It’s the Economy, Stupid

Those four words – scrawled by James Carville in the Clinton 92 war room – may be the smartest ever uttered in politics.
 
And they say more than the river of words unleashed lately about What’s Wrong With Obama.
 
Washington is awash in the debate. Is it Rahm’s fault? Or Axelrod’s? Why has Obama lost control of the “narrative”?
 
Obama’s problem is simple: The economy sucks.
 
And he appears to be investing everything in health-care reform – not fixing the economy.
 
If the economy gets better, he will look better – regardless of what Rahm, Axelrod and the “narrative” do.
 
Reagan beat Carter in 1980 because of the economy. Clinton beat Bush in 1992 because of the economy. Obama beat McCain because of the economy.
 
I don’t know how much a President can affect the economy. But the economy sure affects the President. And a President has to convince people he’s fixated on fixing the economy.
 
That’s where Obama is failing.
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Gary Pearce

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It’s the Economy, Stupid

Those four words – scrawled by James Carville in the Clinton 92 war room – may be the smartest ever uttered in politics.
 
And they say more than the river of words unleashed lately about What’s Wrong With Obama.
 
Washington is awash in the debate. Is it Rahm’s fault? Or Axelrod’s? Why has Obama lost control of the “narrative”?
 
Obama’s problem is simple: The economy sucks.
 
And he appears to be investing everything in health-care reform – not fixing the economy.
 
If the economy gets better, he will look better – regardless of what Rahm, Axelrod and the “narrative” do.
 
Reagan beat Carter in 1980 because of the economy. Clinton beat Bush in 1992 because of the economy. Obama beat McCain because of the economy.
 
I don’t know how much a President can affect the economy. But the economy sure affects the President. And a President has to convince people he’s fixated on fixing the economy.
 
That’s where Obama is failing.
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Gary Pearce

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