Couric & Lauer Charge Through Opening Created by Bush Administration Stumbles on Economic Report

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show's first half-hour was a tag team match in which Katie Couric and Matt Lauer took turns hammering the Bush administration on jobs-related issues.

The focus was the "Economic Report of the President," released just last week under the President's signature, which forecast the creation of 2.6 million jobs in the coming year.

Within days, key members of the administration, including Treasury Secretary John Snow and Commerce Secretary Don Evans refused to endorse the forecast. President Bush himself was willing to state only that "I think the economy is growing and I think it's going to get stronger," but declined to specifically adopt the jobs-growth prediction.

The show led off with this double whammy of an intro: "John Kerry picks up a key union endorsement as the Bush administration backs away from its rosy jobs forecast."

Then it was on to a grilling by Matt Lauer of Bush campaign chairman Marc Racicot.

Lauer: "How does this happen? The administration releases reports with numbers so far off the mark that everyone is backing off?"

A clearly defensive Racicot was reduced to claiming that "these are goals, not predictions." Racicot claimed that Lauer had "overstated" the case.

Lauer: "You say I've overstated but Secretaries Snow and Evans won't mention the job projection because they're not comfortable."

Racicot was again reduced to claiming that the 2.6 million figure wasn't a prediction but "an economic model."

Lauer then cited the statement by Gregory Mankiw, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, who stirred the controversy when he presented the president's economic report to Congress on Tuesday.

Mankiw asserted that overseas outsourcing of US jobs could be a good thing for the American economy.

Racicot claimed that criticism of Mankiw was "a political statement" and that in fact the President took early action to stimulate the economy, and that the economy is poised for signficant recovery.

In a subsequent interview with former Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi, Katie Couric continued the assault with this "tough" question: "Will the Democratic candidates take the job numbers and run with them?"

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The Bush administration actually has a good case on the economy. Despite the double-whammy of an economy slowing down and heading toward recession at the time it assumed office, and the impact of 9/11 and the war on terror, the economy has turned the corner and is growing strongly.

But by fumbling the ball with overly optimistic job growth predictions, and permitting top officials to make politically unwise statements to the effect that outsourcing is good, the Bush campaign created vulnerabilities that the liberal media and the Dem candidates will be only too happy to exploit.

W's campaign needs to tighten its message, instill discipline in its players, and get off the defensive.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show ping.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

This kind of story isn't as much fun as those that simply expose the blatant liberal bias at The Today Show.

But the fact is that the Bush administration and campaign should take this situation as an early warning of what is in store if they don't get their collective act together.

[AppyPappy]

They need to quit going on the Today Show.

[smiley]

Not only is Kerry making an effort in defining Bush with his military records in the NG, but now the liberal socialist media is stringently defining the Bush administration as weak on economy as well...it's an old clinton page out of the RAT playbook...if things are going well in Iraq, target the economy....and vice versa.....Republicans need to start reving their engines...

[governsleastgovernsbest]

They need to quit going on the Today Show.

A tempting but risky strategy. I suppose it's true the show could lose influence and viewership if they couldn't get top GOP officials.

On the other hand they'd be on the air with a cattle call of Dems hammering the President every day. And Katie would be in a position to piously lament that "the Bush administration declined to provide someone to answer these questions."

[demkicker]

They're already unofficially running, so when will the Today Show finally throw their hat into the Democrat Presidential ring?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Agreed. The Bush administration has managed to take a positive story: the strong and growing economy, and put itself on the defensive with its mishandling of the issue. We can blame the liberal media for being liberal, but it's almost like blaming lions for killing wildebeest. It's just what they do, and the GOP needs to prepare for it.

[Lee'sGhost]

Good analysis, GLGB. I think I might go a step farther and say "get on the offensive."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks LG. The Dems love to demonize Karl Rove. I wish he'd be more the demon and really whip this campaign into shape!

[tcostell]

I don't want to overemphasize this, but there was a substantial drop in excess capacity in the last few weeks which usually leads to additional jobs growth.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The Today Show is not worth watching.

I certainly sympathize with the sentiment. I watch out of a combo of masochism, the fact that they still manage to obtain the most important guests, and the belief it's useful to keep tabs on what the liberal media are up to.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

there was a substantial drop in excess capacity in the last few weeks which usually leads to additional jobs growth.

By Election Day, I think it's likely the economy will be creating lots of jobs, and of course that will be very helpful. Still, these early stumbles don't help. I'm watching on Fox right now an interview with Terry Holt, Bush campaign spokesman.

In response to friendly questioning by the Fox anchors, he's pretty much admitting that the campaign has been off its game but will get its act together.

[McGruff]

Never mind all this economic stuff, Katie would be much
better at asking:

Some people have said that there are fillings missing from
President Bush's dental records during the period of his
so-called National Guard duty.

Mr. Racicot, can you tell us categorically that this is not true?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

there are fillings missing from President Bush's dental records

So what is it, Mr. President, caps or Crest whitening strips?

[GraniteStateConservative]

A clearly defensive Racicot was reduced to claiming that "these are goals, not predictions." Racicot claimed that Lauer had "overstated" the case.

