Gingrich says Obama has 'already failed' on economic fix


You might think that four months into a four-year presidency wouldn't be enough time to determine whether someone is a success or a failure. But according to Newt Gingrich, you'd be wrong. Speaking before 2,000 Republicans at a fund raiser last night, Gingrich said that "Bureaucrats managing companies does not work, politicians dominating the economy does not work."

Because President Obama has taken steps that bank on an economic recovery through the government ownership and at least to some extent, management, of companies, Gingrich said that his economic recovery plan has "already failed."

The problem with the argument is that the course that Obama is on began when George W. Bush voiced his strong support for loans to help the US auto industry. And remember: TARP began under President Bush and his Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson. Indeed, much of Obama's response to the economic crisis has been nothing more than a continuation of the previous administration's policies. That might not be good, but it's a little weird for the Republicans to try to run a campaign against it. Is their argument going to be "We supported these policies before we opposed them? And now he still supports them so vote for us?"

The Republicans are running against a series of policies not especially different from the ones they supported, and they're doing so without presenting much of an alternative plan.

On the other hand, the event raised $14.5 million from the party faithful for Republican campaign committees in the House and Senate. But will swing voters by it in 2010?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-89.2312,801.23
NASDAQ-23.352,903.88
S&P 500-9.311,342.64

Last updated: February 13, 2012: 02:50 AM

Hot Stocks

General Electric

18.875-0.255(-1.33)

Alcoa

10.29-0.35(-3.29)

Apple Inc

493.42+0.25(+0.05)

Google Inc 'A'

605.91-5.55(-0.91)

Bank of America

8.07-0.11(-1.34)

Wal-Mart Stores

61.90-0.06(-0.10)

Exxon Mobil Corp

83.80-1.08(-1.27)

Ford

12.44-0.25(-1.97)

Citigroup

32.925-0.735(-2.18)

IBM

192.42-0.71(-0.37)

Yahoo

16.14+0.14(+0.88)

Starbucks

48.82-0.38(-0.77)

Microsoft

30.495-0.275(-0.89)

Home Depot

45.33+0.06(+0.13)

DailyFinance Headlines

Benzinga Headlines

TheFlyOnTheWall.com Headlines

    BioHealth Investor Headlines

    WalletPop Headlines

    DailyFinance BlackBerry App

    My Portfolios

    Track your stocks here!

    Find out why more people track their portfolios on AOL Money & Finance then anywhere else.

    BloggingStocks Partners

    More from AOL Money & Finance

    BioHealth Investor Headlines

    Page Loaded in 1329119401871 ms.