For Tuesday’s edition of The 11th Hour on MSNBC, host Stephanie Ruhle proclaimed the economy to be great and as for the parts that aren’t that great, they are simply not President Biden’s fault.
Speaking with former Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo, Ruhle began by citing some polling, “Carlos, let's talk about the economy, because new polling from NBC shows that only 33% of Americans approve of Biden's handling of the economy.”
However, she could not understand why, “But, here's the thing, inflation is a problem, there's no doubt about that. However, the American consumer is forgetting, we were in financial crisis two years ago. We are in an economic recovery. There are good jobs, there are higher paying jobs, and while inflation is a problem, Americans also saved up a lot of money over the last couple of years.”
She then asked “how does Biden tell this story?” Because people aren’t happy.”
Notably, Curbelo didn’t answer the question, choosing instead to advise that the White House hype the infrastructure bill and see if there is a possibility for some “gun reform” measures to be passed.
Ruhle claimed that was a “really interesting point,” but then pivoted back to the economy with 2008 Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, “David, I want to share a headline from Politico tonight. Quote, ‘the White House has one problem that rules them all: Gas prices.’”
For Ruhle, Biden is just a bystander in history, which began at the end of February, “Here's the thing David, no matter what the president does, he does not control the price of gas. And we are having to pay more for gas, not just here, all around the world, because of the war in Ukraine. Does the American consumer know or care? Because I remind our audience, while people were mad about gas prices, we’re expecting a record number of vacationers, travelers this summer.”
Being a good Democrat, Plouffe agreed that there is “very little a president can do,” but brought the bad news of voters not buying that spin, “you get to this, sort of, five, six, you know, there’s some places where it is $7. You know, it’s going to really put the electorate in a foul mood.”
While Ruhle ignores all of Biden’s spending and pretends that history began a little over three months ago, most voters are smarter than that. That’s why Biden’s economic approval rating is at 33%.
This segment was sponsored by Sleep Number.
Here is a transcript for the May 31 show:
MSNBC The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle
5/31/2022
11:35 PM ET
STEPHANIE RUHLE: Communications, messaging, is complicated. Carlos, let's talk about the economy, because new polling from NBC shows that only 33% of Americans approve of Biden's handling of the economy. But, here's the thing, inflation is a problem, there's no doubt about that. However, the American consumer is forgetting, we were in financial crisis two years ago. We are in an economic recovery. There are good jobs, there are higher paying jobs, and while inflation is a problem, Americans also saved up a lot of money over the last couple of years. How does Biden tell this story? Because people aren't happy.
CARLOS CURBELO: Well, I think the president’s right, Steph, that they have to allow him to be himself. To speak more often even if you get a gaffe from time to time, that's Joe Biden, that's who he has been his whole life. His biggest accomplishment in Congress was the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Why? Because it was consistent with what Joe Biden said when he ran for office.
RUHLE: Good point.
CURBELO: That he wanted to heal the country, bring the two parties together. He’s got another big opportunity now on gun reform. I think he's being smart less is more right now, encouraging Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn to engage Democrats. If he can bring the country together on that issue. That will be very powerful. And it’ll be consistent with who he said he wanted to be.
A lot of Democrats have wanted Joe Biden to be the enthusiastic champion of the most liberal policy agenda advanced by Democrats in a generation. I understand why, but that's just not who Joe Biden’s been his whole life. And it's not the way he campaigned. He was going to be different than Trump, he was going to heal the country. This gun issue has the potential to change the narrative and be powerful for Biden, if they get it right.
RUHLE: Really interesting point. David, I want to share a headline from Politico tonight. Quote, “the White House has one problem that rules them all: Gas prices.” Here's the thing David, no matter what the president does, he does not control the price of gas. And we are having to pay more for gas, not just here, all around the world, because of the war in Ukraine. Does the American consumer know or care? Because I remind our audience, while people were mad about gas prices, we’re expecting a record number of vacationers, travelers this summer.
DAVID PLOUFFE: Right, so people are going to pay the price to do what they’re going to do, but listen, I’ve been in the White House. When you’ve had high gas prices, not this high and it’s, you can explain all you want about why it is and what you’re doing to mitigate it. As you said Stephanie, very little a president can do. But you get to this, sort of, five, six, you know, there’s some places where it is $7. You know, it’s going to really put the electorate in a foul mood. And you add that to the other costs.
So, I think the White House can go out there, and say “here is why it's so expensive. It is not just the U.S. issue; this is true all around the world. Here's what we are trying to do to fight back.”
The president had an op-ed, but you have to understand, if when people start casting votes by mail in early October and gas is this high, and you know, I hope it's not for a bunch of different reasons.
You know, the political environment is going to be incredibly challenging for every Democrat, that's just the reality. And I don't think Democrats can run away from that. They have to have scenarios. Scenario one, gas prices recede, inflation gets a little bit better. People like the trajectory, even if it's still hot. Trajectories matter in politics. I saw that with Obama in 12, unemployment was still high, but it was coming down. Scenario B is trajectory is not good. And that is, where, you know, if you don't make this a searing choice, where people really think carefully about the change that they’re prepared to make. You are going to be in real difficulty.
