Panel Rejects Spitzer‘s Notion That Obama Can Run on Reagan’s ‘Are You Better Off Than You Were 4 Years Ago’
- Posted on March 11, 2012 at 6:49pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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Aside from a 1987 request regarding a wall in Germany, Ronald Reagan’s greatest soundbite may be his closing knockout punch during the final debate of the 1980 presidential election, when Reagan said:
“Ask yourself, ‘Are you better off than you were four years ago?’ Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was?
Given that the 1980 presidential election like the election this year features an unpopular Democratic incumbent facing criticisms for his policy approach to energy and unrest in the Middle East, it is not a surprise that Reagan’s great line of questioning would be referenced while analyzing the general election this November. Eliot Spitzer, however, shocked some when he pitched on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday that President Obama would be able to use the Gipper’s lines as a means to campaign for his reelection.
With the U.S. unemployment rate at 7.8 percent in January 2009 when President Obama assumed office, reaching 10 percent in October 2009 and now at 8.3 percent, former White House economic adviser Austan Goolsbee told ABC host George Stephanopoulos that the seemingly rosy economic picture with the latest jobs report won’t last.
“As the economy’s improving, you’re also going to see, as you have the last couple of months, a whole lot of people coming out of the labor force, back into the job market,” Goolsbee said to the panel. “So the unemployment rate might actually go back up.”
Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer turned the conversation on the economy to the election, where Spitzer said a corresponding uptick in the unemployment rate with long-term unemployed people jumping back in the work force “could look bad” for President Obama’s reelection bid. At about the 7:00 mark of video of the roundtable, Spitzer predicted that to defend himself against criticisms on his handling of economic issues, President Obama will quote President Reagan’s famous 1980 line.
“I think President Obama will quote President Reagan, ‘Are you better off now than you were four years ago’ and the answer is going to be overwhelming yes,” Spitzer claimed, an assumption that even Stephanopoulos, a former aide to President Clinton, questioned. Former McCain Campaign adviser Nicolle Wallace and Republican strategist Mary Matalin immeadiately pounced on Spitzer’s claim.
“Have you been to a focus group lately?” Matalin quipped back at Spitzer.
“They (voters) are really concerned about the future in ways they weren’t,” Matalin said. “If Carter was malaise, this is despair. Hope has turned to hopeless.”
“People think that their kids have a worse shot at the bright future than they did,” Wallace said.
“This is gobbledly-gook” Wallace later said in response to Goolsbee‘s criticism of GOP attacks on Obama’s economic policy, which he sees as hypocritical, claiming that the 2004 Bush campaign defended their jobs record by dismissing troubles as part of the recession that they inherited.
Spitzer tossed out a few more surprising claims as the panel discussion progressed, claiming that “the public understands” that the Lehman Brothers induced fiscal crisis was “a consequence of the Bush-Reagan era.”
“Independent voters are now looking at President Obama saying ‘he has saved us from something that was utter failure’–”
“I have never met anyone who thinks Obama saved them” interjected a laughing Wallace.
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Comments (91)
football lady
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:19pmWell, we all know where his brains are located!
Report Post »db321
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 12:30amAll I know is that Obama is no more American born than he was 4 years ago – I don’t like his friends, his policies, his vacations, his administrations, his Union Thugs, his lies, Soros, Van Jones, Seth Sunstein, and his fundamental Change for America.
Other than that – I think Obama is OK – I think he would be a brutal dictator and would hurt all those that put their faith in him.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 7:34amDB, can I copy and paste that post? Pretty much covers it…….
Report Post »momsense
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 10:01amMaybe not even there, is what we’re told is true.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 10:35amAm I better off than 4 years ago?
In a word: “NO!”
It will, in all likelihood, take me the remainder of my working adult life to recover the lost ground and damage that has occurred in the last 3 years.
And, IMHBLO, for him to run on that ‘premise’ would really amount to probing the general ‘un polled’ population for the effectiveness of his first terms goals to fundamentally transform America (back into the 6th century, with his fanatical religious brethren) onto a ‘level’ playing field and an impotent (ex) world super power.
Report Post »orkydorky
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 1:45pmWhat’s a Spitzer, oh yes, he’s one of those low life, woman chasing liberal Hippocrates!
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 3:01pmand the hysteria begins in 10-9-
Report Post »Rollo2
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:15pmNo, I’m not better off now than I was 4 yrs ago.
Report Post »Are you kidding me?
hatchetjob
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:08pmThis must be the joke of the week, they can’t be serious.
