Are You Better Off? Will You be in 4?

As the Democrats prepare to take the stage tonight, they are hoping to steer the attention away from the blaring question looming over the convention center.  The question, "Are you better off today than when Obama took office?"

Up until this point, the Obama team has been able to evade this question.  I guess that is what happens when millions of dollars are spent creating distractions from the economy by elaborating stories about how Mitt Romney is a greedy, vulture and a felon who callously kills people.

But things have changed.  From here on out, those distractions are going to be a little harder for them to pull off.  Like it or not, the American people have learned a lot about Mitt Romney.  We have learned of his remarkable leadership and innate ability to fix dire problems.  Over and over again in his career, Romney has achieved remarkable success and over and over, when hope seemed to be lost, it was Mitt Romney's skills and abilities which offered the solutions.

Above all, we have learned of Romney's kindness and that his life has been filled with quiet acts of service---hardly an individual Americans should fear.

Here we are, 63 days before a pivotal election.  The reality?  Four years into a president's term and despite everything that has been tried and promised, passed and overturned---things are not better.

Unemployment remains over 8% for an unthinkable 42 months.  GDP has slowed to an unthinkable 1.5%.  1 in 6 Americans are now living in poverty.  1 in 4 college graduates are now living with their parents.  23 million Americans are still out of work.  The debt has surged to an unthinkable $16 trillion and economic trends mirror those of the Great Depression.  Our nation is bitterly divided and sorry Mr. President, the rise of the oceans has not slowed and our planet is far from healing.

Four years into this president's term and the blaring truth is that the "Hope" we were eloquently promised offered nothing but empty rhetoric.

The economy has not stabilized and we are not better off.

The Democrats know that distractions are still needed and the DNC will be filled with plenty of them.  I am sure they are hoping to distract us by reminding us as often as possible of the 2008 campaign.  I have no doubt that we will see plenty of images of Obama's 2008 speeches to spark memories of Greek columns, tingly legs and people moved to tears.

We will undoubtedly hear themes of "fairness" and "rights."  And without fail, we will hear incessant blaming of a predecessor and plenty of talk of reason to fear Mitt Romney and why there is cause for panic.  But one theme will undoubtedly be missing: any mention of what Obama failed to achieve and the real state of our economy.

Here are a few reasons why the Obama Camp should be worried:

1) The debates are coming and Mitt Romney is going to hold the president accountable for his dismal record of job creation, deficit spending and inability to stabilize the economy.

Mitt Romney is a man whose "sterling" career was successful because he was always laser focused on getting results.  In contrast, Mitt Romney will show that Obama has been laser focused on blame and policies that don't work.

2) This election IS about the economy and we aren't stupid.

According to a recent CBS News poll, 54% of Americans cite the economy and jobs as the number one focus of this election.  For Mr. Obama, that is going to sting a little.  According to the poll, when registered voters asked who they believe will do a better job of handing the economy?  49% believe Mitt Romney while only 41% cite Obama.

The poll also showed that when it comes the federal deficit, taxes, and illegal immigration, Mitt Romney holds a commanding lead. (Click here for poll results).

3) It is no longer 2008.  
For many, "Hope" has turned to "Nope."

***

Are you better off today?  The answer is sadly, no.

And despite what the DNC presents, I refuse to be distracted by the fact that my friends and neighbors are still without jobs.  Our streets are still lined with foreclosed homes.  The cost of living is skyrocketing.  The cost of gasoline alone has jumped from $1.84 to $3.82.  The median income has dropped from $54,983 to $50,964.  Many of us are still barely getting by.  A college degree is becoming a luxury and the middle class is shrinking before our eyes.

Above all, I will not forget that we hired this president to fix those things and he promised that he would.  He promised that he could.  He hasn't.  He has failed us.

The Democrats are now asking us to again hold out on the "Hope" that Obama's second term will be better, but the "Hope" that was promised last time came at a too great a price.

Are you better off?  No, but that isn't the question.  Rather, we should be asking ourselves, "Will we be better off in four?"  The answer is simply I hope so.  Well, the president is basically asking us to give him another chance with the "hope" that he is right.

But this time around, can we really afford to find out if he is wrong....again?

Image from MPRnews.com

No thanks.  It comes at too great a price.

That is why I am standing with the candidate who believes we can do better and whose resume is filled with substance rather than empty "Hope."

Go Mitt.