For many months now some Democrats have openly wondered whether Republicans were purposefully sabotaging the economy in order to benefit themselves politically in 2012. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pointed to the fact that the GOP was unwilling to accept tax decreases in the new debt limit deal as evidence that they may be committing economic sabotage. Still, the “sabotage theory” was seen rather far-flung for most. However, the claim may gain more credence after Rep. Michele Bachmann’s remarks on CNBC this morning (video to the left).
In an interview, Bachmann is asked about the dismal June jobs report from the Labor Department. The host asked Bachmann, “Does it strike you that as unemployment goes up, your chances of winning office also go up?” Bachmann responded by saying, “Well that could be. Again, I hope so.” Bachmann is considered one of the leading contenders to win the GOP nomination for president in 2012. A higher unemployment would likely help her defeating President Obama in the general election, but many might consider it callous for her to acknowledge that possibility in public or to “hope” for higher unemployment numbers.
For progressives, Bachmann’s remark will constitute solid evidence that Republicans really want the economy to falter in order to gain a political advantage in the long term. Bachmann’s remarks make it seem like she is willing to sacrifice millions of jobs for others so that she can get a better job herself, tough Bachmann will likely claim that her remarks were simply a slip of the tongue, and not meant to reflect on a real campaign strategy.
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