A very bad 12 hours for the Obama campaign
The Obama campaign is fast running out of bullets.
The double-whammy of Bill Clinton’s remarks last night — about Mitt Romney’s “sterling business career” — and the abysmal job-creation numbers that came out this morning has got to force some soul-searching from the West Wing to Hyde Park.
The Obama campaign will look simply foolish trying to continue peddling its attacks on Romney’s years at Bain Capital after what Clinton said on CNN last night:
In case you didn’t/can’t watch, here’s the gist:
So I don’t think that we ought to get in the position where we say this is bad work, this is good work. I think, however, the real issue ought to be what has Governor Romney advocated in the campaign that he will do as president? What has President Obama done and what does he propose to do? How do these things stack up against each other, that’s the most relevant thing. There’s no question that in terms of getting up and going to the office and, you know, basically performing the essential functions of the office, a man who’s been governor and had a sterling business career crosses the qualification threshold.
Clinton went on to say he believes the Obama record and proposals would be better for America than Romney’s would be, and it would be a far bigger story if he had said otherwise. But if Obama believes that, too, why isn’t he running on his record? In large part, I have to believe, because the record is not good. And that doesn’t help his pitch when his proposals are basically for more of the same.
In any case, the damage was done before Clinton made those qualifying remarks, because his defense of Romney’s qualifications are a direct contradiction of the distinction Obama tried to make recently: that running a private-equity firm doesn’t match up well with the job description for the presidency.
With the Democratic Party’s elder statesman now joining those other Democrats who have expressed misgivings about the Obama campaign’s anti-Bain attacks, the attacks are all but neutralized. More and more, Obama looks out of step with his own party on this issue.
And his record on the economy gets harder to defend with each report showing the economy has no momentum. Jobs growth of 69,000 in May represents about half of what’s needed simply to keep up with population growth. The rest of the report is a mixed bag at best: The labor force participation rate nudged upward, which is good news, but unfortunately so did the number of people working part-time who would prefer to work full-time.
Earlier this week, economic growth in the first quarter was revised downward to 1.9 percent from the initial estimate of 2.2 percent. The bad economic news and worries from Europe during the past week pushed the Dow this morning into the red for the year. The S&P 500 is still ahead for 2012, but it’s down almost 10 percent in the past two months. So, retirement accounts are taking a beating right now, and that won’t give people confidence.
As long as this drumbeat of bad economic news keeps up, there will be regular interruptions in the Obama campaign’s preferred narrative of distraction issues: the “war on women,” etc.
Ironically, the best argument for Obama right now is that the president never deserves as much credit or blame for the economy as he gets. And that’s true. The problem is that you can’t very well make that argument on behalf of a president who has spent three-plus years trying to gain more control of the economy through higher spending and more regulation.
It seems to me this leaves the president with one choice: Presenting a raft of new ideas for the future. The problem with that tactic is his demonstrated lack of ideas that are anything more than recycled efforts from Democratic presidents past, Europe, or both: “stimulus” spending financed through borrowing or higher taxes on “the rich,” greater government control of health care, cap and trade, and so on.
The longer this pattern persists, the more likely it is to show up in the polls. Already, we’re seeing Obama’s number steadily declining, even as he remains a couple of points above Romney on average. As the incumbent, Obama doesn’t want to see his numbers consistently in the 45-47 percent range, even this far out. He’s the more-known quantity, and it suggests people don’t like what they know.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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179 comments Add your comment
iggy
June 1st, 2012
1:26 pm
Many would like to think Obama brought down oil/gas prices. Yet, another ObamaFarce.
Rafe Hollister- trying to save the Choom Gang
June 1st, 2012
1:27 pm
Finn
The Republican party has been hijacked by hateful, fear-mongering, lot who want to see America fail so they can get a guy in office for 4 years. Sad. Really really Sad. Ronnie is rolling over in his grave.
_________________________________________
Not true, but why do you even care if it was? That is why we have two parties. If you are so proud of your party lead them to victory. And who appointed you to speak for Reagan?
DawgDad
June 1st, 2012
1:27 pm
“The problem is it’s these poor Cons who use that free healthcare and don’t want to have to pay their own way”
“iggy, that collection of fines is what would make it no longer free health care for the great unwashed conservative masses.”
What on earth are you talking about??? Cons PAY for their health care, or work for the benefit portion of the cost. Your comments are over-the-top ridiculous.
Rafe Hollister- trying to save the Choom Gang
June 1st, 2012
1:31 pm
retiredds
@@ posted a study the other day that noted that historically falling gasoline prices indicated we are entering a recessionary period. So, since his policies are failing the economy and it is turning down, maybe he is responsible for the fall in gasoline prices.
unvrknow
June 1st, 2012
1:32 pm
First, Wingfield’s piece is insightful and balanced; hello media world, can we see more stuff like this?
