Bush-Cheney '04 Ad Facts "Pessimism"

George W. Bush ^ | June 4, 2004

[RWR8189]

AD FACT

PRESIDENT BUSH: "I'm optimistic about America because I believe in the people of America."

VOICE OVER: "After recession, 9-11 and war, now our economy has been growing for ten straight months."

BACKGROUND

Over The Last Four Quarters The U.S. Economy Has Witnessed Its Fastest Growth In 20 Years. "U.S. economy grew a touch faster in the first quarter than first thought as businesses scrambled to restock depleted shelves ... U.S. gross domestic product -- which measures total output within the nation's borders -- expanded at an upwardly revised 4.4 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said. ... A solid gain in consumer spending, which drives about two-thirds of U.S. GDP, accounted for more than half of the growth in the first quarter. The department said consumer spending rose at a revised 3.9 percent pace, a bit faster than first reported. Over the last four quarters, U.S. GDP has risen 5 percent -- the strongest advance since 1984." (Tim Ahmann, "GDP Bumped Up Amid Slim Profit Rise," Reuters, 5/27/04)

AD FACT

VOICE OVER: "The largest tax relief in history."

BACKGROUND

"Bush Has Signed Into Law The Largest Tax Cut In Our Country's History." (John Petrie, Op-Ed, "Why Does All This Bush Bashing Continue?" Charlotte Observer, 7/10/01)

"[T]he Largest And Third-Largest Tax Cuts In History Were Approved In 2001 And 2003." (Bart Jansen, "As Tax Cuts Are Debated, Tempers Flare," Portland [Maine] Press Herald, 4/4/04)

"Republicans Also Gave Full Credit To Mr. Bush For Following His $1.3 Trillion Tax Cut In 2001, The Largest In History, With The Latest Tax Cut, The Third Largest." (Stephen Dinan, "Bush Accepts Size Of Tax Cut," The Washington Times, 5/23/03)

"[Bush] And A Republican Congress Have Passed The Largest Tax Cut In History ..." (Nicholas M. Horrock, "Sept. 11: Bush, Two Years After," United Press International, 9/4/03)

AD FACT

VOICE OVER: "1.4 million jobs added since August."

BACKGROUND

U.S. Employers Added 248,000 Jobs In May. "U.S. employers added an unexpectedly large 248,000 jobs in May, according to a government report on Friday that confirmed a strengthening economy likely to soon bring higher interest rates. The May tally exceeded Wall Street expectations for 216,000 new jobs and followed an upwardly revised total of 346,000 jobs in April and 353,000 in March. The 947,000 jobs created in the March-May period made it the strongest for any three months in four years." ("Jobs Growth Unexpectedly Strong In May," Reuters, 6/4/04)

1.435 Million Jobs Have Been Created Since August 2003. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, http://data.bls.gov/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=CES0000000001&output_view=net_1mth, Accessed 6/4/04)

AD FACT

VOICE OVER: "Inflation, interest and mortgage rates low. Record homeownership."

BACKGROUND

"Inflation Has Been Low In Recent Years …" ("Finance – TIPS," The [Baltimore, MD] Daily Record, 5/24/04)

Interest Rates "Very, Very Low." CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNNfn ANCHOR, STREET SWEEP: "This is why I always like to sort of remind our viewers who are individual investors, that 1 percent fed funds rate, which is where the fed has you know, target rates right now, is very, very low. 45-year lows, 25 basis points. On top of that, still leaves interest rates very, very low." (CNNfN's "Street Sweep," 6/2/04)

"[U]ltra-Low Mortgage Rates Beckoned To Buyers." (Jeannine Aversa, "Rates on 30-Year, 15-Year Mortgages Down," The Associated Press, 6/3/04)

"Overall, The National Homeownership Rate Hit An All-Time High Of 68.6 Percent For The First Three Months Of 2004." (Allen Norwood, "Families Falter In Homeownership," Charlotte Observer, 5/19/04)

AD FACT

VOICE OVER: "John Kerry's response? He's talking about the Great Depression. One thing's sure… Pessimism never created a job."

BACKGROUND

Kerry Says America Is "In The Worst Job Recovery Since The Great Depression." "Any step forward in the job market is good news for America's workers, but let's be clear: we still have a long way to go to get America working again. America is still in the worst job recovery since the Great Depression, with 2.2 million private-sector jobs lost in the Bush presidency, 8.1 million Americans still looking for work, and long-term unemployment at the highest level in twenty years." (Sen. John Kerry, "Statement by John Kerry on New Jobs Numbers," Press Release, 5/7/04)

Kerry Has Said Bush Has Worst Record On Jobs Since Herbert Hoover. "The economy in this country is in the worst shape it's been in many, many years. It's the worst jobs record since Herbert Hoover was president. It is the worst growth record since World War II and the Bush administration policy is dead wrong. . . . We have to either roll back or prevent the top end of Bush tax cuts from taking place and if they bum-rush this thing through this year and we're stuck with them having put it in, I'm prepared to go at it and say we're going to take it away." ("Kerry: 'Worst Jobs Record' Since Hoover," The Washington Post, 7/11/03)

[Steven W.]

they better get this message out as 'ol horse face is eating crow with today's continuing blowout economic numbers.

[DJtex]

The War on Terror is important and Americans generally rally around our wartime Presidents, but as usual I think that it will be "the economy, stupid" again this year.

Looking at BLS statistics we had just under 138 million employed in Jan.2001. Bush is blamed for Clinton's recession (actually the '90s dot.com hangover) which lost 2 million jobs. But since the low in Jan. 2002 we've added 3 million jobs and now stand at 139 million, or 1 million higher than when Bush took office. Economists expect at least 200,000 new jobs a month for the rest of the year.

It's starting to sink in that we're in the middle of a huge expansion. By November everyone will understand this. Normally, this is the most important issue that gets a President re-elected. I see no likely scenario that has Bush losing this election.

[bassmaner]

I see no likely scenario that has Bush losing this election.

Except an ever more shrill tone from idiots like Algore, and the bully pulpit given them by their willing accomplices at ABCNBCCBSCNNNYTWPLAT.

[Go Gordon]

It's starting to sink in that we're in the middle of a huge expansion. By November everyone will understand this.

And don't think Bush didn't plan on this, and laughed his a$$ off every time Horse face bad mouthed the economy. Now that the economy is going ganbusters, Flipper has been trashing Iraq. Well, once again, by the time of the election, the American people will understand that WMD's were in Iraq, Al Quaeda was in Iraq and Mohamad Atta met with Iraq military leaders 2 months before 9/11.

Bush will win at least 44 states...

[Gator113]

I pray every single day that you're correct!