Say It Ain't So Already

Are You Better Off Now Than You Were Four Years Ago?

September 3, 2012 at 8:50 AM Leave a comment

The Republicans apparently sent out a memo overnight asking if people are better off now than they were four years ago, because the “liberal media” is all over it, with wall-to-wall speculation.

The thing is, nobody seems to be talking about the fact — the inconvenient fact — that George W. Bush was in office four years ago and he would be for five more months.  Not only that, but here’s another inconvenient fact:

(Image via TalkingPointsMemo.com)

That longest red line there in the middle is January, 2009.  Obama was sworn in on January 20.  Look at the trajectory before and after.

For the media to bite on this Republican talking point and go along with the implication that Obama was in office four years ago without (1) pointing out that he wasn’t, and (2) citing facts as to what the economy was actually doing back then, is journalistic malpractice.

For a larger version of the chart above, go here.

Entry filed under: 2012 Election, Financial Crisis, George W. Bush and Co., Republicans, Including Wingers & "Moderates". Tags: .