Time's Joe Klein Says the Election Isn't About Obama's Record
Yesterday, Time's Joe Klein may have produced the single dumbest analysis post ever. Absurd as it is, it's still important, because it probably betrays Barack Obama's election strategy, with which the press will gleefully cooperate. The strategy is: Make it about anything and everything besides what I and my administration have and haven't done, because it hasn't impressed anyone, and we know it.
Klein's entry (HT Hot Air Headlines) at Time's Swampland, which should be named Fever-Swampland, was so brain-dead that he failed to cite a single example of an incumbent facing reelection (vs. a successor seeking election for the first time) in attempting to make his case:
Story Continues Below Ad ↓A Choice, Not a Referendum
Bill Galston has a piece in The New Republic listing the reasons why Barack Obama is going to have a tough time winning reelection in November. He’s ... wrong about the one at the very top–he buys into the political science mythology that some presidential elections are referendums on the incumbent’s record and others are straight-ahead choices. I’ve seen some elections that are referendums on the President, but those have almost always been Congressional campaigns, like 2010 and 2006 or 1994. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a presidential election that was a pure referendum, and every presidential election I’ve covered involved a choice. There are good reasons for this.
... In 2008, for example, the causes of the financial collapse were abstruse, but Obama gave the impression that he understood what was happening and would handle it calmly. John McCain did not.
Some presidential elections have referendum aspects. In 1976, Jimmy Carter tried to make the election a referendum on Richard Nixon–and was in the process of failing at that, when Gerald Ford turned in a weak debate performance and saved the election for Carter. 1988 should have been a referendum on the Reagan presidency–Michael Dukakis surged to an early lead in the polls because people wanted a change, then crashed when he couldn’t answer a debate question about what he’d do if his wife were raped and murdered (We haven’t heard a debate like that in a while). I could go on.
Actually, Joe, no you couldn't even if you wanted to, at least not substantively.
Barack Obama is an incumbent president facing reelection. Though his opponent's qualities are relevant, the evaluation of Obama's record is what will primarily matter to voters, just as it has in every election involving an incumbent since 1956:
- That year, voters decided they were okay with where incumbent Dwight Eisenhower was taking the country.
- In 1964, incumbent Lyndon Johnson won largely on continuing what John F. Kennedy and he had done (including a big tax cut generating impressive prosperity, while fearmongering the supposed perils of a Barry Goldwater presidency and promising that he would get the U.S. involved militarily in Vietnam (which, of course, he then did).
- In 1972, Dick Nixon's battle cry was "Four More Years." If that isn't a plaintive attempt to run on one's record, I don't know what is. Nixon's opponent, George McGovern, was pathetically weak, but voters didn't see anything in Nixon's record justifying an ouster.
- In 1976, incumbent Gerald Ford had to defend his Nixon pardon, while growing inflation and a stagnant economy were seen as part of his record. The "failure" by Carter was to make an effective case that he would be any better, until Ford's gaffes occurred.
- In 1980, it was all about Carter's record of double digit interest rates, high inflation, and growing unemployment. Carter got trounced by Ronald Reagan.
- In 1984, Ronald Reagan asked, "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" Translation: "This election is about my record." Reagan was reelected in a historic landslide based on that record.
- In 1992, it was about George H.W. Bush's supposed "worst economy in the last 50 years." That trumped all of the concerns raised (many squashed by the press before they could become widely known, as the Media Research Center so thoroughly documented at the time) about Bill Clinton's past and his character.
- In 1996, the country was okay with the economy, and reelected Clinton based on that record and his performance in the second half of his first term, after a disastrous fist half which gave control of Congress to the GOP for the first time in 40 years.
- In 2004, the election was primarily a referendum on George W. Bush's performance in the War on Terror and with the economy.
Other than that, presidential elections have never, ever been about the incumbent's record. (/sarc)
No matter how much the Joe Kleins of the world will attempt to obscure it, this election, consistent with past history, is almost entirely about Barack Obama's record.
It's amazing that people pay for brain-dead nonsense from the likes of Klein. Thankfully, fewer and fewer do.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
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Comments
Translated:
Submitted by Slyrr on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 7:01pm.
This headline needs to be amended.
It should read: 'Joe Klein says he hopes that Obama's record is totally ignored during the November election, or that he and the rest of the liberal media will succeed in covering it up with lies, race baiting, and class warfare'
Speaking of records: -
Submitted by neutron on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 7:41pm.