Balanced, fair (oops, sorry Fox) and well documented shouldn’t be so hard to achieve.
Obama IS in trouble, and he knows it, because even though he’s a raging socialist (could be the impact of that ‘blow’ and ‘weed’ from his youth) he is not dumb.
Thanks, Kyle, and keep up the good work.
Thinking over Attitude
June 1st, 2012
1:44 pm
Don’t Tread,
I am an independent with a brain and I think Obama is the clear choice. Where are the ideas from my former party? Besides the Repub policies that led us to this deficit explosion (two wars + tax cuts + unfunded mandates — AWESOME!) and unregulated Wall Street mess.
I admit Obama’s campaign has to do a better job of getting the message out there, but he has plenty of achievements:
- saved auto industry and got huge fuel efficiency concession
- healthcare law
- 22 or 23 of top 30 Al Qaeda murderers, incl. Bin Laden, have been sent to Hades
- got us out of Iraq
- economy has gone from “oh sh*t, the sky is falling!” in late ‘08 to reasonable hope of recovery
- credit card bill of rights, stem cell research funding, new START treaty, etc.
P.S. I will apologize to everybody here for voting for Dumb & Dumber Dubya the first time. What was I thinking!?!
Getterson Vitterick
June 1st, 2012
1:44 pm
ZOMG, A LACKLUSTER 69,0000 JOBS PRODUCED LAST MONTH AND THAT’S IT. THAT’S ALL?
td
June 1st, 2012
1:48 pm
yuzeyurbrane
June 1st, 2012
12:59 pm
You are wrong my friend. Clinton and the other Dems that have said Bain did a great job will be made into a 30 second commercial and Rove and the other superpacs will buy $100 or $200 million in commercial time in those 11 or so states for the entire month of October. It will give all those rural white blue collar workers in Penn, Ohio, Wis Mich, that held their nose to vote for Obama in 08, to go and vote for Romney this time around.
Dusty
June 1st, 2012
1:48 pm
Ah poor libs….they fizzle and dizzle while the Big Dem burns!
It is so bad that even Clinton has told the truth in part. Romney is a good business man ! Thank you, Mr. Clinton, but we already knew that. He’s also experienced in governance.
And again, poor libs! They are so afraid that austerity might hit them. Greece is just something in the frying pan. They want their goodies or they are going to cry!
I really don’t like bad news. I only wish for good news. But, if the bad connects to President Obama, as it does, then I look forward to a change in Washington and the White House. We need a new leader!
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
June 1st, 2012
1:50 pm
Wow, I got my windows rolled up just in time….
southpaw
June 1st, 2012
1:52 pm
Finn, iggy – do both of you need a timeout?
Finn@1:16 – For starters, how about the “vulture capitalist” at the helm of Bain Capital? He’s had some failures, but also several successes. http://www.deseretnews.com/top/393/10/American-Pad-and-Paper-Mitt-Romneys-Bain-History–A-Sampling.html#/top/393/1/Staples-Mitt-Romneys-Bain-History-A-Sampling.html
MarkV
June 1st, 2012
1:54 pm
Gist of the interview with Clinton:
Romney’s business claims will play for some people who relate well to businessmen.
Romney’s business work was good. He has crossed the qualification record for presidency
The real issue for the election is what has Romney has advocated and what he proposes to do, and what has Obama done and proposes to do.
Obama’s record and proposal are much better for the economy and American people than Romney’s.
Only in Kyle world is that a bad day for Obama.
td
June 1st, 2012
1:59 pm
MarkV
June 1st, 2012
1:54 pm
It is a bad day for Obama because his planned attack on Bain as being vulture capitalist and evil is now not going to work. If Obama starts it then all Romney is going to have to do is put up commercials with Clinton and other Dems saying Bain did a great job.
ragnar danneskjold
June 1st, 2012
2:04 pm
Well-organized argument – my only reaction is bemused schadenfreude.
Hillbilly D
June 1st, 2012
2:04 pm
Wow, I got my windows rolled up just in time….
There’s a saying that’s soon going to be gone, since most vehicles have power windows now. Future kids won’t even know what it means. lol
iggy
June 1st, 2012
2:04 pm
Obama fancies himself the Kim Jung Ill of the USA.
MarkV
June 1st, 2012
2:06 pm
td @1:59 pm
If Romney is going to put up commercials with Clinton and other Dems, then all that Obama will do is put out Gingrich’s and Perry’s attack on Bain as vulture capitalist.
Tiberius - Banned by Bookman and proud of it!
