Economic Trend Is Good News—But Bad News For
Democrats
By Rev. Louis P. Sheldon
Washington, DC While Democratic National Committee
Chairman Howard Dean is telling reporters that America can?t win
the war in Iraq and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) is asserting that
American soldiers are terrorizing women and children in Iraq, the
good news about the American economy is being drowned out by these
advocates of gloom and defeatism.
The “cut and run” wing of the
Democratic Party, which seems to be the dominant voice in
Washington, DC these days, is not only ignoring great victories in
Iraq, but is also ignoring the wonderful news about the economy
just published by the federal government.
The Democrats, who seem to relish every perceived defeat in Iraq
or economic downturn in our capitalistic system, must be even
gloomier as they ponder the following facts:
- 215,000 jobs were created in November. Payroll employment rose
by 215,000 and the economy has created nearly 2 million jobs over
the past 12 months–over 4.4 million since May
2003.
- Today?s unemployment rate of 5.0% is lower than the average of
the 70s, 80s, and 90s. For ten straight quarters the Gross National
Product (GNP) has exceeded 3%.
- GNP grew at 4.3% in the third quarter.
- Consumers are more confident than ever about our economy. The
Conference Board Index of Consumer Confidence rose to 98.9% in
November, up nearly 14 points from last month?and surpassing many
analysts.
- Incomes increased 0.4% in October.
- Sales of new homes jumped 13% in October, the largest one-month
gain in over 12 years.
All of these facts must be supremely disappointing to Howard
Dean and John Kerry. They would apparently prefer for the economy
to be in a Katrina-like shambles so they can continue to claim that
the Republican Party is destroying the lives of the American
people. Such shameful attitudes and actions should be soundly
rejected by all Americans.
Wall Street Journal columnist
Brian S. Wesbury has criticized what he calls the ?pouting
pundits of pessimism? who never see any positive news on the
economy, no matter what the facts are. He points out that Bush?s
tax cuts in 2003 spurred the economy on by creating new jobs and
bringing in new tax revenues?and the future looks positive.
The uncomfortable fact for ?pouting pundits of pessimism? like
Dean and Kerry is that the economy is growing?thanks to
conservative fiscal policies?and we are achieving significant
victories in our war on terrorism. Iraq is one part of that war?and
no military commander expects instant results in unconventional
warfare. War against terrorism isn?t a trip through the fast food
lane at McDonalds. Victory will be slow and measured.
President Bush?s team should be commended, not condemned, for its
economic policies and for its liberation of millions of Afghans and
Iraqis who were enslaved under brutal dictatorships. We should
ignore the rantings of the likes of Dean and Kerry. They have
clearly shown their partisan agendas and any good news on the
economy or the war will be bad news to them.
Rev. Louis P. Sheldon is author of
The Agenda: The Homosexual Plan To Change America. TVC is an
inter-denominational public policy organization speaking on behalf
of more than 43,000 churches. For more information, call Amy N.
Skeen (202) 547-8570. TVC, 139 C Street SE, Washington, DC 20003.
Web site address: www.traditionalvalues.org
