Bush/McCain example.
I just wished we wouldn't have to have four more days of Cafferty in the msm.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Ouch!
August 25, 2008 - 17:31 ET by JWFI just wished we wouldn't have to have four more days of Cafferty in the msm.
Oh Snap! Oh! Oh! Oh! Ouch! Oh! Oh!
Question Part II: Do you
August 25, 2008 - 17:40 ET by Chris NormanQuestion Part II: Do you think Obama/Biden and an even more Democratic Congress are going to help make you any better off or far worse?
McNotObama '08
Yes
August 25, 2008 - 17:56 ET by sawing battaHey Jack. Answer is a huge YES.
Eight years ago(and on 9/11), I was working in the World Trade Center on a very high floor. The then current administration was more interested in putting up walls between our intelligence agencies than doing anything about terrorism. The terrorism trend was negative and accelerating...fast.
In the last 7 years, GWB has taken it to them in a huge way and halted the acceleration of terrorism in its tracks. True, it's not perfect, but given the direction in the 90's and where we were 8 years ago, I think we're FAR better off now than had Gore come in to face 9-11.
So, the fact that we havent been hit hard since 9-11 isnt dumb luck and should not be diminished in value.
So Jack, for the sake of those who were not as lucky as you and me, please dont forget how good we've had it in the last eight years...
Let me think...
August 25, 2008 - 18:38 ET by AmericanEnergistIn 1980, I had a car loan with a 23% APR
I was making $215/wk salary
I shared a 3BR apartment with two other guys. My BR was 8' x 7'
When I turned on the TV, the President sent in a few troops into the Iranian desert where they crashed and were killed trying to save or 52 hostages.
Today, my car payment is $196 for a car that is 7x more expensive than my used 1978 Chevy Monza.
It would be rude to state my salary, but let's just say I make 3 figures per hour.
My beautiful house in the burbs contains my wife and two gorgeous daughters. My wife completed her doctorate a few years ago and is at the top of her profession. My oldest daughter is in her second year at college.
I saw the brave and capable American armed forces take Iraq 2 times in the course of a decade. They are the bravest, most efficent and dedicated men and women in the world - and they protect us every single day.
Gas is a tad more expensive than I like, but it is headed down.
All that being said - Uncle Jack, I AM happier than I was 8 years ago or 28 years ago.
We don't need Obama to give us hope...we give ourselves hope every day.
www.ArmchairEnergist...
AE... Hear!
August 25, 2008 - 18:42 ET by bigtimerAE...
Hear! Hear!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
In 2000, our small company
August 25, 2008 - 20:26 ET by FishFace222In 2000, our small company laid off 4 people--the first time they have ever laid anybody off. Back then, we had 8 branches in ND and SD. We now have a total of 18 branches and have added MN. Nobody has been laid off since. We are an employee owned company that is growing by leaps and bounds--even in today's economy. My own situation has improved dramatically. I make twice as much now as I did then. What was the formula for me? I WORKED HARD TO GET THERE. I didn't expect the government to give me a better job. We don't listen to the BS in the news media--they've been trying to talk us into a recession since before the elections in 2006. Our economy is pretty good in this area. All those dems that consider us flyover country, keep thinking that way. Don't come and ruin our way of life.
Yes, I am better off than I was 7-8 years ago.
Doing better.....
August 25, 2008 - 20:32 ET by GbearPsychologicly I took a downturn in 2006, right after the elections.