If they are goals, why not shoot higher than 2.6M jobs?

[Savage Beast]

Considering the complicity of "the media" and its "personalities" and so-called "journalists" in Democrat campaign propaganda, it's amazing that the American people have held steadfast in their support of President Bush as much as they have. Were it not for this relentless, ubiquitous "media" propaganda, support for President Bush would be overwhelming.

The President is a brilliant strategist. Right now, he's retreating, like the Russians retreating before the advancing Nazi army. When the time is right, he will stage his Stalingrad.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Racicot claimed that criticism of Mankiw was "a political statement" and that in fact the President took early action to stimulate the economy, and that the economy is poised for signficant recovery.

So, he dodged the question?

[AppyPappy]

I think Clinton managed to keep high job approval numbers because his people stayed off hostile programs. I don't think you benefit when you give attention to your enemies.

[WV Mountain Mama]

This is why we watch The Wiggles, Stanley or build a Thomas the Tank Engine track in the morning.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'd say Racicot did essentially dodge the question on outsourcing. I've read that Mankiw is an ivory tower academic, and had no idea of the political implications of his statement. Rather than rehashing the issue Racicot tried to move on and stress W's positive moves to stimulate job creation.

[searchandrecovery]

A clearly defensive Racicot was reduced to claiming that "these are goals, not predictions." Racicot claimed that Lauer had "overstated" the case.

Sounds like another fumble for the Bush team (note: I didn't see it) - racicot knew this would come up and should have had, like, a good answer. Like it's a big secret that a lot of jobs aren't gonna be created this year in America. Although I hear the job picture is picking up for china and india. Longer unemployment benefits NOW!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Clinton managed to keep high job approval numbers because his people stayed off hostile programs.

Of course for Clinton that was easy, since there were so many friendly programs. If Bush adopted the same strategy Fox would be about the only option!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Understandable, but please have a look at my rationale for watching Today at # 13. And by the way, what is the difference between a Wiggle and a Weeble? Do Wiggles wobble?

[AppyPappy]

And I see nothing wrong with that. Eventually, the other networks will have to fall in line or be left out.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Please let me know by post or private message if you'd like on or off my ping list for semi-regular reports of liberal bias at The Today Show.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Weebles wobble but they don't fall down, Wiggles are four guys that sing from Australia. I usually sneak a peek at Today, but I usually only watch 1 interview and get mad. I used to watch pretty faithfully until election 2000. That is when I got really politically active and I couldn't stand Katie drooling and crying foul every morning. I saw Matt in Zermatt last week and watched longer that day because that is where we spent part of our honeymoon.

[McGruff]

Off topic here, but I heard Fox and Friends tease that Mansoor Ijaz would be on about where Osama Ben Hidin is.

Anybody catch that segment?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I like Ijaz and he comes across as very authoritative. On the other hand, he always seems to be reporting some breathless scoop, but I wonder if we went back and checked how many would have turned out to be accurate?

[OldFriend]

Any comment by the two bobbsey twins about slick willie's assertion that the troops would be home from Bosnia by Christmas.......eleven years and still counting!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'll take that as a rhetorical question! ;-)

[OldFriend]

Good grief, if that's a real picture of Ms.Katie......it appears she crawled out of some guy's bed, put on his shirt and just made it to the studio in time to get on the air.

What happened to her hair, her contacts, and her own clothes?

[chiller]

The answer (as George Will explains today) IS:

Off-shoring, distasteful as it may or may not be, strengthens a company's resources which soon create other--and probably--better jobs for US workers.

"How many of the 4,500 U.S jobs that IBM is planning to create this year will be made possible by sending 3,000 jobs overseas?

"they surely noticed..in South Carolina... the huge BMW presence. It is the ``offshoring" of German jobs because Germany's irrational labor laws, among other things, give America a comparative advantage. Such economic calculation explains the manufacture of Mercedeses in Alabama, Hondas in Ohio, Toyotas in California."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I had a chance to see Will's excellent comments. The question is, will any candidate have the guts to say that, or will they make safer comments about "fighting for jobs"?

[iceskater]

Morning! I only caught the last part of the Marc Rasciot grilling. I thought he did ok. I thought Matt was trying, as usual, to paint the gloomiest picture and Rasciot was saying it's not a guarantee, it's a model. OK, I'm coming from my bias which is budgets are plans not guarantees of future performance.

But like I said, I missed the beginning so I'll trust your take on it.

I don't understand why the Administration put out such a jobs report in the first place but I guess that's something for another thread....

Governs, have you been watching the First Lady interviews this week? Your opinion?

I just about choked when Rosalyn Carter said the thing she missed the most was "Jimmy in the Oval Office making the decisions." Whoa! Rosalyn is not the shy, retiring, Southern Belle, she would like us to believe. Of course, Katie Al-Couric fawning all over the Hildebeast was enough to make me reach for the Pepto Bismol. I was wondering what your thoughts were.

[Jeff Chandler]

This is why we watch The Wiggles,

I don't watch them any more. If that Jeffrey can't even stay awake for his own television show, how can I be expected to stay interested?

