Saturday, March 14, 2009

Analysis: Didn't candidate Obama attack candidate McCain for saying the fundamentals of the economy are strong? Perhaps this is a CHANGE in thinking?

BARACK OBAMA 3-14-09:
“But if we are keeping focused on all the fundamentally sound aspects of our economy,” he added, “all the outstanding companies, workers, all the innovation and dynamism in this economy, then we’re going to get through this. And I’m very confident about that.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/14/us/politics/14message.html

JOHN MCCAIN 9-15-08:
"Our economy, I think, is still -- the fundamentals of our economy are strong, but these are very, very difficult times,'' McCain said.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/09/15/mccain_fundamentals_of_economy.html

HERBERT HOOVER 10-24-29:
In the wake of a big stock-market downdraft, Hoover on Thursday, Oct. 24, 1929, proclaimed, "The fundamental business of the country, that is, production and distribution of commodities, is on a sound and prosperous basis."
http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/moneybox/2008/09/17/fundamentals-our-economy-are-strong

21 comments:

Addie said...

I think the only reason McCain took any heat from his statements during the election was because he was in an election.

At the time I heard his comments on the economy, I just thought, "Ah, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about." This was partly because I was such a huge Obama supporter.

But I do believe that what McCain said is true now: our economy crumbling at the core, at least from what I understand.

I don't think it was a matter of whether what McCain said is true or not. It's that the statement was made in the heat of an intense political battle, and does sound somewhat naive, no matter who's saying it.

Mr. Bretzmann said...

Maybe Obama is just trying to stab McCain in the back! Beware the Ides of March!!!

ryanh said...

I think McCain and Obama are and were both wrong when they stated that our fundamentals are strong. If that were the case our economy would be strong. I think that the government just should be honest about what the problem is and forget about which person originally caused the problem. As it has been made obvious before fingerpointing solves nothing.

nathanl said...

I'm not surprised in the least. Obama's campaign was made of idealism and empty promises. I do believe Obama has the intellect and resolve to help America out of this economic crisis, but he's going to disappoint many of his starry-eyed supporters in the process as he is forced to make unpopular decisions.

Jenni F said...

I don't think that it would be right to judge Obama on everything he said about McCain, because as Addie said, it was an election and things are going to be said, feelings hurt, etc, etc.

Now that Obama is president, he has to "be the face" of America and try to lift spirits during these rough times. From the quote, I felt like he was just trying to put an optomistic spin on the situation.

mevanoff said...

As Addie has said, it was an election so feelings are hurt and so on...and the fundamentals of our country are strong if imposed in the right manner, but they are very weak when imposed in a matter other than the right one. This is for President Obama to decide and whether he is right or not...we shall see.

TylerDL said...

The fundamentals of the economy are defiantly not strong. Obama had to disagree with McCain to set himself apart from John's ideas. He wanted to be opposite of McCain who he thought mirrored Bush. Now that Obama has stopped drinking the Kool-Aid, he sees what McCain saw and will have to address it whether he is worshiped or not.

MattC said...

That comment was of course very pointed for political betterment at the time and now has no meaning to Obama. As he now has to keep the public's faith about where the economy is headed. McCain's comments were taken way out of proportion and for good reason...election; we all know what McCain meant to say.

Anyway, I don't think really demonstrates much of anything but how heated elections are getting. Nice use of the word change though.

Alli B said...

I think President Obama previously attacked Senator McCain's statement only because he wanted to emphasis that they both have different view points on the economy. Now that Obama is President he is going to say whatever he has to say to keep the people happy with his administration.

JakeK said...

I think this is Obama trying to be, once again, a man of the people by complementing the efforts of the American workforce. The reason McCain took substantial heat for his comments was because he is not Barack Obama. McCain's comments were taken as economic analysis, yet Obama's were taken as blue-collar support (and a slanted media was thrown somewhere in the mix as well).

ryanh said...

