Family Values
by digby
I think we've got us a consensus:
“Reducing spending while still investing in the future is just common sense. That’s what families do in tough times. They sacrifice where they can, even if it’s hard, to afford what’s really important.” President Obama's radio address
Frank Luntz on Fox News this morning: All the statistics that I've been testing on both sides, this one stands out: the increase in discretionary non-defense spending over the past four years is 80%. Does any family within the sound of my voice have an 80% increase in spending?
Well that's what Washington is doing. So if a family can't afford an 80% increase, surely Washington can't afford it. All the things we've looked at, that's the most powerful of all.
Anchor: Wow. What impact do you think the influence of the Tea party will have on the public going forward as we get set to tackle the debt ceiling and the 2012 budget dramas we have yet to see?
Luntz: It's very significant. In fact we did a project with Freedomworks over the last 96 hours where they asked the question about the shutdown,whether if it was provoked or not if you would be less likely to vote for your member of congress. The Tea Party is saying to the American people, enough is enough, stop!
If families have to tighten their belts, so should Washington. If the American people have to do more with less, so should Washington.
It's kind of an odd family that goes into debt so mom and dad quit their jobs and bring in even less money in order to pay it off, but hey, what do I know about finances anyway? I guess in good Real American families when you bring in less money and beat the children the debt magically vanishes somehow. I suppose God provides.
Luntz must have used the family metaphor a dozen more times in that interview this morning. It's clear that both he and the president think it is powerful. The difference is that Luntz just bluntly says "you have to tighten your belt so the government should have to do it too." Obama, on the other hand, says "everyone needs to tighten their belts including the government except for needed investments, plus Planned Parenthood and stuff."
So, it's not like there isn't anything to stage an argument over. Should be fun.
Meanwhile, I'm going to move into my car, empty out my bank account and give the money to a rich person so he'll win the future for me. Isn't that what all responsible families are doing right now?
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