ABC Sounds the Panic Alarm Over Democratic 'Worries'
Good Morning America, hosted by former Democratic operative
George Stephanopoulos, highlighted panic, Wednesday, about Barack
Obama's reelection campaign.
GMA's Jake Tapper warned, "Top Democrats are sounding the alarm. They are worried that President Obama's economic message is tone-deaf."
The segment featured James Carville, who worked with Stephanopoulos in
the Clinton administration. Carville fretted that when the White House
talks, "people take that as a signal that [the Obama administration]
thinks things are fine."
Carville and other Clinton operatives have produced a memo on Obama's precarious situation. CBS and NBC have not highlighted this.
Tapper delved into a new ABC News/Washington Post poll
with gloomy news for Obama. He explained, "...Swing-voting independents
have an overall negative view of the President's plans for the economy.
54 percent negative for 38 percent positive."
Voters also have negative views of Romney's plans for the economy, 47
to 35 percent, but the Republican has a higher number of Americans who
are undecided on his goals.
Tapper repeated Carville's unhappiness with the Obama reelection
strategy: "Carville desperately wants President Obama to win. But he
says the President should acknowledge how bad things remain for millions
of Americans because of the recession that began in 2007."
A transcript of the June 13 segment, which aired at 7:11am EDT, follows:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: To politics, now and the win by Ron Barber we
just told you in the race to succeed Gabby Giffords. Some rare good news
for Democrats in what has been a tough month for the White House. This
morning, a new ABC News/Washington Post shows that key voters aren't
buying what the President's selling on the economy. It's your voice,
your vote with ABC's Jake Tapper. And, Jake, the grumbling in Democratic
ranks is getting a lot louder.
ABC GRAPHIC: Sounding the Alarm: Tom Dem "Worries" About Obama Campaign
JAKE
TAPPER: It sure is. Top Democrats are sounding the alarm. They are
worried that President Obama's economic message is tone-deaf. The ragin'
cajun is raging again. And the message is the same as it was in 1992.
It's the economy, stupid. But this time, Democratic consultant James
Carville is aiming that message at his own party. He's very worried that
President Obama's current economic message to voters will only help
Mitt Romney win.
JAMES CARVILLE: I'm worried that when the White House and the campaign
talks about the progress being made, people take that as a signal that
they think things are fine. And people don't feel they ought to believe
that.
TAPPER: As the President did overnight, campaigning in battleground state Pennsylvania.
BARACK OBAMA: We are in a stronger position. We're moving in a better direction than when I took office.
TAPPER: Carville desperately wants President Obama to win. But he says
the President should acknowledge how bad things remain for millions of
Americans because of the recession that began in 2007. Carville says
President Obama should focus his message on what he wants to do if given
a second term.
CARVILLE: They want to be reassured he understands the depth of the
problem and that he has a plan to deal with the deterioration of the
middle class.
TAPPER: Mr. Obama has work to do. In a new ABC News/Washington Post
poll, swing-voting independents have an overall negative view of the
President's plans for the economy. 54 percent negative for 38 percent
positive. Mitt Romney's scores aren't as bad. 47 percent negative to 35
percent positive with more undecided voters, meaning Romney has less
criticism and more room to maneuver.
MITT ROMNEY: I think people recognize that the President may be
well-meaning. But he's just out of touch with what's happening across
the country.
TAPPER: And, George, on Thursday, President Obama will go to Cleveland
where he will deliver a major economic address. Aides say, it will be a
framing address. He will present the contrasting economic visions of
his second term versus a President Mitt Romney. George?
STEPHANOPOULOS: So, he may be edging in the direction that Carville was just calling for.
TAPPER: Exactly right.
