Bad News Is Good News

Liberals depend on negativity and crisis to promote their ideals. Unemployment figures released today were higher than expected, and Obama was quick to jump on that statistic for political gain. That's just what liberals do. That is not going to change, but it really makes me hostile. One of the earliest lessons on leadership I ever learned was that you give credit when things are good and accept blame when things are bad. When a Senator hears that unemployment has gotten worse, a real leader would ask himself what he had done to contribute to this problem and what they can do to make it better. An immature and incompetent leader would blame others for the problem. A mature and competent leader would not point fingers at others for the problem. Let's see how Obama and McCain reacted to today's unemployment news and which one is mature and competent in his leadership abilities. Obama: "Today’s jobs report is a reminder of what’s at stake in this election – John McCain showed last night that he is intent on continuing the economic policies that just this year have caused the American economy to lose 605,000 jobs. John McCain may believe that the fundamentals of our economy are ‘strong,’ but the working men and women I meet every day are working harder for less, the typical working age family’s income is down $2,000 since George Bush took office, and their purchasing power is as low as it’s been in a decade. John McCain’s answer is more of the same: $200 billion in tax cuts to big corporations and oil companies, and not one dime of tax relief to more than 100 million middle-class families. If I am President, I will cut taxes for 95% of all working families and provide an immediate $50 billion to struggling states so that they don’t have to cut back on health care and education and can rebuild roads and schools. That’s the change working families need right now." Please notice that Obama blames Bush and by extension McCain. He not only dwells on the negative, he rejoices in it. Then what does he say about creating new jobs? Nothing. He will cut income taxes (how much? 50 cents?) for 100 million families (while increasing every other tax those families pay, whether directly or inderectly). That doesn't create any jobs. He will spend $50 billion on poor states. Again, that doesn't create any jobs. Now, McCain: "Americans are hurting and we must act to create jobs. Unfortunately, while millions of Americans are gathering around the kitchen table and questioning how they can keep their homes, pay their medical bills and afford their children’s education, Washington has failed to act. As I promised last night, I will fight for those that lost their jobs, savings, and real estate investments. Some Americans have been left behind in the changing economy, and it often seems your government hasn’t even noticed. We must prepare every worker for the jobs of tomorrow. We will use our community colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities. As President, I will enact a Jobs for America economic plan that creates jobs, helps small businesses, expands opportunities and opens markets to American goods. Washington must stand beside the American people, not in their way." McCain doesn't point fingers. He offers solutions. He acknowledges the negative, but doesn't dwell on it. And his solution? An economic plan that creates jobs, helps small businesses, expands opportunities and opens markets to American goods. What kind of plan could achieve all that? Tax cuts of $200 billion for American businesses. A tax cut that is designed to help America, not get votes. I guess McCain would rather see America's economy strengthened than win an election. Sounds a little like McCain's stance on the troop surge a while back. It sounds like leadership.