Speaking of records:
- Romney had the MA legislature pass RomneyCare.
- Obama had the US Congress pass ObamaCare.
+ Romney regrets how RomneyCare has worked out.
- Obama loves ObamaCare
- - and wants what else can be passed with a mandate.
A wise man learns from his mistakes.
A fool will double-down on a bad bet.
Pay no attention to my record, says the Mighty Ob.
Submitted by drsamherman on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 7:16pm.
Sorry for you, Joe, but you have the same credibility as Howie Fineman. The only difference is to him is where your lips fall on Oblahblah's rear end.
Liberal prick says What?
Submitted by BBallleaper on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 7:23pm.
Did you say What Joe?
There goes another liberal
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 7:27pm.
There goes another liberal proclaiming his hope as a "fact."
OK, Joe, whatever gets you through the night.
Joe is Hope and Change...
Submitted by neutron on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 7:29pm.
Joe Hopes that he can Change the subject from Obama's record.
And if wishes were horses....
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 8:57pm.
beggars would ride.
And we would be up to our eyeballs
Submitted by Boudin on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 9:08pm.
In Road Apples.
Alternative headline
Submitted by locomotivebreath1901 on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 7:25pm.
Time's Joe Klein Doesn't Want the Election to be About Obama's Record.
"...what John F. Kennedy and
Submitted by robert108 on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 7:33pm.
"...what John F. Kennedy and he had done (including a big tax cut generating impressive prosperity...)"
The present clown wants to raise tax rates, which is the exact opposite of what our economy needs. Joe said it all right there, but didn't realize it.
Tom - nothing dumb about Klein's next move . .
Submitted by Gary Hall on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 7:51pm.
. . after all, it was the perfect segue from the 2008 MSM campaign from Obama - - "this election is not about his qualifications."
Just moving along the path to destruction . .
(;~/ gary
PS - what's dumb, is if we can't stop 'em.
For me it's not.......
Submitted by GregE on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 8:00pm.
........about his record. I didn't want a Marxist President when he was elected, and I don't want a Marxist President now. America is not a Marxist nation. The End.
Hmmmm....maybe 2012 should be a referendum....
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 8:23pm.
on the First Chanteuse. "I'm, sooooo in love with you". NOT.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Not about Obama's record?
Submitted by rbosque on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 8:34pm.
Not about Obama's record? Really?
So if Obama had balanced the budget, managed only 2% inflation, 5% unemployment, and 0 national debt this idiot wouldn't be crowing about it? Really?
Exactly
Submitted by SSix2 on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:37am.
And if Obama wins, how long will it take Joe to report it was all about his record and that he has a mandate to continue his policies?
Brain-dead nonsense is the classic description of Liberals.
Submitted by Rush Fan on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 8:55pm.
It's terrifying to think of all the other brain-dead liberals who enthusiastically read Joe Klein's trite, and nod in agreement.
No the election can't be about Duh Bumblers
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 8:46pm.
record. If it was, he'd be destroyed. Let's make it about giving away money we don't have to voters. Now you're talking!
What a deluded fool.
You can polish a turd until
Submitted by hardrock01 on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 8:57pm.
You can polish a turd until it shines, but it's still a turd..........
So, if it's not about his record, what will it be about? Hmmmmm.
Submitted by CO2Maker on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 9:07pm.
Let's see. What else could it be about? Do you think ... nah.
Chris the Wide Mouth Frog's been tingling and frothing about ... um ... nah, not that.
Larry the Forehead is afraid it will be probably involve ... oh no, not that.
Keith Olbermann left a message in his bathtub saying he is sure those Republcan Worst People in the World will harp on O'Bama's ... nah, I doubt that.
What's left for the Republicans to use? Economy. Scandals. Obamacare and SCOTUS. Bailouts. No, the race won't be run on his record. So what will it be run on? Anyone want to guess? Rev. Tawana Sharpyton, you have an idea? Rev. Overwrought? You, Rev. Hymietown? Fr. Pflager? Doesn't anyone want to speculate?
How about Soros and his Travon.org?
BPA poll watchers?
Nope?
Liberals started calling him "Joke Line" years ago
Submitted by OxyCon on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 9:13pm.
The man is mocked by everyone.
Hopefully someone can help me out here...
