U.S. Democrats seek ways to counter Trump's economic message

By Ginger Gibson

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as he hosts a reception in honor of National African American History Month at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Young

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic state governors say their party needs to challenge President Donald Trump's record on the economy as he seeks re-election next year, by focussing on middle-class Americans who have not seen the benefits of economic growth.

 

Trump believes he has a winning hand with the economy and frequently touts a low unemployment rate, strong growth and stock market gains since his 2016 election victory.

 

Democrats, who won ground in gubernatorial elections in 2018, are looking for ways to convert the messages that worked in those state contests into victory in the presidential election in 2020.

 

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, who defeated incumbent Republican Scott Walker in one of the biggest upsets last year, said the unemployment rate in his state did not reflect the struggles faced by voters.

 

"Yes, we have a 3 percent unemployment rate, but we also have 800,000 families that are struggling just to put food on the table. ... We have a long way to go," Evers said in Washington, where he attended a weekend meeting of Democratic and Republican governors from across the country.

 

Trump won Wisconsin by a close margin in the 2016 presidential election, and it is a major target for Democrats in 2020.

 

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, elected last year in a state that only narrowly voted Democratic in the 2016 presidential election, said voters in his state are concerned about corporate gains not flowing down to workers.

 

"There is no doubt that Minnesotans and Americans are working harder and (are) more productive, but most of that gain has not been seen in the middle class," Walz said.

 

Walz has endorsed U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a fellow Minnesotan, for the Democratic presidential nomination.

 

New Mexico's governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, also elected last year, said Democrats needed to counter Trump's message by talking about how low wages, expensive health insurance and rising costs are squeezing middle-class voters.

 

She said she was concerned about Democrats' ability to articulate an effective message on the economy and show voters how their own policies encourage investment and well-paid jobs.

 

"I do worry. ... If Democrats around the country, including me, are not talking about those precise strategies ... I think we won't get attention for the economic efforts that we're making," she said.

 

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who has endorsed U.S. Senator Cory Booker, also of his state, for president, said Democrats should not abandon their message about social issues to talk about the economy.

 

"We don't make economic progress without social progress, and likewise, you don't make social progress without economic progress," Murphy said.

 

(Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-25

I'll give it to Trump on the issue of the economy, but that said, most Presidents rise and fall on the economy, but in reality they have little to do with it.   There are exceptions, of course, but by and large their impact is not as strong as many think.

 

Where Trump is harming the economy is in the US brand.   Prior to Trump, American goods were seen as being high quality and sought after, now that is less so.   Some of the largest markets, such as China, are turning away from US goods and it is hurting.   Companies that could be expanding at a faster rate are slowing.

 

 

I would talk about the tax scam how most people lost ground on that one,expensive health care lack of living wage loss of Bennifits l

Meanwhile:

 

Farmer bankruptcies are soaring

 

Retail apocalypse: 57 companies going out of business

 

These Chains Are Closing Tons More Stores in 2019

 

Just consider the obvious...Trump's economic policies have been demonstrably more successful than his predecessor...

1 minute ago, Puchaiyank said:

Just consider the obvious...Trump's economic policies have been demonstrably more successful than his predecessor...

That is simply false.   

3 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

Just consider the obvious...Trump's economic policies have been demonstrably more successful than his predecessor...

 

Can you list two such policies he has implemented?

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/07/how-trump-has-set-economic-growth-on-fire.html

15 minutes ago, attrayant said:

 

Can you list two such policies he has implemented?

 

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trump-has-reversed-every-single-failed-economic-policy-of-the-obama-era-heres-what-must-happen-next

 

Next you will dismiss without checking out the info because Fox news presented the economist's research...

 

Politics are polarizing and spin in favor of party affiliation has become more important than facts. 

Obama never had numbers like this.   By decreasing regulation and lowering tax rates money started coming back to the USA.   Lots more investment now.   More jobs available less workers available lead to higher wages.   Tax cut helped me out for sure.   

30 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

Just consider the obvious...Trump's economic policies have been demonstrably more successful than his predecessor...

He had a low bar to jump over.

Nevertheless, you're quite right, and that's the reason he will win reelection.

 

7 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trump-has-reversed-every-single-failed-economic-policy-of-the-obama-era-heres-what-must-happen-next

 

Next you will dismiss without checking out the info because Fox news presented the economist's research.

 

You failed to answer my question.  What policy did Trump implement that resulted in demonstrable success?

 

For example, let's take this from your link:

 

"Manufacturing jobs completely reversed course. In the final year of President Obama’s term, the manufacturing sector lost 16,000 jobs. In the first year of the Trump administration, there was a gain of 196,000 manufacturing jobs."

 

I want to know what specific policy Trump implemented to cause the manufacturing jobs rate to rise.  You can't simply say that after Trump was elected, the economy improved.  If I said the sun came up right after my rooster crowed, and implied the rooster was causative, you would understandably want some proof that the rooster had anything to do with the sun coming up.  Likewise with Trump's policies. 

 

Another one:

 

"female unemployment has reached a 50-year low."

 

What Trump policy was enacted that specifically benefited female employment?

 

I am challenging you to list some policies that had direct, causative impact on the economy.  If you continue to assert that anything that happened after Trump got elected happened because he got elected, then I refer you back to my prior post about all those retail and farmer bankruptcies.  Those must have been caused by Trump's policies too.

26 minutes ago, jimmyyy said:

Obama never had numbers like this.

 

You mean numbers like this?

