Ex-Democrat Senator on MSNBC: Democrats should tout wins on economy, it's 'really not doing too bad'
While on MSNBC, former Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., dismissed voter concerns about the economy, claiming it wasn't doing that badly and Democrats needed to spin the economy as a positive
While on MSNBC over the weekend, former Democrat senator Doug Jones dismissed concerns about record high gas prices and inflation, saying the economy was "really not doing too bad," before calling on his party to "take credit" for the positives.
MSNBC host Al Sharpton started by invoking polls which show most Americans disapprove of how President Biden has handled the economy and that it will be an issue they take into the November elections. He asked his Jones how his party should respond to these voters.
Jones suggested voters could be swayed by more positive "messaging" on the economy and praised Biden's response during the coronavirus pandemic.
Doug Jones lost his re-election to Tommy Tuberville, former head football coach for Auburn University. (Alex Edelman/Pool via AP)
"I think it's a messaging issue as much as anything, Rev. I think what President Biden administration did was really save this economy. They came in with a COVID package that put some money back in the economy. When it came back in and started doing those things to get the economy rolling," the former senator said.
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Contrasting with how most voters feel, Jones claimed that the economy was "really not doing too bad at all."
"President Biden has created more jobs than any person in history I believe. At least in a very short time. You know the interesting part about this, the economy is really not doing too bad at all," he said.
74% of baby formula was out of stock in stores nationwide the week ending May 28, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
Jones claimed that there was a "perception" that the economy was doing worse because of inflation but claimed it was not changing people’s spending habits or traveling plans, because "wages have increased."
Instead, the MSNBC guest called on Democrats to "start taking credit" for the good parts of the economy.
"I think it's time for Democrats to start taking credit for the good things that are out there. There is a lot of them," he said.
Gas prices have doubled since Biden took office. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
"I think President Biden and others and Democrats across the country need to quit bemoaning about this and start talking about the good things that the administration has done," he added.
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A Fox News poll from May found inflation and the future of the country were the top concerns for voters. More than twice as many voters said they were worse off financially than they were two years ago.
On Monday, President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to accelerate production of green energy technologies. But last month, he canceled a 1-million-plus acre oil lease to drill in Alaska. Gas prices continue to skyrocket, more than doubling since Biden took office, according to AAA.