June 1st, 2012
2:09 pm
MatyV, if only Kyle’s article was only on the Clinton interview, you might have made the first accurate post of your blogging career. Alas, you had to screw it up by parsing.
Complete and utter failure on your part.
davetv
June 1st, 2012
2:09 pm
Attitude over Thinking
If you had a critical mind and where able to look at the true effects of the things on your list that Obama has “accomplished”, you would see that everything on your list is either unconstitutional, failed miserably, or is total hyperbole. It’s a waste of time to explain the realty of each item to you and your ilk because you refuse to face the truth. Sad that so many people on this blog post their opinion and their hope, yet label it as fact. When others try to enlighten you with actual facts and critical thought, you folks ignore the dose of reality and move on to your next lie on your list.
md
June 1st, 2012
2:10 pm
Finn….you still don’t get it (and may never)….how does that consumer with a dollar in his pocket get more dollars to spend??
He goes to work…….at a company that first had to take a chance/risk with capital to employ that person……only then does that individual have the capacity to consume….and he will only consume what is made available to consume.
Without that initial capital outlay, we have an entire society roaming around without the means to consume……
td
June 1st, 2012
2:10 pm
MarkV
June 1st, 2012
2:06 pm
Yes, and that lib media will take the side of Clinton over Newt every time when they do their analysis of the truth meter.
redneckbluedog
June 1st, 2012
2:11 pm
Don’t get me wrong….69,000 jobs is UNACCEPTABLE…!!!! My mamaw can create more jobs than that without trying….Just canning green beans and pickle beets….Still better than Bush….but surely to goodness we can do better…!!!!!!!
All I’m saying is….don’t expect to much from the cultist, either…..He’s no Reagan…He was a one-term governor for a reason…..but it would be hard to do much worse..!!!
md
June 1st, 2012
2:13 pm
“Assuming, arguendo, that Romney was a sterling businessman, what does making a profit have to do with the enterprise of govt.?”
Well, now that you ask……you are aware that it takes lots of profit in the private sector to run the private sector AND the public sector……aren’t you?
td
June 1st, 2012
2:18 pm
More bad news for Obama.
“(CNSNews.com) – The number of American women who are unemployed was 766,000 individuals greater in May 2012 than in January 2009, when President Barack Obama took office, according to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/766000-more-women-unemployed-today-when-obama-took-office
The real war on women.
the cat
June 1st, 2012
2:19 pm
Grasshopper et al-you proud of your bully Romney and his hired hecklers? Getting close to desperation time and the election is a long summer and fall off.
MarkV
June 1st, 2012
2:21 pm
td @2:10 pm: “Yes, and that lib media will take the side of Clinton over Newt every time when they do their analysis of the truth meter.”
Don’t bet on it.
MarkV
June 1st, 2012
2:23 pm
td @2:18 pm: “More bad news for Obama”
Explained and debunked as argument a long time ago.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
June 1st, 2012
2:24 pm
how does that consumer with a dollar in his pocket get more dollars to spend??
No, I get it md, you are cornfused.
For most of us he runs or works at a company that provides goods or services that consumers demand. If he works for a company that can’t meet consumer demand, then he is probably going to be out of a job real soon.
It doesn’t matter how many extra dollars of capital you throw at a company, if it’s not producing products in demand, it won’t last. You can brag that you have a warehouse full of buggy whips. That’s real cool. But the economy around your buggy whip enterprise isn’t going to continue without consumers is it?
davetv
June 1st, 2012
2:25 pm
How to boost job growth? Oust Obama in November. I predict December will have the highest job growth in years. It will be amazing to see the growth that will happen when the President is not daily demonizing your for being rich, burying you in regulations, threatening to tax you to death, and fining you for not providing his health care plan. Business is holding it’s collective breath.
iggy
June 1st, 2012
2:28 pm
“It doesn’t matter how many extra dollars of capital you throw at a company, if it’s not producing products in demand, it won’t last.”
Very good!! Kinda like Solyndra.
Things that make you say...HMMMM!
June 1st, 2012
2:35 pm
Does anyone else think all this disention is just a little too easy and convenient? I’m starting to think there is a HUGE October surprise and everyone is being lulled in!
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
June 1st, 2012
2:36 pm
The Con’s savior has to pay hecklers?
LOL. sad.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
June 1st, 2012
2:38 pm
I predict December will have the highest job growth in years.
Dreaming out loud again? You going to share those drugs?
md
June 1st, 2012
2:39 pm
“For most of us he runs or works at a company that provides goods or services that consumers demand. If he works for a company that can’t meet consumer demand, then he is probably going to be out of a job real soon.