 

7 minutes ago, attrayant said:

 

You failed to answer my question.  What policy did Trump implement that resulted in demonstrable success?

 

For example, let's take this from your link:

 

"Manufacturing jobs completely reversed course. In the final year of President Obama’s term, the manufacturing sector lost 16,000 jobs. In the first year of the Trump administration, there was a gain of 196,000 manufacturing jobs."

 

I want to know what specific policy Trump implemented to cause the manufacturing jobs rate to rise.  You can't simply say that after Trump was elected, the economy improved.  If I said the sun came up right after my rooster crowed, and implied the rooster was causative, you would understandably want some proof that the rooster had anything to do with the sun coming up.  Likewise with Trump's policies. 

 

Another one:

 

"female unemployment has reached a 50-year low."

 

What Trump policy was enacted that specifically benefited female employment?

 

I am challenging you to list some policies that had direct, causative impact on the economy.  If you continue to assert that anything that happened after Trump got elected happened because he got elected, then I refer you back to my prior post about all those retail and farmer bankruptcies.  Those must have been caused by Trump's policies too.

 

As you can see by looking at unemployment, there was no great policy change etc, just a continuation of a downward trend. Trump just happend to be driving the bus when it got to the destination

 

58 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

Just consider the obvious...Trump's economic policies have been demonstrably more successful than his predecessor...

Donald came to office with an economy roaring back to life because of the wise leadership of president obama Obama came to office with the economy on the brink of collapse he turned things around not Donald donald exploded the deficit with his tax scam he is now losing the trade war he started the dude is a disaster 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/02/24/may-already-late-avert-global-recession-dire-consequences-europe/

Rather than live in the shallow world of Trumps wonder courtesy of Fox come into the real world and see the major crisis that the US is facing in the coming months thanks to Trumps astute management. 

The US economy is doing so well with unmatched unemployment numbers and folks off food stamps that the Democrats want to cripple Trump's success? 

Sounds about right. 

The focus for 2020 needs to be on exactly what the working middle class was looking for in 2016. Economic relief for the working middle class. Keep hammering on how the minimum wage raise, national healthcare coverage, extending public education for an additional two years will leave mor money in the pockets of the working middle class.

I think most people understand that a President has little to do with the economy, unemployment, stock market, etc., especially in the short term.  What we want is simply a President who isn't a lying criminal.  Is that too much to ask???

The Democrats should not get distracted by preparing to fight an election against a man who will not be ‘available for election’ come 2020.

 

They need to focus on real ‘Democrat’ policies.

 

Starting with HR-1.

5 hours ago, attrayant said:

Meanwhile:

 

Farmer bankruptcies are soaring

 

Retail apocalypse: 57 companies going out of business

 

These Chains Are Closing Tons More Stores in 2019

 

In all fairness, JC Penny has been closing for years.  Why they are still operating is beyond me. Brick and Mortar Stores are just dying period. With online shopping, soon Walmart will join the list I'm sure. 

 Target, is it's own worst enemy. I know people that will not set foot in one, especially if they have small children. 
 

6 hours ago, Credo said:

That is simply false.   

False is their comfort blanket.

55 minutes ago, Longcut said:

In all fairness, JC Penny has been closing for years.

 

Yes of course, few of these probably had little to do with Trump's policies but if Trump supporters insist on waving broadly at the horizon and shouting "look at what our glorious leader did!", then they have to take the good with the bad.  

Trump is about to cave on another of his main campaign promises, China. It also appears he is backtracking on Huawei and wants to allow them to operate in the US. Additionally, he has already said he will intervene with the Justice Dept. to obstruct justice and stop the Huawei CEO's extradition from Canada. Russia doesn't own Trump. China does. And if the Democrats were smart, they could cooperate with Republicans to legislate against any trade deal he makes and introduce legislation to block ZTE and Huawei from entering the US market. If Dems do this, the working class vote in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan will swing back to them and Trump will be history in 2020.

How's that mess of the Tax Cut/Reform (TCJA 2017) that Republicans were touting working out for the average US tax payer? Oh, it's not.

 

Average tax refund down 17 percent, IRS reports

 

That's okay. Major businesses investors and billionaires are happy. That is all that matters. It was never about the average US taxpayer anyway.

 

Other wonderful economic promises flushed away...

 

Foxconn Wisconsin: Jobs falling way short of goal. Billions of tax credits flitted away.

GM Plants: Job cuts and potential plant closings in Ohio, Michigan and others

Coal jobs: Plant closings in Kentucky and Tennessee

Carrier plant: Still shipped over 600 jobs to Mexico

Trump Shutdown (aka Wall Tantrum): Caused at least $US 11 Billion of cost to the US economy. 

 

 

2 hours ago, Berkshire said:

I think most people understand that a President has little to do with the economy, unemployment, stock market, etc., especially in the short term.  What we want is simply a President who isn't a lying criminal.  Is that too much to ask???

You wanted that lying criminal Hillary I presume...???? 

1 hour ago, Puchaiyank said:

You wanted that lying criminal Hillary I presume...???? 

Trump is the most corrupt President in history. Trump lies more than any human being I've ever seen. A trained monkey would be better for America than Trump. Understand?

3 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

Trump is the most corrupt President in history. Trump lies more than any human being I've ever seen. A trained monkey would be better for America than Trump. Understand?

Trump saved Hillary from the honor of most corrupt President...

Trump saved Hillary from the honor of most corrupt President...

Cute but absurd.

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