I think that Obama realizes now that it is easier to say things that sound much more appealing than to be blunt and be honest with the public. It is much happier to cover up an issue than flat out acknowledge it like McCain was avoiding in the election. I find it kind of funny how Obama is drifting into typical political form now that he has secured office and is having to live up to his promises of hope and change. Which he is doing a terrible job of.

JeremyL said...

It seems people say things in elections so they win the election...But once elected views usually change with any political firgure. Plus it's more about what the people want and Obama is trying to make people think of him as an "average guy" like everyone else. He doing a good job of it too...

Jessie R said...

Obama attacked McCain, because it was during the election. Now that he is actually president, he needs to make the country feel more secure, so the statement might actually help.

Jessie R said...

Obama attacked McCain, because it was during the election. Now that he is actually president, he needs to make the country feel more secure, so the statement might actually help.

shannon_o said...

Obama's attack on McCain was done just to help him in the election. Obama was trying to emphasize his view on the economy while trying to remain the better opponent.

Ryan K said...

I agree with many of the previous statements here. These comments, by both candidates, were focusing mainly on winning an election at the time. They probably were meant to be an attack because that is what candidates do in an election. The comments really do not have any huge political relevance now since the election is over and many things have changed.

mlowe1191 said...

i dont know why he said the thing he said. I do believe the base of our economy is strong. And i mean base in terms of the small workers, the small company that keep this country ticking. As for wall street, i think they are screwed. That place needs a totally reform.

Sergeant K. said...

I agree with Shannon. I think that candidate Obama said what he said about the economy during the election for arguments sake. I think that h was looking for a win and in doing so did not want to sound like John McCain

Alex D said...

in case you were interested... I know you watch a movie about him later in the year

I am a little disgraced that Marquette would do something like this :/ but nonetheless...
.
Democratic political strategist James Carville will deliver a speech, “James Carville Behind the Headlines from Clinton to Obama: Your Questions, His Perspective,” Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. in the AMU ballrooms. Carville will discuss the campaign strategies used to elect President Barack Obama and the issues the Obama administration is facing during his first 100 days in office.

ps. when does the taboo of the new presidency wear off and i can start laughing at Obama the way liberals laughed at Bush?

Alex D said...

*Liberals Ignore*

I would also like to inform people of the opportunity to protest the new state budget if they so choose on wednesday at the state fair grounds

The official disclaimer...

Join us for a Tea Party at State Fair Park before the Joint Finance Committee holds its public hearing on the State Budget. Tell Doyle and the Committee what you think of his billion dollar tax hikes!

Ice Tea will be available and we'll be doing a live webcast with Randy Melchert (2008 Assembly Candidate) and Marv Munyon (WI Capitol Watch) on the impact of the largest state budget in history on your family!

This budget is
* Anti-Taxpayer - Over $2.5 billion in new taxes including $95 million in capital gains taxes.
* Anti-Life - No prohibitions against government facilities such as the Madison Surgery Center being used to directly provide 2nd trimester abortion
* Anti-Gun - Thousands of convicted felons will be released and citizens will be unable to carry concealed weapons to protect themselves
* Anti-School Choice - New regulations will further restrict choice schools and open the door to homeschool regulation
* Anti-Family - The bill will create an unconstitutional domestic partner registry and mandate benefits, engendering lawsuits that will cost the state more $!

For more info go to: http://www.passportwisconsin.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=1

mlowe1191 said...

Well this is a new topic, but i think its worth talking about. I LOVE govener Jim Doyle's plan to build a high speed train from milwaukee to madison with 3-5 stops in the middle. He says it could cut travel time down to 50 mins. I thinks its great, not only for students who wont to enjoy madison, and live at home, but even for workers, and shopers. Its going to cut down on green house gas emissions and save people loads of money. This could be done as early as 2011 and is being paid for by the American Reinvestment act. KUDOS to the government on this one.