On a day when markets are in turmoil, you might think that the role of an American president, current or aspiring, would be to assure his fellow citizens—and the world—that our economy is fundamentally strong.
That's what John McCain did. In contrast, Barack Obama suggested that the American economy is fundamentally weak. WaPo's Jonathan Capehart has declared Obama the winner of the exchange, for doing a better job in channeling the country's anxiety.
Click on image for video of McCain and Obama addressing the state of the economy on the stump today, and Capehart's commentary.Story Continues Below Ad ↓
JOHN MCCAIN: Before I continue with too many of my remarks, you know that there's been tremendous turmoil in our financial markets and Wall Street. People are frightened by these events. Our economy, I think, still, the fundamentals of our economy are strong. But these are very, very difficult times, and I promise you we will never put America in this position again. We will clean up Wall Street.Here was Capehart's assessment.
BARACK OBAMA: Senator McCain, what economy are you talking about? What's more fundamental than the ability to find a job that pays the bills and that can raise a family.
JONATHAN CAPEHART: Given the battle going back and forth between McCain and Obama today, in terms of who has a better finger on the pulse of the American people when it comes to the economic crisis that we're finding ourselves in, it looks as though Senator Obama is the one who comes closest to expressing at least the anxiety around kitchen tables around the country.Even in the depths of the Great Depression, FDR assured his fellow Americans, in his first inagural speech, that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." But on a day that calls for courage, Barack Obama was willing to talk the American economy down for the sake of short-term political gain. What does that say about his qualities as a leader? What does it predict about how he would handle a crisis were he to become president? Is expressing America's anxiety leadership?
Will the MSM take note, or will it simply agree with Capehart that Obama won the day for having his finger on America's nervous pulse?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Brilliant. Thanks Mark for
September 15, 2008 - 16:21 ET by FairlightBrilliant. Thanks Mark for this bit of wisdom.
Will the MSM take note, or
September 15, 2008 - 16:25 ET by bigtimerWill the MSM take note, or will it simply agree with Capehart that Obama won the day for having his finger on America's nervous pulse?
Mark...LOL...surely you jest...
Matthews is continuing on with this spiel...and of course The Big 3 will also, let alone CNN.
Agenda agenda agenda...
Good news though is this too will backfire.
<edit> Nancy Pfotenhauer (mangled her last name...lord I wished her last name was still Mitchell) just really got into it with Matthews...he is an asinine rude POS.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Isn't there anything in
September 15, 2008 - 17:37 ET by motherbeltIsn't there anything in this country that is not a mess, and in need of the healing powers of the Obamaessiah????
Did he say a single word of what he would do to fix it?
Senator Obama is the one who comes closest to expressing at least the anxiety around kitchen tables around the country.
Well, that's just what we need in a President. Never mind stupid solutions; what's important is the ability to "feel everyone's pain" and the eloquence to express it!!
Sen. Obama is telling
September 15, 2008 - 16:25 ET by j. frank wilsonthe truth. America's economy is a mess and it needs to be cleaned up. Telling people who have lost their jobs and their homes and their life savings that everything is peachy just isn't going to help very much.
After the attacks of 9/11, did NB critisize President Bush and others who told us we were in great danger? How many times have Republicans and their water-carriers told us that we live in a dangerous world and we will be attacked again and we must be vigilant every second?
Is that fear mongering or truth telling?
Wilson... Don't worry be
September 15, 2008 - 16:31 ET by bigtimerWilson...
Don't worry be happy.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
he's hit the nail on the
September 15, 2008 - 20:19 ET by TruthMongerhe's hit the nail on the head - accepting the reality of terrorism and our growing economy does require truth-seeing ability
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
Frank?
September 15, 2008 - 16:33 ET by joejm65"the truth. America's economy is a mess and it needs to be cleaned up."
The whole economy is a mess? How do you define 'America's economy'? And, read McCain's comments again. I don't see the word 'peachy'.
Want to hear another take on the economy? Here you go: I'm doing just fine. My job is great, I love my salary, I have practically no debt, and my retirement inventments are doing just swell. What will the changes that YOU claim are so necessary going to do to my tranquil and wonderful existance? Not much, I hope....
he's talking about
September 15, 2008 - 20:17 ET by TruthMongerhe's talking about the "messed-up-great-depression-economy" that's donating billions of dollars to Obama's jet-setting stadium-tour campaign - instead of purchasing food, shelter and clothing (!)
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
YOO, frank, NB did not exist in 9-11-2001
September 15, 2008 - 16:38 ET by upcountrywaterSo you think it's great to yell FIRE in a packed room..peachy
I want a LEADER as my president, not some squishy pal that sez, life sucks, because some Americans are out of a job. And it's the republicans fault....
CLIMATE CRISIS
IranianUranium
They both are but in
September 15, 2008 - 16:43 ET by BlackwaterThey both are but in different manners. The US economy is taking a hit due to the bubble in the real estate market. McCain doesn't deny this but he does say that it is fixable and isn't going to collapse into chaos like that of The Great Depression. You're making it sound like McCain is simply saying the economy is just peachy and everything is fine. Obama is just poking the nerve of the American public on the issue and make them come running to the Gov to fix their problem.
"Mass genocide is the most exhausting activity one can engage in, outside of
soccer." (Dogma)
Frank, somehow I think that
September 15, 2008 - 16:44 ET by bassndudeFrank, somehow I think that if the dems were in the whitehouse, congress and the senate, it would still be the republicans fault. Obama would be crying that it was the fault of the 5 republicans that control the senate....
