Bush's Answer to Chuck Todd: Go Shopping
During President Obama's press conference Tuesday, NBC White House correspondent Chuck Todd demonstrated once again why he ought to return to his previous role as a political analyst. Even as Americans are losing their jobs, homes and retirement savings, Todd asked the President "why haven't you asked for something specific that the public should be sacrificing to participate in this economic recovery?" Of course, Todd only needed to look to Obama's predecessor for another presidential model of sacrifice. Whether the crisis was war or recession, President George W. Bush's message to Americans was the same: go shopping.
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the self-proclaimed "war president" made no call for Americans to sacrifice in any way. President Bush did not ask the citizens of the United States to fight, pay for or otherwise endure privation in the struggle to come against the Al Qaeda network responsible for the devastation on 9/11. Instead, Bush argued, when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping:
"Get down to Disney World in Florida. Take your families and enjoy life, the way we want it to be enjoyed."
But while President Bush's idea of national mobilization to put the country on a war-time footing in 2001 consisted of asking Americans for their "continued participation and confidence in the American economy," five years later he offered the same tonic in the face of looming recession.
As economists including Paul Krugman and Morgan Stanley's Steve Roach warned in late 2006 that the United States was slipping towards an economic downturn, President Bush that December urged Americans to reach for their credit cards:
"I encourage you all to go shopping more."
For his part, President Obama last night could be forgiven his exasperation in the face of Chuck Todd's banality. "With respect to the American people," he said, "I think folks are sacrificing left and right."
Which is exactly right. Barack Obama's predecessor never asked for sacrifice, but thanks to the deepening Bush recession he bequeathed, the American people now sacrifice in ways large and small every day.
Chuck Todd actually asked something worse than I have seen discussed on the Internet, although from his expression and answer I think Mr. Obama heard it the same way I did. Todd didn’t just mention ‘sacrifice’ but also ‘irresponsible’ people, by which I think he meant people of minority social status trying to have things they wouldn’t ‘normally’ get.
So you don't consider the lives of our military a sacrifice?
Dee,
Of course I honor the heroic sacrifices of our service men and women, as well as their families. We are honored and privileged these selfless Americans through their courage and sacrifice protect us all. All Americans should be forever grateful.
But Americans could also show their gratitude by joining their ranks in service to their country. Or by willingly paying more in taxes and purchasing bonds to fund the wars our troops so bravely fight in our names. Or by supporting a national commitment to conserve energy and other scarce resources to help make the United States more independent.
But President Bush asked Americans to make none of these sacrifices. And that's just one more grim chapter in his dark legacy.
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