SouthernWorldwide.com – James Carville, the strategist behind Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential victory, has announced a departure from his iconic campaign slogan, “It’s the economy, stupid.” This shift in perspective is attributed to the current political climate surrounding President Donald Trump.
Carville originally conceived “It’s the economy, stupid” as an internal directive for the Clinton campaign team. The slogan was intended to keep the focus on economic issues amidst rising approval ratings for then-President George H.W. Bush, largely due to his handling of the Gulf War.
However, Carville now suggests that allegations of corruption involving Donald Trump have overshadowed the primacy of economic concerns in electoral campaigns. This sentiment was expressed during a discussion on the “Politicon” podcast network.
During the podcast, former Mount Holyoke dean Joseph Ellis brought up the well-known slogan. Carville interrupted, expressing a change of heart.
“So, professor, I thought about that recently – about ‘It’s the economy, stupid’ – it’s a great catchphrase. It’s maybe one of the most oft-repeated things in politics,” Carville stated. He then added, “I now have come to detest the fact I said that.”
While not explicitly naming Trump, Carville, who has frequently accused the incumbent president of corruption, drew a contrast with the more refined demeanor of George H.W. Bush.
“I’ll listen to people who say, ‘people don’t care about corruption, they care about the economy — As long as their incomes are up, they don’t care what he does’ – and I’m afraid that’s right,” Carville remarked, acknowledging the potential voter sentiment that prioritizes economic well-being over other concerns.
He continued, expressing his frustration with this perceived voter apathy towards corruption, especially when contrasted with a more ethically-minded leader like Bush. Carville described the current situation as “breathtaking, staggering.”
“I want to punch him in the f—ing face. OK? Yes. I’m serious… Because the phrase actually haunts me today,” Carville declared, highlighting his strong emotional reaction to the slogan in the current context.
In response to Carville’s strong language, White House spokesman Davis Ingle dismissed him as a “stone-cold loser.” Ingle further stated, “[Carville] suffers from a severe and incurable disease known as Trump Derangement Syndrome, and it has rotted his peanut-sized brain.”
Earlier in the podcast, Carville and his co-host, former Wall Street Journal Washington bureau chief Al Hunt, discussed the pervasive nature of corruption. Carville accused Trump of significantly increasing his net worth since taking office.
“I’m just really fearful for the United States,” Carville added, conveying his deep concern for the nation’s future.
This is not the first time Carville has directed strong criticism at Trump. In February, he delivered an expletive-laden critique of the president, suggesting that Trump’s inner circle harbored negative feelings towards him and referring to him as a “fat, sorry, sack of s—.”
Since then, Carville has maintained his criticism of the president and has even expressed pride in having “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” a term often used by Trump’s supporters to dismiss his critics.
Carville has been a prominent figure in Democratic politics since his instrumental role in Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign. Alongside other key campaign figures like George Stephanopoulos, Carville helped craft a winning strategy.
The 1992 Clinton campaign yielded several memorable elements that have remained in political lore. Beyond Carville’s “It’s the economy, stupid,” Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 song “Don’t Stop” became the unofficial anthem of Clinton’s successful presidential bid.
Carville’s recent remarks about his iconic slogan also coincide with his public rebukes of what he perceives as socialist nominees gaining prominence within the Democratic Party.