Second, on 9-11-2001 NewsBusters did not exist. But I see how you can be misled, now.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
How many people saw Batman
September 15, 2008 - 16:50 ET by RainsfordHow many people saw Batman again? How many people bought Grand Theft Auto IV? Oh yes, the economy is in dire straights all right.
j. frank,, exactly how is the messiah going to "fix" the economy
September 15, 2008 - 20:22 ET by R D Helm?
-Dave.
America's economy is
September 16, 2008 - 00:07 ET by SchnikeysAmerica's economy is fantastic. There ya go.
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"My morality is your morality."
Obama dissing the economy
September 16, 2008 - 00:03 ET by merlin61The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Chicken
Little. Is this what he's going to do to reassure
the American citizens if he's president?
McCain and the President both said the basic
economy is mostly stable. Just because the
mortgage companies got greedy, and they are
now suffering because of their deceptions and
because people bought houses and go crazy with
credit cards, doesn't mean its the end of the world.
We will survive!! We're Americans and we know
how to make things better. Listening to the
Dem doom and gloom is getting redundant.
Of course their Messiah has the cure for everything.
America's Economy...
September 15, 2008 - 16:31 ET by Saint Zeroisn't the problem, it's the geniuses who bet on a bubble economy twice in a row. First tech, then real estate, but both went *boom*
For all the "hope" that
September 15, 2008 - 16:36 ET by MrSnugglesFor all the "hope" that obama talks about, he sure is a negative nancy, a debbie downer. The guy is probably the biggest political expediencer in modern history.
What's more fundamental
September 15, 2008 - 16:39 ET by bassndudeWhat's more fundamental than the ability to find a job
Again Obama demonstrates his ignorance. The ability to find a job, is just that! An ability. Not a fundamental. The ability to find a job is directly related to ones talents, knowledge and desire.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
What???
September 15, 2008 - 16:51 ET by SickofLibsAre you implying I am not going to get a job if I continue just sitting on my porch all day and night?
That is un-American!
Sittin' on the porch
September 15, 2008 - 21:03 ET by Sergeant ROCKThat's exactly what I'm gonna do if Obama gets elected. It'll be cost prohibitive to work for a living at that point.
Think I'll get a hammock too.
PALIN/McCain 2008
Obama's like a fireman
September 15, 2008 - 16:51 ET by Chris NormanObama's like a fireman showing up to throw gas on the fire. The media shows up to help fan the flames...
McNotObama '08
The politics of duplicity
September 15, 2008 - 17:24 ET by killbill2Me, I love anxiety, calm and relaxed are so overrated. I thought conservatives had cornered the market on "the politics of fear", evidently not... Global warming, recession, stock markets crashing, book burning, gun toting, anti gay, take-away-your-right-to-do-what-you-want-with-your-own-body-mongering, I could go on and on.
At least the one issue they accuse us of using is [gee whiz] actual terrorists who want to end our way of life.
The Great Depression?
September 15, 2008 - 17:43 ET by iveseenitallWhat? Barry Obama--one of the most ignorant boys to ever run for POTUS. Either that or he's one of the greatest liars on the face of the earth. Actually, it is both of the above. However, one thing is for sure: Barry's no leader. What do the American people need to hear, panic or words which assure us that the fundamentals are sound? God help us if this inexperienced child gets elected. Go back to the gym and shoot some hoops, Barry. You are not ready to lead.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
obama and the economy
September 15, 2008 - 17:45 ET by east tennessee johnSince it appears that much of the financial instability is related to the Freddie/Fannie debacle, what McCain has to do is point out that this type of irresponsible, unaccountable GOVERNMENT PROGRAM,with no effective management, is the type Obama wants more of and what McCain's going to change. This is a classic case of INSIDER WASHINGTON AND THEIR PALS DRINKING MIGHTLY FROM THE TROUGH. The evidence exists on who got what and how it was got. Qualified,unqualified,legal,illegal, it's all there. All they have to do is expose it and tell the truth. Also, since it is apparent that Obama hasn't read any books on market economics that weren't critiques, McCain may want to point out that to the class warrior,he may only wish to raise taxes on people earning over250K.WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU IS HOW ARE THESE PEOPLE GOING TO GET THE EXTRA MONEY TO PAY MORE TAXES ON THE SAME INCOME? IN THE REAL WORLD,THEY RAISE PRICES TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE. THAT MEANS TAXES AND PRICES GO UP. Add to that uncertain energy prices and does that sound like a pro-growth plan to you/
This doom and gloom and
September 15, 2008 - 18:38 ET by zfThis doom and gloom and apocalyptic speak from the dems is dangerous. It'll cause those on the cusp to feel like they will fall over, those on the bad side of the economic crust to feel like they will never get out, make those over the cusp feel like they will be on the cusp and those way over the cusp will react as if they will be punished and blamed for the feelings of everyone else.
The net result will from all these folks above will be hasty and risky decisons, a downbeat 'can't do' attitude and a victim mentality that will open them up to allow the government to do anything no matter how ill-gained and heavy-handed.
Then again, since depressions and recessions and bad economical times are what dems thrive on as a way to push forward their radical revamping of society, maybe that is what they want.
The Politics of Fear
September 15, 2008 - 19:47 ET by Secret ConservativeGee, I thought it was the REPUBLICANS who practiced the politics of fear! I didn't realize that the Dems were now going to take that over. Maybe they plan to send Obama to Wall Street and he'll NEGOTIATE, without precondition, the revival of our financial markets. And when he's done, he'll vacation in Iran.
Sounds like a
September 16, 2008 - 00:08 ET by SchnikeysSounds like a plan.
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"My morality is your morality."