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 2:36pmYou don’t understand. Reality tells us, it has been a joke, for 3+ years!
Report Post »NOCLUE
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:04pmIs he a SPITZER OR A SWALLOWER…………..He is a bigger whorer than the ones he was caught banging.MAN OH MAN THE LEFT ARE DELUSIONAL!!!!
Report Post »Goldi
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:03pmIsn’t this idiot the one who tipped off the madams that the police were watching them, and so they closed down until it was clear. Why hasn’t he been arrested or charged or disgraced?
Report Post »hatchetjob
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:11pmI’m surprised Spitzer shows his face anymore, he has no shame.
Report Post »Choctaw25
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 9:25amHas no shame??????? He is a democrat, that sums everything up, period.
Report Post »“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.”
shustring
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 9:27pmI wish Obama would try to run on Reagan’s “we your better off then 4 yrs ago ”
HELL NO WE ARE NOT !!! WE ARE WORSE OFF THEN WE WERE WITH CARTER !!!
Report Post »doomytram
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 9:42pmWe are much worse off than we were with Carter…….Oblamer can only say that it would have been worse had he not taken over after Bush, or It‘s Bush’s fault and the Right doesn’t like women or Rubbers or BC Pills.
He is trying to feed us a bunch of Pink Slime for a Record, no matter how hard he peddles it Pink Slime ain‘t meat and Gatorade ain’t water. Oblamer is toast.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 9:47pmI hope he does too. I know a LEAST a half dozen folks that would turn on him in a heartbeat with that line.
Report Post »Johnnytour
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 12:37amThe only difference in Obama and Carter, is that the Fed is keeping the inflation down by keeding interest low and the Labor Dept. is using Washington math to keep the unemployment numbers down. Just because you dropped off unemployment after 2yrs of looking doesnt mean you don’t still want a job, or that part time job you took to try and keep your house is what you really need, but these are numbers that they don’t include. True unemployment is around 12 percent.
Report Post »Proud Stray Dog
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 9:00pmIf Reagan was still alive, he’d back slap Odumbo. Odummy is NO Reagan, never has been, never will be. He has an empty head to go along with that empty suit.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:23pmNext will be Rodents4NoBama. Oh, we already have that…OWS.
NoBama 2012
Report Post »red_white_blue2
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:08pmBARRY isn‘t worthy of kissing Reagan’s shoes!!
Report Post »oldchevyguy
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:05pmQuestion is…Spitzer,Are you better off now than 4 years ago?
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:04pmAre you better off than you were four years ago? Let’s see the Marxist POS president wants to transform us into a communist state and we have 4.00 gas and the vile Marxist wants it to go to 8 or 9.
Report Post »Unemployment is 7-8%,trillions in debt and he’s expanding the federal government to take more of our liberties.He starts unconstitutional wars and receives a Nobel peace prize for his efforts,yeah we’re pretty much FUBAR because of the disaster in chief and his Marxist policies,oh I almost forgot,socialized medicine,another gem from the Marxist heathen to take our liberty and freedom away.
abbygirl1994
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:16pmIts over 9% now… here is some news…http://www.wnd.com/2012/03/obama-impeachment-bill-now-in-congress/
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:02pmSpitzer seriously thinks Obama can run on that question? I pray openly to the almighty Lord that he grant Elliot his wish. I will just pop some corn, grab a cold beverage, then sit back and watch the train wreck occur.
Please, please, please let this narcissist try that move!
Report Post »hatchetjob
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:03pmThey are grasping at straws.
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:44pmobama and Reagan shouldn’t be used in the same sentence tryanny v liberty Government is the problem mr. prez
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:14pmUnless you use it as in “Former Presidents of the US”
Report Post »marcus_arealius
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:42pm@socialism.rocks-in-the-head : Doing crack again? Or did you run out of kitchen cleanser powder? Whatever you’re snorting, it’s affecting your writing skills, or lack thereof. Obumjob is doing fine? Please stop, I’m laughing so hard I can hardly take a breath..!!
Report Post »doomytram
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:36pmI don’t watch the commie networks, but is Spitzer the same commie that was saying that Oblamer’s only deficiency was that he was too perfect?
Let’s see here, Gas price’s have doubled and growing, Food prices have doubled and growing, Food Stamps recipients have doubled and growing, Welfare Patients have doubled and growing, Health Insurance has doubled and growing – California is Bankrupt – Illinois is bankrupt – Nobody is buying Electric Cars – 6 million jobs lost – Billionaires are up and middle class and poor are molding together.
