The latest public opinion poll shows Vice-president
George Bush 13 points behind Gov. Michael Dukakis
in voter perception of presidential ability. Critics
assert Bush is just a clone of President Reagan who
could continue record federal deficits.
In politics, perception is reality. Thus, Bush
is considered the underdog and Dukakis the band-wagon
leader. Pundits differ which stance is preferable
at this early stage in the campaign. All agree,
however, that an underdog on election morning is
the same on election night.
What, then, should be Bush's strategy to reverse
the present perception? We can imagine a speech
writer with the Republican entourage crafting the
following defense:
"You're darn right I intend to follow President
Reagan's economic principles. Just think back.
Eight years ago, inflation was 10 percent and going
up. Interest rates were 20 percent and no end in
sight. Unemployment was 11 percent and new jobs
scarce.
"It was the Democrat time of gas rationing, factory
closings, high taxes, and government control
of our daily lives. President Carter called it
a 'malaise of the people' which could be over-come
only with more rationing, more wage and price controls,
more quotas, more taxes.
"Well, those dismal figures have been cut to less
than half, thanks to Reaganomics. Income taxes
were reduced. The American private enter-prise
system was turned loose to produce with a profit.
There is plenty of gasoline. Fifteen million new
jobs were created.
"The current prosperity is in its sixth year -
the longest period of peacetime expansion in American
history! I am proud to have served and learned
in the administration that brought this about.
"Sure there is much yet to be done. The task of
building a better America is never finished.
The national debt keeps us from accomplishing all
that we are capable of.
"The Reagan miracle has been prevented from
reaching its potential by a partisan
Congress. I ask your help in continuing the economic
policies so ably begun, even though I will go about
this task in ways differing from that of Mr. Reagan.
My own experience - in the private and public sectors,
elective and appointive offices, domestic and international
affairs - inevitably leads to new approaches.
"However, my goal will be the same - to' balance national and individual needs.
"To do this, I must have a progressive, non-partisan
Congress. We must realize that the
horrendous federal deficits, year after year, are imposed
by Congressional liberals who still adhere to the old
formula of tax and tax, spend and spend, elect and
elect.
"Every one of president Reagan's reasonable budgets
were ballooned by Congress into record
deficits. Liberal Democrats are trying hard to
shift blame, but those chickens that come home
to the Capital Hill roost every night strut like
Tip O'Neill and crow like Jim Wright.
"Elect me and I will hold the feet of Congress
to the fire of fiscal responsibility - by demanding
they distinguish between needs and desires, spend
what we have instead of mortgaging the future,
get off our backs and out of our pockets.
"Thirty-five years of Democrat control of spending
have put this country into a deep, financial hole.
It is time for a change. Give me a Republican Congress
and together we will launch new miracles of jobs,
production and prosperity."
Of
course, we are not a Bush speech
writer and advice is cheap. Yet, we submit that the
vice-president is irrevocably considered a Reagan-replica,
so he might as well take some of the credit for Reagan's
accomplishments.
Also, the Democrats have nearly
succeeded in shifting their deficits
onto the Republicans. Bush's sternest
opponent, therefore, is Congress
not Dukakis. False perceptions will not change
until Bush emphasizes the real prosperity and
nails deficits to the true creators.
