The Romney campaign has done some internal soul-searching after realizing that they were on a trajectory for certain defeat. This week, they are prepared to roll out a forward-looking message that focuses on a five-point plan, including a promise of energy independence by 2020 and the creation of 12 million new jobs. Unfortunately for them, they ran into massive self-inflicted headwinds and articles about a campaign in disarray before they could even launch their reboot. The primary source for this is an article published last night in Politico that airs a tremendous amount of internal discord and bickering. Most of the unhappiness is directed at Romney’s top strategist, Stuart Stevens, but most of the criticism rubs off directly on the candidate and his decision-making.
So, before we even get a glimpse of the Obama campaign’s plans for the week, we see the Romney campaign bogged down in a tar pit of their own making. President Obama will announce today that he’s taking a complaint about China to the World Trade Organization, arguing that state subsidies to their auto industry create an unfair trade advantage. The announcement will be made in Ohio, where it is certain to receive an enthusiastic response.
The move on China is preemptive, as getting tough on China is one spoke in Romney’s five-part wheel:
The Romney campaign has prepared a series of ads, to air in battleground states, arguing that Romney’s plan would create 12 million jobs. Aides said the ads will highlight his trade policies to crack down on China, his plans to help small businesses grow and his specific plan to cut the spiraling federal deficit.
Thus, this is a case of Team Obama cutting off Team Romney at the pass. However, the first focus for Romney is supposed to be the national debt.
The national debt will be a key focus early this week. Romney and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, will highlight the debt burden that mothers and grandmothers will pass onto their children and grandchildren — an issue advisers think can help Romney close the gap with Obama among women voters. The campaign also plans to stage a ticking electronic debt clock at campaign rallies, an aide said.
I don’t know how the Obama campaign plans to counter that particular message, but with Romney’s camp preoccupied with putting out self-set office fires, they may not need to.
The war on women that Obama is winning is not about the debt crisis.
I think it’s interesting that the Romney camp feels it’s married women and women with kids who are the ones wooried more about the debt crisis than the social issues.
I know a lot of women who are married with and without kids who don’t like Repub policies because they are so anti-woman and basically boils down a woman’s worth to being baby incubaters. All the “forcible rape” comments and “birth control is abortion” business going on with the right is what causing the exodus of women voters to Obama…NOT the debt crisis.
Also a large voting bloc for Obama is comprised of single women.
Basically, I don’t think the debt stuff is gonna work. Especially coming from people who are so worried about our future children being given all our debts but could care less about the planet our future children will need to live on.
BuzzFeed
I agree with you. It is hard to get worked up about the debt on my kids and grandkids down the line, when our concern now is getting them jobs and a roof over their heads and enough food to eat, none of which the republicans are interested in addressing.
Also, I find it hypocritical that the same party whining about the looming debt burden on said kids and grandkids, is the same party telling us eagerly that not to worry, gramma, your Medicare will stay the same! We’re going to pull the rug out from under your kids (and under 55 siblings), not you!
I also think it is sinking in with a lot of people that two unfunded wars and the Bush tax cuts have caused an enormous amount of damage and maybe going after those tax cuts is the best way to go.
women today have to worry about the children that will be thrown off their health insurance if Obamacare is repealed.
women today have to worry about Mom or Dad moving in WITH THEM – if they don’t have the money to cover for Medicare, once the Romney/Ryan voucher is given out.
women today have to worry about Grandma or Grandpa MOVING IN WITH THEM once the Nursing home bill isn’t paid because Romney/Ryan threw them off Medicaid.
women today with the diabled child/relative will have to deal with the care of said relative once that relative is thrown off Medicaid.
so, color me cynical for the woman who can actually worry about the fucking deficit.
President Obama will announce today that he’s taking a complaint about China to the World Trade Organization, arguing that state subsidies to their auto industry create an unfair trade advantage.
Does anyone expect anything from this? Sorry to be a spoil sport, but this is just phony pandering just like the promise to fix NAFTA four years ago.
Uh huh. Phony pandering.
Just like it’s “phony pandering” when the Europeans launch their own massive anti-dumping actions against China (http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-09-06/eu-anti-dumping-probe-into-china-solar-panels), or when India does it, or Japan, or…
Both global and American trade complaints against China’s industrial policies have matter-of-factly risen a great deal in the wake of the recession. You don’t know what you’re talking about. As usual.
just like the promise to fix NAFTA four years ago
One was a line during a campaign appearance.
The other is an official act of the United States government.
You know, same-same.
Honestly, who the hell cares about the freaking debt? That particular cudgel has been used for at least 30 years now. It is apparent that this country has much more immediate concerns.
A lot of people do care about the debt, because it sounds scary. But it appears that the debt argument connects more with people old enough to remember the Carter-Reagan hyperinflation, since that event was tied (mostly incorrectly) to the debt at the time. (And yes, I do assert that Reagan shares the blame of the hyperinflation – his team ignore Volcker’s advice and pushed through the massive tax cut stimulus in 1981, forcing Volcker to raise rates to counter the stimulus as he was trying to starve out inflation.)
Of course, we all know that the GOP only cares about the debt when the president is a Democrat.
I’m not a TV watcher except for the NFL, so this past weekend I got hit with my first real dose of swing state campaign ads.
One thing I noted was that Romney and his CU supporters have a lot more ads on that Obama.
The second thing I noticed was how clever one particular Obama ad was. Romney has an ad in heavy rotation where he talks about the shift of manufacturing jobs to China over the last 4 years. The Obama ad actually shows part of the Romney ad in a window and then provides a large number of quotes and illustrations showing how instrumental Romney’s Bain capital was in moving work to China.
I think if you are undecided and you see both of them Obama wins hands down. First, Obama’s ad not only refutes the issue with facts omitted in the Romney ad, it ties the job shift to China to Romney’s character – not his policies, his character.
Lately we’re being drowned in this ad. It could maybe have the desired effect if they left RMoney out of the ad. Something comical about Mitt Romney the out-sourcer talking to a group of people about how it’s time to stop the “cheating” because Obama’s failed to “stand up to the cheaters” and how that will “protect jobs for the American people.”
This is a random point, but it kills me when people like Steve Benen clownishly “factcheck” against this claim by pretending that this is likely to happen regardless of who is president over the next few years.
In order for this to happen, job creation numbers would have to immediately almost double this month from their average 2011-12 level, and stay at that elevated level every month for the next four years straight. Job growth is decelerating now. It’s slower this year than it was last year. What are the odds we’re gonna see the economy grow twice as fast, without any more hiccups or slowdowns, for the next four years running?
0%?
0%. Partisans (of both sides), give me a break.
Tell that to the partisans at Moody’s:
http://jaredbernsteinblog.com/a-forecast-that-sounds-more-impressive-than-it-is/
Yeah, because if there’s any great economic oracle of our times, it’s fucking Moody’s. Their track record is immaculate.
Even Bernstein, who worked in the White House(!), can’t keep up the pretense of going along with a prediction of a return to a 90s-like economy. It’s crazy talk. Two million new jobs a year is a good, solid performance. 50% higher than that is simply not in the cards. Go long on slow-and-steady.
I mean, I never said Moody’s was a good prognisticator of future economic growth, and you can criticize citing them at all, but doing so is not some form of partisan hackery.
oops, didn’t finish my comment. Just going to say that it’s it’s idiotic to pretend that just complaining about the debt will make it go away. Especially when such plans as you have announced are goinng to make the debt bigger.