Candidate Obama: “Because If You Don’t Have Any Fresh Ideas, Then You Use Stale Tactics To Scare The Voters. If You Don’t Have A Record To Run On, Then You Paint Your Opponent As Someone People Should Run From. You Make A Big Election About Small Things.” (Senator Barack Obama, Address Accepting The Presidential Nomination At The Democratic National Convention, Denver, CO, 8/28/08)

WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF IDEAS

“Most Of The Measures Have Been Pitched By The Obama Administration In Some Form Or Other Since 2009, Yet None Generated Enough Support To Pass Congress — Even When Democrats Controlled Both Houses.” (David Kocieniewski, “Tax Plan For Jobs Bill Has Familiar Ring,” The New York Times, 9/13/11)

President Obama Has Repeatedly Resurrected The Same Rejected Tax Increases “Offered When Obama Could Expect A More Friendly Reception From Congress.” “President Barack Obama’s budget proposal resurrects a series of tax increases on certain corporations and the wealthy that were largely ignored by Congress when Democrats controlled both chambers. … Many of the tax increases were in the president’s previous budget proposals, offered when Obama could expect a more friendly reception from Congress. Lawmakers from both political parties, however, have been wary of limiting the ability of high earners to deduct charitable contributions out of concern it will hurt non-profit organizations.” (Meta Pettus, “Obama’s Budget Resurrects Reject Tax Increases,” The Associated Press, 2/14/11)

• Obama’s 2012 Budget Contained Taxes On Businesses That He Pushed For The Two Years Before. “Proposed tax increases for businesses and high earners that play a big role in the president’s budget outline have a slender chance of passing Congress this year. … President Barack Obama’s budget largely restates proposals he has pushed since taking office that have troubled many in the business community. The plan comes after several months of administration efforts to mend relations with business and the president’s call last month for a corporate-tax overhaul.” (John D. McKinnon, “Big Role For Tax Increases Fuels Criticism From Business Groups,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/15/11)

“If Obama’s Fall Campaign To Tackle The Jobs Crisis Sounds Familiar, That’s Because It Is. This President Has Talked About Jobs More Than 200 Times Since Taking Office.” (Nina Easton, “Washington Needs To Wake Up To The Jobs Crisis,” CNN Money, 8/24/11)

Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) Say Obama’s Ideas To Fix Housing Are “More Of The Same.”  CARDOZA: “Thank you for having me on Chuck. I enjoyed my service in Congress. With regard to the president’s housing proposal, I am very concerned that it’s more of the same. … But there’s been far too little and it’s taken far too long. …” (MSNBC’S “Daily Rundown,” 10/24/11)

Obama’s Recycled Proposals “Have Not Fared Well In Congress.” “In 2009, Obama proposed many of the same ideas to help pay for his health care legislation. … But the ideas, which include limiting tax deductions to charitable contributions and increasing taxes on hedge funds and private equity groups, have not fared well in Congress, prompting opposition from key Democrats.” (Jonathan Strong, “Lukewarm Response For Jobs Bill Payment Plan,” Roll Call, 9/14/11)

“YOU USE STALE TACTICS TO SCARE THE VOTERS”

The Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus: “Forget Hope And Change,” Obama’s Campaign Is Based On “Fear And Loathing.” “Forget hope and change. President Obama’s reelection campaign is going to be based on fear and loathing: fear of what a Republican takeover would mean, and loathing of whomever the Republican nominee turns out to be. Of course the Obama campaign will attempt to present the affirmative case for his reelection, citing legislative achievements, foreign policy successes and the current flurry of executive actions. But his strategists have clearly concluded that selling the president will not be enough, and the contours of the ugly months ahead are becoming increasingly apparent.” (Ruth Marcus, Op-Ed, “Campaign 2012: Welcome To The Slugfest,” The Washington Post, 11/2/11)

• Marcus: “And As Much As Obama Presented Himself As Above The Regular Partisan Fray During The 2008 Campaign, He Was Not Averse To Taking The Lower Road When It Appeared The Advisable Route.” (Ruth Marcus, Op-Ed,  “Campaign 2012: Welcome To The Slugfest,” The Washington Post, 11/2/11)

Obama’s 2012 Strategy “Will Be More Accusatory, Alarm-Filled And Defensive” Than 2008. “The strategy will be more accusatory, alarm-filled and defensive than the one used during the uplifting, even joyous campaign of 2008, symbolized as it was by depicting the first letter of the candidate’s name as a rising sun.” (Howard Fineman, “Obama Aide Discusses 2012 Campaign Strategy,” The Huffington Post, 9/6/11)