President Obama made a monumental mistake today when he admitted that Americans are not better off than they were four years ago.
Obama's concession invites a constant comparison to President Carter's failed presidency using the devastating, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" question posed by then presidential candidate Ronald Reagan at the end of his debate with Jimmy Carter on October 28, 1980:
Watch the accompanying video.
"Next Tuesday is Election Day. Next Tuesday all of you will go to the polls, will stand there in the polling place and make a decision. I think when you make that decision, it might be well if you would ask yourself, are you better off than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we're as strong as we were four years ago? And if you answer all of those questions yes, why then, I think your choice is very obvious as to whom you will vote for. If you don't agree, if you don't think that this course that we've been on for the last four years is what you would like to see us follow for the next four, then I could suggest another choice that you have."
The more people are exposed to Reagan's "are you better off" question to Carter, the more the belief that Obama will also be a one-term president is reinforced.
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