Submitted by lesterwink23 on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 9:15pm.
Did Mr. Klein use this same argument back in 2004 when Bush 43 was up for re-election? No? OK, just checking.
Uh, sure~
Submitted by GG_NB on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 9:19pm.
So if it's not about what he has done and not done while in office, it is about...uh, his favorite flavor of ice cream? How many times he smiled? What -- pray tell -- can we base our decision on then?
Whatever.
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
He is right
Submitted by Vonu on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 9:41pm.
This election is about what Anne Romney has and hasn't done, assuming she even has the right to act.
"Election Isn't About Obama's
Submitted by Pinetree3 on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 9:45pm.
"Election Isn't About Obama's Record"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dog whistle code-speak for "Election Is About Obama's Skin Color"
I guess I should tell my boss
Submitted by goldbough on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 10:18pm.
I guess I should tell my boss that my annual review shouldn't be based on my work. Since I'm so likable give me a big raise!
It depend on your definition of facts ...
Submitted by metaphorsbwithu on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 11:34pm.
Since the Old Media no longer think journalism involves reporting the facts, why should they think voting in a presidential election should involve a president's record?
At least this president's.
It may be dumb, but it is the truth
Submitted by djwolf12 on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 4:26am.
When Newt Gingrich won the SC primary, the WH admitted THAT VERY NIGHT that the Obama WAS NOT going to run on his record. Go back and research CNN and MSNBC analysts that night. They admitted that it was the main strategy of Obama's reelection.
Replacement
Submitted by oldfart on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 6:12am.
You know the lame stream media could save a lot of money if they just replaced 99% of their reporters with wind up mechanical machines with a built in audio system. The built in audio system would be programmed with an appropriate progressive talking point.
For example:
1 – Diss Ann Romney
2 – Diss Sarah Palin
3 – Blame George Bush
4 – Diss the Mormon Religion.
5 – Blame the Tea Party
6 – Expound on 'fair share' taxing.
7 – Refer to conservatives as knuckle dragging Neanderthals
8 – Repeat the latest Bill Maher sewer joke
9 – All whites (outside of the I95 bubble and California) are racist.
10 – etc, etc. etc.
One of the executives could hire a Georgetown University Law Student who can't afford her free birth control pills to press the button when they want the sound bite to play.
Just think - no salary, no workers comp, no unemployment insurance, no retirement fund.
What is not to like?
Oh, that won't work
Submitted by CO2Maker on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 7:04am.
Unions, remember?
"We do the job, whether we do the job or not. Capiche?"
Ask any school kid in NYC, Wisconsin, anywhere else about how their teachers are evaluated on merit and replaced quickly so the quality of education doesn't suffer. Riiiiight.
To Quote that Famous Basketball Coach
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 9:16am.
Umgwana Kickbooty, "RECORD?! What the h*ll you wanna talk about my record for? I done my time, I paid my debt to society!"
(100 Bragging Rights points for ID-ing that without the use of the Google machine)
(hint - Bass-a-ball Jones)
Tyrone Shoelaces
Submitted by Boudin on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 9:37am.
Man thats old
100+!
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 9:38am.
To this day, whenever I hear someone say, "Let's talk about your record." That's the first thing I think of.
I believe that was the Los Cochinos album.
I cant remember that,
Submitted by Boudin on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 4:28pm.
But I remember George Harrison plays guitar on it. It is kinda unique, thats how I came to know it.
Hey tugboat
Submitted by gfrrman on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 5:43pm.
Is that Cheech & Chong or Pat Travers.....gonna kick booty. BOTH good reference. Thanks for the memories...
G
I just figured out what this election is about then.
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 9:16am.
It's about how much better Duh Bumbler has gotten at golf and do we think he needs another "season".
It's About His Color, Isn't It?
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 11:45am.
Obama thinks, talks and acts the way he does because of his skin color. So, shouldn't it be about his race? Just saying, just asking.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
Obama thinks, acts and talks
Submitted by Pinger on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:30pm.
Obama thinks, acts and talks the way he does because of the indoctrination he received during his upbringing. Anyone raised like Obama was raised would probably behave the same way. Skin color has nothing to do with it.
This election will be all
Submitted by ThisnThat on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 1:44pm.
