“Are you better off than you were four years ago?” is an oft-repeated refrain in election years, but employing the phrase as the Twitter hashtag #areyoubetter off has yielded a mixed bag of results for the GOP as many Americans insist that yes, they are in fact in a far better place than they were in 2008.
The “are you better off?” meme was reinforced by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on CNN’s Starting Point, when Priebus said:
” … I think that the real issue this week and what you’re seeing happening yesterday on the Sunday morning talk shows is the fundamental question back on the table for Americans, which is: Are you better off today than you were three or four years ago? Issues come and go and they will, but at the end of the day this is going to be about facts.”
But “are you better off” followed Priebus over to Twitter, where the promoted hashtag has taken hold as somewhat of a rallying cry for many Obama supporters. As tweets roll in to glom off the top trend’s traffic, Twitter users have responded in force.
A tweet from the RNC reads:
Team Obama is having a hard time answering the Q: ” #AreYouBetterOff ?” Americans aren’t-they know the answer is NO. obamaisntworking.com
— RNC (@GOP) September 4, 2012
Among those who believe that 2012 has brought improved fortunes, over 2008 and that they are indeed better off, Twitterers said:
When you pay over 100k to promote a hashtag that backfires spectacularly, you’re doing it wrong. #AreYouBetterOff
— peter charbonneau (@pcharbonneau21) September 5, 2012
4.5 Million Jobs Created, 30 Million Insured, Taxes at 60 Year Low, Iraq War Over, Gaddafi Bin Laden Dead, GM Alive. #AreYouBetterOff #DNC
— TheNewDeal (@TheNewDeal) September 5, 2012
#AreYouBetterOff Yes. It’s like republicans have amnesia of how we got into this mess in the first place.
— Captain Pajamas (@CaptainPajamas) September 4, 2012
#AreYouBetterOff No. Signed, Osama Bin Laden.
— Path2Enlightenment (@Path2Enlighten) September 3, 2012
#areyoubetteroff . 4 years ago: laid off traumatized.Now: a great job back at 2008 pay /title &recruiters email with job offers weekly
— an evil weasel (@Anevilweasel) September 2, 2012
Are you better off than you were four years ago?