It doesn’t matter how many extra dollars of capital you throw at a company, if it’s not producing products in demand, it won’t last. You can brag that you have a warehouse full of buggy whips. That’s real cool. But the economy around your buggy whip enterprise isn’t going to continue without consumers is it?”
Didn’t think you’d get it…..just like the students and their grades…..
One last time Finn……and where do those jobs come from Finn?……where is the beginning of the process?
I have an entire country of unemployed people Finn……where do they go to work and how does that place of employment get started??
Dusty
June 1st, 2012
2:40 pm
hmmmmm…..I was thinking about that job growth in the USA of 69,000, which was just reported..
Now divide 69,000 jobs by 50 (states) and you get 1389/state.
Georgia has 159 counties. So divide the state’s 1389 jobs by 159 and you get about 9 jobs/county!
Wow, an average of nine jobs per county in Georgia at this time.
As Kyle said, “a very bad 12 hours”. for Obama ( and Georgia and the rest of the USA)..
Hillbilly D
June 1st, 2012
2:41 pm
I’m starting to think there is a HUGE October surprise and everyone is being lulled in!
Every election from Carter/Reagan forward, there have been warnings of an October Surprise. If there is one this year, it’ll be the first one.
Thinking over Attitude
June 1st, 2012
2:42 pm
Nice attitude, daveTV. Be careful about judging or casting accusations at people you don’t know. Otherwise, thanks for the laugh.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
June 1st, 2012
2:46 pm
how does that place of employment get started??
demand.plain.and.simple.
money…follows…demand
md
June 1st, 2012
2:47 pm
“saved auto industry and got huge fuel efficiency concession”
Actually, saved the uaw and screwed bondholders…….some of which were retired uaw.
“healthcare law”
Which may very likely be stricken down, which would be a good thing as the system run by the insurance companies is already screwed up…..costs are too high because nobody including the doctors have any frigggin idea what anything actually costs……..just read your eob’s, if you can.
DAVETV
June 1st, 2012
2:48 pm
Finn – Dreaming out loud again? You going to share those drugs?
As I clearly stated- that is my prediction and I base it on the reason listed thereafter.
This is opposed to your dreams (which you label as facts) with nothing to back it up.
The ones who are on drugs must be the ones who believe Obama is not responsible for any of our Countries woes, and believe that giving him 4 more years to blame Bush and the Republicans and the rich will somehow make things better.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
June 1st, 2012
2:49 pm
A very bad 4 years for America, freedom, and capitalism.
End the stupidity. Vote Republican.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
June 1st, 2012
2:49 pm
According to md, the very first oil change shop was started before the car was even invented. The capitalist sensed a deep seated need in the American people to provide lubrication for machinery. Not knowing what machinery that might be, he nonetheless convinced a banker to assist him with cash in his venture to meet this, as of yet unknown, need.
That deep deep sense of need for mechanical lubrication is what got Henry Ford to build the first automobile.
Simply amazing!
md
June 1st, 2012
2:49 pm
“got us out of Iraq”
Actually pre-negotiated and agreed to by one GWB
“credit card bill of rights”
Yes, we are all so very thankful for our higher rates…..the deadbeats we are now all paying for appreciate the “fairness”.
md
June 1st, 2012
2:50 pm
“demand.plain.and.simple.
money…follows…demand”
Demand with what?? I can demand a yacht…..but I first have to have the money for it…..where do I go get that money Finn?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
June 1st, 2012
2:52 pm
davetv,
If there is a huge November surge in consumer demand and the inevitable hiring that follows that demand, it won’t be because the White House resident changed.
In fact, if there is a huge surge in hiring in November, it will be because the economy is doing much better in September and October.
And that is something we know you cons don’t want to see happen.
md
June 1st, 2012
2:53 pm
Sorry Finn…it is you that has the cart in front of the horse……again, where does the process start…..since I’m so confused, explain it to me…..from the beginning.
Dusty
June 1st, 2012
2:54 pm
MarkV
Are you trying to say that all this bad news is really good news and the country is doing exceedingly well under President Obama?
I congratulate you on your fine imagination but your reality is somewhat lacking.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
June 1st, 2012
2:56 pm
keep setting them up md, i’ll keep knocking them down.
DAVETV
June 1st, 2012
2:56 pm
how does that place of employment get started?? demand.plain.and.simple.
Plus a huge influx of capital. Prove there is enough demand and private funds can be found for financing. The return on that investment is the peach.
Planning to build a solar panel that no one wants? Plus, It costs more to build it than you can already buy the finished product. That is why no private equity would touch it, only the Obama administration would back this failed business plan using our tax dollars.
Jefferson
June 1st, 2012
2:57 pm
Not really, you look more foolish than him with see through petty hate stories. Now there.