"Don’t let Romney win the economic argument" by Greg Sargent at WP

[applegrove]

Don’t let Romney win the economic argument

by Greg Sargent at WP


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/dont-let-romney-win-the-economic-argument/2012/10/10/82446968-1307-11e2-ba83-a7a396e6b2a7_blog.html

"SNIP.............................................

Here’s my question: Is the Obama campaign doing a good enough job in rebutting the core argument that appears to be helping Romney surge? Has the Obama team been direct enough in taking on on Romney’s claim that he understands how bad things are for the middle class and that he’s got a plan to make things better? According to Dem pollster Stan Greenberg’s research, the framing Romney uses above has succeeded in speaking to the economic pain being endured by one key demographic — unmarried women, who are crucial to Obama’s coalition.

I’d like to see the Obama campaign argue more forcefully that Romney is selling people a bill of goods, and that it’s a bill of goods that has been peddled to the American people before. Yes, Obama sometimes says that what Romney is offering is “snake oil,” and that we can’t afford to go back to the same policies that got us into this mess in the first place.

But I wonder if the Obama team could be a bit more direct in anticipating Romney’s argument and preparing voters to hear it before rebutting it — and in referencing Obama’s GOP predecessor, too. For instance: You’ve probably heard my opponent tell you that things are really bad, and that he’s got a plan to make things a whole lot better. Well, guess what — we still have a lot more work to do. But know this: When he tells you that his ideas will improve your lives, he’s selling you a bill of goods. Remember the last time a Republican president told you that cutting taxes on the rich and rolling back government would magically produce growth and shared prosperity? All we got was deficits as far as the eye can see. Why would you buy what he’s selling this time around? We are going in the right direction. Let's not change course now — it could stall or reverse the progress we’re making.

As Greenberg notes, Obama also has to be clearer about what he will do in his second term to improve people’s lives, while drawing a more passionate contrast between Obama’s “we’re all in this together” and Romney’s “you’re on your own” values.

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[TroyD]

1. Greenberg says Obama lost ground to Romney with women last week

It's unfortunate, but if that's the case Obama needs to make it up next week and not allow Romney to get away with it.

And shouldn't Obama & the DNC be doing more to get out the message that Obama KEPT HIS PROMISE to keep unemployment below 8%?

Promote the new Jobs Report every day. This should allow him to now beat Romney on the economic argument!

[gkhouston]

2. Here's my question for the WP: why isn't "Romney lies" a news story every day? n/t