How To Knock Down a Democrat
Reported by Melanie - October 8, 2004 -
Are we seeing a trend here? On Dayside w/Linda Vester today (October 8, 2004), Vester changed the subject on a Democratic guest, something she's done before but today it was much more blatant. Is this a Fox News strategy to leave Democrats befuddled and unprepared and to make them appear less competent and confident than their Republican counterpart?
Roger Altman, Kerry's senior economic adviser and Todd Buchholz, Bush's senior economic adviser were on Dayside to discuss the job numbers. Vester opened the segment thusly: "With the jobs number that just came out this morning, expect some talk about that in the presidential debate tonight. 96,000 jobs added in this country last month and both sides have their own interpretations of what that says about the economy. Because the President and John Kerry are busy getting ready for their debate, we have called on their economic advisers to discuss this." (My emphasis.)
You can probably imagine what each side said but to summarize: Buchholz said the Benchmark number was revised to show about 240,000 jobs created; over last year two million jobs added; employment is at 5.4%; economy could be better but Bush will make it better; new tax cuts will help.
Altman said American's don't think the economy is better; 4th month jobs have declined; 150,000 needed per month; lots of presidents have faced wars and adverse conditions but all have increased jobs; incomes are falling.
Buchholz said Bush inherited a recession, stock market crash; 9-ll cost country one million jobs; disposable income up 10%; we're in housing and auto sales boom; more kids than ever going to college; things are good considering the strong "headwind."
Altman said 9-ll has nothing to do with last three months; Missouri lost 30,000 jobs in last two months, more than since Hoover.
Buchholz said the reason there aren't more jobs is because we need to reform litigation, education, immigration, Social Security, and the Democrats are too "fearful to do something serious because they don't want to offend the special interests that keep them in power." (My emphasis.)
After Buchholz finished with that amazing sentence, Vester turned to Altman and asked him this question: "Roger, I have one quick question, ah, about the Senator's health care plan. How much is that going to cost?"
(Suddenly, we're on Kerry's health care plan, not jobs and the economy.)
Altman said Emory University estimated $650 billion over ten years. Kerry would roll back tax cuts to the top 2%, those who make over $200,000, which would generate $860 billion to pay for it. One million people have lost health care in last year.
Vester: "Not to quibble but the Tax Policy Center, we did some checking, the Tax Policy Center estimated that the Senator's roll back on taxes would only generate $l86 billion in the next four years so how do you get $800 million over ten?" (COMMENT: Not only did Vester change the subject, she was prepared with ammunition to contradict Altman!) Altman said that was completely incorrect and "with all due respect," crazy.
Buchholz finished by enumerating the tax cuts Kerry'd been in favor of and said the only thing Kerry's interested in is raising the taxes on the 900,000 small businesses who create jobs in the country. As the audience clapped and the segment ended Altman could be heard saying American's need to ask if they want more of the same.
COMMENT: Altman was clearly flustered and put off by Vester. Unfortunately, he didn't do himself, or Kerry, any favors when he used the word "crazy," but he obviously wasn't prepared to speak about Kerry's health care plan. Nonetheless, evidently Fox got what it wanted, a high ranking Kerry aide who resorted, out of frustration, to calling something Vester said "crazy," which in turn made him look bad, which, I contend, was Vester's goal.