[WV Mountain Mama]

LOL!

[From The Deer Stand]

W's campaign needs to tighten its message, instill discipline in its players, and get off the defensive

This message needs to be printed on a large banner and hung on the White House fence. If W wants to get re-elected there can't be any stumbling, misspeaks, or confusing statements this year.

[WestSylvanian]

As Charles Krauthammer pointed out recently, we're being bled white funding outposts of empire all over the world while China, the next superpower, is busy developing its military/industrial complex with the willing connivance of "American" big business which is investing like crazy there.

The Bush team is fumbling left and right; they seem to have no idea of what to do. Kerry is defining the debate with Bush and his people constantly on the defensive admitting mistakes in job growth estimates, Medicare drug benefit cost estimates, plans for Iraq's new government, etc. I think Bush's plan to bring peace to the world and establish shining beacons of democracy in grubby little Arab countries is a naive pipe dream. These people better get back in touch with the real world and soon.

I've been listening to the folks in the post office, copy center, and beauty salon in my community and they're getting tired of Americans being picked off in Iraq and coming home in body bags for no forseeable gain. I heard one mother talking about her son returning from Iraq but reminding everyone that "they're sending another 100,000 over there but they're not talking about it." A guy in the post office equated Bush with the liar Clinton.

Racicot and his people are too civilized. This is going to be a dirty fight in the gutters with knives, clubs, axes, you name it. The Bush administration looks tired and demoralized already and the fight has barely begun. The Democrats want blood; they absolutely hate Bush and they're out to avenge the 2000 election. Somebody better wake up the White House and get a plan. I don't see any evidence they take the threat seriously.

[SpinyNorman]

Couric looks a lot like Sally Jesse Raphael in that pic.

I guess the "perky" is flaking (withering?) off the Perky One.

[WestSylvanian]

As Charles Krauthammer pointed out recently, we're being bled white funding outposts of empire all over the world while China, the next superpower, is busy developing its military/industrial complex with the willing connivance of "American" big business which is investing like crazy there.

The Bush team is fumbling left and right; they seem to have no idea of what to do. Kerry is defining the debate with Bush and his people constantly on the defensive admitting mistakes in job growth estimates, Medicare drug benefit cost estimates, plans for Iraq's new government, etc. I think Bush's plan to bring peace to the world and establish shining beacons of democracy in grubby little Arab countries is a naive pipe dream. These people better get back in touch with the real world and soon.

I've been listening to the folks in the post office, copy center, and beauty salon in my community and they're getting tired of Americans being picked off in Iraq and coming home in body bags for no forseeable gain. I heard one mother talking about her son returning from Iraq but reminding everyone that "they're sending another 100,000 over there but they're not talking about it." A guy in the post office equated Bush with the liar Clinton.

Racicot and his people are too civilized. This is going to be a dirty fight in the gutters with knives, clubs, axes, you name it. The Bush administration looks tired and demoralized already and the fight has barely begun. The Democrats want blood; they absolutely hate Bush and they're out to avenge the 2000 election. Somebody better wake up the White House and get a plan. I don't see any evidence they take the threat seriously.

[pawdoggie]

I was watching "Good Morning America" this morning. The subject was traffic "bottlenecks" in major cities. Of course, my anti-Left Wing early warning radar was pinging, but I figured that the intended target was the bloated Highway bill that the President has threatened (finally) to veto. At the end of the piece we learned that one big city that no longer has to worry as much about traffic bottlenecks was Boston. Thanks to the "big dig" boondoggle traffic is sailing smoothly through Beantown. Charlie Gibson muttered something to the effect of "expensive, but worth it". How about that for going out of ABC's way to inoculate John Kerry for the political payoffs, influence peddling and waste of the "big dig"?

[searchandrecovery]

As Charles Krauthammer pointed out recently...
Great post. Whole thing.

...establish shining beacons of democracy in grubby little Arab countries...
We're spending $20-$80 Billion dollars to rebuild Iraq back into a third-world country. Great.

This is going to be a dirty fight in the gutters with knives, clubs, axes, you name it.
Yep - geez, the way they treated each other the last 6 months is brutal.

I don't think the Bush team realizes how much they've alienated their conservative base these last 5 weeks.

[coloradomom]

I'd like to be on your Today Show ping.
Thanks.

coloradomom

[gathersnomoss]

I work out everyday at the gym. The boob tube is changed from any "network" programming to either ESPN or Fox when I arrive. I will not start my day on a negative.

[OldFriend]

And no doubt since the people you encounter have no qualms about bashing the President I presume you have the courage to defend the President with the truth?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I work out everyday at the gym. The boob tube is changed from any "network" programming to either ESPN or Fox when I arrive.

LOL - I tend to do exactly the same thing. The default channel at my gym seems to be CNN. I tend to politely ask people if they mind if I change - they very rarely do, and for me it's always FNC or ESPN!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

My pleasure. Welcome to the list!

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Democrat or Republican, the American people want a President that displays decisiveness and a "never apologize, never explain" attitude.

Reagan had that. Even Clinton had that.

Bush doesn't.

He better develop it soon or he's a one termer.