This election will be all about how those obstructionist republicans tried to make o'bama fail, and how o'bama could have done much better "doing the people's business" if it wasn't for them. And oh -- don't forget how much worse it would have been if anybody other than o'bama were in the WH for the past 4 years.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
At this point, anyone that still supports the reelection of this
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 1:51pm.
...Kenyan Muslim commie homo from Hell is insane.
He has nearly destroyed this country, and if given a second term, he will finish us for good - if he hasn't already.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Past vs. Future
Submitted by giatn on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 3:27pm.
What's the difference between his record and vision for the future????? Absolutely nothing.
The election will turn on the stupidity of the American people. If they fall victim to Obama's
propaganda machine, we're toast. If they can't see the colossal divide between his words
and actions, we're toast. If they don't "watch his other hand", we're toast. If they can't
see the freedom killing regulations coming from his agencies, his executive orders, and Cass Sunstein, we're toast. If they don't study his close associations with radicals, socialists,
communists and one-world governance idiots, we're toast. If they don't understand how the
exploding debt will kill America's future, we're toast. If they believe that the 234,000 who
earn over $1 million can afford the health care, tuition, mortgages and retirements of the
other 310,000,000, we're toast. If they believe there are only 11 million awaiting amnesty,
we're toast. If they think the country can afford "free" health care and education for 20 million illegals, we're toast. If they believe Obamacare will save $1 trillion without rationing, we're
toast. If they believe there are affordable, available, alternatives to fossil fuels, we're toast.
If they think the road to economic prosperity is more government transfer payments, we're
toast. Frankly, there is NO part of Obama's agenda which is economically sound. Wake
Up America.
giatn ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 6:04pm.
Excellent !!!
MD
Toast
Submitted by kilrod on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 11:53pm.
No butter, no jelly, you got it Giatn.
Then comes the .......
(grins) kilrod "the Birther"
If an unborn child cannot trust you, why should I,??
In an important sense Joe Klein is right.
Submitted by needle on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:21pm.
“Time's Joe Klein Says the Election Isn't About Obama's Record”
The election is really about whether or not the MSM (include Joe Klein, of course) can, for the second time in a row, successfully promote The Worst President in American history as worthy of another term.
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
Obama's Record
Submitted by Pinger on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:23pm.
Everyone in the workplace is probably familiar with Performance Reviews. These are regular meetings between a member of management (such as a team leader) and the employee in which the employee's job performance is reviewed. At these meetings suggestions and recommendations for improvement in the employee's job performance are put forth. Sometimes the employee is told that they may be promoted, or they may be given good news about how much of a bonus they will receive. Sometimes, however, the employee is told they have to improve, or else; they might even be told to look for another job.
Elections are the Performance Reviews for an incumbent. The 2010 elections sent a clear message to Obama to curb his reckless behavior and to show some improvement. Obama ignored those results. His next Performance Review is this coming November. His supporters don't want a review based on Obama's record because they know it would be a bad one for Obama.
Obama will be told to look for another job if the election is about his record and performance. I believe it behooves us all to say loud and clear that it will be about Obama's record, and even that Obama should prepare to leave the White House. Heck, we might even should start sending Obama cardboard packing boxes to give him a hint.
How about smashed piggy banks
Submitted by Drawn Edited on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 9:45pm.
How about smashed piggy banks also, just to make the point that much sharper?
Good points. Pinger, ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 11:12pm.
but even though Obama's 'record' stinks on ice, there may a problem in that there are too many who may benefit from his largesse - welfare types and unions - who have a say in writing his performance evaluation from within the confines of the voting booth.
MD
Mr. Klein
Submitted by chiefpayne on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 11:37am.
What you MEANT to say was "I DON'T WANT the election to be about Obama's record".
Well sir, you are about to be SEVERELY disappointed because his record is going to be the FRONT AND CENTER ISSUE of this campaign.
NO WAY Obama gets a pass on this. It will be brought up again and again, no matter WHAT Obama does to side track the issue.
Come on, we
Submitted by nolefan2 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 2:37pm.
can't kick Duh One out now. He and Michelle have too many vacations that they haven't taken.....like one in Cartegena, Colombia next year. He has many more songs lined up to croon. Why are we worried about a silly old record of what he's accomplished while occupying the WH? He needs more time to stack the SCOTUS when some of those old geezers retire. Ruth Bader Ginsburg looks as though she already needs propping up. He needs to replace her with someone far more to the left.