Krugman: On the recession, Obama less progressive than Clinton and Edwards

[wyldwolf]

On the Democratic side, John Edwards, although never the front-runner, has been driving his party’s policy agenda. He’s done it again on economic stimulus: last month, before the economic consensus turned as negative as it now has, he proposed a stimulus package including aid to unemployed workers, aid to cash-strapped state and local governments, public investment in alternative energy, and other measures.

Last week Hillary Clinton offered a broadly similar but somewhat larger proposal. (It also includes aid to families having trouble paying heating bills, which seems like a clever way to put cash in the hands of people likely to spend it.) The Edwards and Clinton proposals both contain provisions for bigger stimulus if the economy worsens.

And you have to say that Mrs. Clinton seems comfortable with and knowledgeable about economic policy. I’m sure the Hillary-haters will find some reason that’s a bad thing, but there’s something to be said for presidents who know what they’re talking about.

The Obama campaign’s initial response to the latest wave of bad economic news was, I’m sorry to say, disreputable: Mr. Obama’s top economic adviser claimed that the long-term tax-cut plan the candidate announced months ago is just what we need to keep the slump from “morphing into a drastic decline in consumer spending.” Hmm: claiming that the candidate is all-seeing, and that a tax cut originally proposed for other reasons is also a recession-fighting measure — doesn’t that sound familiar?

Anyway, on Sunday Mr. Obama came out with a real stimulus plan. As was the case with his health care plan, which fell short of universal coverage, his stimulus proposal is similar to those of the other Democratic candidates, but tilted to the right.

For example, the Obama plan appears to contain none of the alternative energy initiatives that are in both the Edwards and Clinton proposals, and emphasizes across-the-board tax cuts over both aid to the hardest-hit families and help for state and local governments. I know that Mr. Obama’s supporters hate to hear this, but he really is less progressive than his rivals on matters of domestic policy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/opinion/14krugman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[libbygurl]

1. Well said, Paul Krugman! Thanks for calling attention to this, wyldwolf!

K & R.

[OHdem10]

2. Thanks Paul Krugman--I hope some will listen to you.

Many here at DU have pointed out Obama is to right of Clinton.

[William769]

3. K&R!

[OzarkDem]

4. Are Obama supporters conservatives?

Because a close reading of his policies show he is. Of the 3 front runners, he's the most conservative on every major issue from health care reform to the economy to Iraq.

Is that what you're supporting, GOP-lite?

[Didereaux]

5. good discussion on this at (lnk)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4060458

[wyldwolf]

6. kick

[William769]

7. I wonder why certain people are not responding?

:shrug:

[Andy823]

16. Could be

They are taking a break out on the river of "denial"! :think:

[no name no slogan]

8. needs more underlining

Not distracting enough as is.

[Supersedeas]

9. If only the facts mattered.

[Beacool]

10. Thank you Mr. Krugman!!!!

I love this sentence:

I know that Mr. Obama’s supporters hate to hear this, but he really is less progressive than his rivals on matters of domestic policy.

Experience counts, experience counts........

[applegrove]

11. I had not heard it put that way.

[tritsofme]

12. Obamites can disregard Dr. Krugman at their own peril.

nt

[jefferson_dem]

19. ooooooo....

:scared:

[rinsd]

13. I think the Obama campaign regrets attacking Krugman.

[redqueen]

14. "On the Democratic side, John Edwards ... has been driving his party’s policy agenda."

:bounce:

On the Democratic side, John Edwards, although never the front-runner, has been driving his party’s policy agenda. He’s done it again on economic stimulus: last month, before the economic consensus turned as negative as it now has, he proposed a stimulus package including aid to unemployed workers, aid to cash-strapped state and local governments, public investment in alternative energy, and other measures.

[avrdream]

15. Thanks for the link, wyld.

Nice analysis by Krugman as well but some will call him a Hillary-backer and make out that his words don't carry any merit.

Maybe they won't - it's quite a peaceful thread so far.

[citizen snips]

17. I have to admit

Hillary's economic plan is impressive.

[eridani]

18. And Kucinich the most progressive of all.

Glad to see Edwards following his lead.