During the second presidential debate, Tom Brokaw asked both candidates whether the economy would get worse before it get better. The press has scrutinized their answers, and Howard Fineman of Newsweek remarked that neither candidate was honest with the public in their answer. Obama responded to the question by saying “no” while McCain replied that it “depends on what we do.” However, even the average American is able to tell that our economy will and has gotten worse (even over the past few days). The day after the debate, the DOW lost another 10.5 percent and automakers were discussing how close they were to bankruptcy.
Fineman went on to discuss how the candidates seem to be dodging some questions concerning the economy. Neither candidate will discuss the sacrifices Americans might have to give up nor the sacrifices their administrations might have to make. Both candidates—while insisting the other will raise taxes—deny that they will increase taxes for the American people during such a rough economic time. After all, past elections have shown that candidates who discuss raising taxes will most likely lose the election.
However, some uncertainty towards the economy can be excused. America is in an economic crisis that changes daily and plans that work one day may not work the next. Maya MacGuines—the head of the Committee for Responsible Federal Budget—reiterated that the economy is changing too fast for the candidates to keep up.