President Barrack Hussein Oblamer is nightmare-ishly disastrous and it‘s doesn’t matter what the commie networks and doosh bag stephanopolis say’s about rubbers and bc pills… it’s over BO.
Report Post »cgent47
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:37pmIts sad with all the liberal pundants out there ABC news chooses to parade a whoremonger Eliot Spitzer to tell us how much better off we are now. Stay tuned for next weeks show staring Anthony Weiner. Can’t the liberals find someone with a good moral compass to tell us how great Obama is. How about the terrorist William Ayers or Reverend Wright.
Report Post »crazyoz
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:33pmSpitzer is just another anti Christian obama hack.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:26pm.
‘Are you better off now than you were four years ago’?
And the answer is “YES” Thank You Barack “Black Jesus” Obama “YES” We are all so much better off, than we were 4 years ago……..
I didn’t believe a word I just said either……..
Report Post »socialism.rocks
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:34pmno you idiots even the writers of this is idiots… he is going to flat out say has anyone been better since reagan and supplyside economics….
since reagan its been a total conservative economic policy~
which has destroyed more wealth then its created trickle down is going to take thirty years to fix
obama is doing fine
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:49pmsocialism sucks
Report Post »I see you are still spelling your name wrong.
sWampy
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:04pmSocialismRocks, Are you an Idiot, a liar, or both?
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:07pmSOCIALISMISSHIT Spew your BS elsewhere you’re an idiot.
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:15pmhttp://www.wnd.com/2012/03/obama-impeachment-bill-now-in-congress/ Great nes here folks!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:38pm@SocialismRocks
I can tell from your comments on this and other post, that your head is fill with things a dog would not eat and a cat would want to cover up.
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 2:30pm47% or more, of Americans,unfortunately,AGREE with your first two sentences,according to some Polls. Make no mistake, Obama CAN win the election[with a little help from his friends]. By friends I mean the MSM,SEIU,Black Panthers, Eric Holder, ad nauseum!
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:26pmDogs against Obama!
The price of dog food has gone up since 2009.
Report Post »youdidthis
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:36pmcats against mr illegal.
Report Post »cat food always on the rise
PoliticalTs.com
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:20pmOnama is a disaster, plain and simple, he and the Democrats complained till their eyse turned blue about Bush’s spending, and then when they got in power they tripled down on the spending. Can you sy, disengenous?
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:19pmNow that Spitzer has been separated from his favorite ****** he must have devolved to la-la land. That number nine nick name did not refer to the Beatles’ Number Nine lyrics. Back to Earth now Eliot.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:15pmobama sucks – just sayin’.
Report Post »desert buckeye
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:03pmWow!
Report Post »Does anyone know if Eliot Spitzer has been drug tested recently?
These people are desperately grasping at straws. They even delude themselves.
CatB
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:16pmLOL … this is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in quite a while .. NO ONE I KNOW IS BETTER OFF >>> THEY ARE P*SSED AT OBAMA!
Report Post »aChameleon
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:02pmAnybody who says we’re better off now than we were 4 years ago is a liar.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:16pmand delusional!
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:00pmO M G — Obama Must Go
Subject: Obama Puts Heat on Fox News to Prevent Hannity from Airing this Piece
I guess this video lays to rest any questions as to where our President stands on religion.
This is a video that Sean Hannity of FOX News has been trying to show that has consistently been blocked by the Obama Administration for several weeks.
Watch it now before it gets pulled from the internet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#t=28
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:14pmI only watched 2 minutes of the video before I threw up. Thanks NH, I’m not blaming you, please understand that. How do you make a copy?
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:18pmSean is always late to the dance. Recently, Glenn had an hour show on obama & religion. When you see things here and there, it’s pretty startling BUT when you see his words put back to back…it’s STUNNING and shows his disdain for Christianity. No surprise to anyone that isn‘t an ’O’bot.
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 8:18pmYeah well read this bit of news..why isn‘t Glenn’s team on this??? http://www.wnd.com/2012/03/obama-impeachment-bill-now-in-congress/
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 6:59pmThere are a lot of blacks better off, the federal agency I work for hasn’t hired a white person, in the last 3 years, hundreds and hundreds of unqualified black “engineers” with degrees that have nothing to do with engineering in positions where if they are actually allowed to attempt to do their jobs, people will die.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:18pmThe affirmative action President
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