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?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-09-2009 @ 5:17PM
David Black said...
I see someone got their talking points bulletin from the White House this morning.
6-09-2009 @ 8:27PM
thedude said...
All's fair in the BLAME GAME
Bush was blamed for 9-11 even though the terrorists entered the country and began their training during Clintons tenure - If you remember the first WTC bombing you have a better memory than any Democrat as they forgot about it within 6 months
Bush was blamed for Hurricane Katrina even though FEMA was operating on policies established during the Clinton administration
As such it is only fair that Obama gets blamed for certain overlapping errors of the Bush administration
The key factor is that before Clinton was elected everything I owned was made in the USA within 4 years of Clintons election most US companies had gone overseas. The first thing Obama did was to borrow 1 TRILLION from the Chinese.
I don't know why Democrats despise the US but it certainly seems they do. Or maybe it's just freedom they hate !
6-09-2009 @ 9:25PM
SCUM said...
Zac - you suggest Gingrich is judging the President himself as a failure in the first paragraph ("whether someone is a success or a failure")
You then mention, 'Gingrich said that his /economic recovery plan/ has "already failed."' It appears Gingrich is solely judging the President's policy.
You may wish to clarify these statements as they currently appear to be demonizing the former Speaker.
You also don't seem to be aware that the Republican party is currently split between old Washington types and classic conservatives. You're judging them as one entity.