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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 ANALYSIS 
2

FDR 'Prolonged' the Depression? Come On

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(Newser) – Fox News left one pundit scrambling for his history books last week after he dared to defend the New Deal. Supporting Congressional talk of a stimulus plan, David Sirota sat "mouth agape, deer in the headlights" as a commentator accused FDR's plan of prolonging the Great Depression. Sirota disagreed, and got laughed at. "Afterward, suffering pangs of self-doubt, I wondered... are conservatives right?" Sirota writes in Salon.

The short and long answers are both no, says Sirota. Revisionists base their New Deal critique on a short recession over 1937 and 1938, but that was when conservatives persuaded FDR to balance the budget. When he resumed spending, the economy grew again. Sirota admits to making one mistake on Fox: He forgot that "as conservatives try to obstruct a new New Deal, they're not making any arguments that are remotely serious."

A bronze sculpture by Robert Graham of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd U.S. President, is seen at the Roosevelt Memorial December 29, 2008 in Washington, DC.
A bronze sculpture by Robert Graham of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd U.S. President, is seen at the Roosevelt Memorial December 29, 2008 in Washington, DC.   (Getty Images)
President Franklin D Roosevelt peers from his car window while on a tour of military installations in Hawaii.
President Franklin D Roosevelt peers from his car window while on a tour of military installations in Hawaii.   (Getty Images)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt on board a Clipper aircraft returning to the USA after the Casablana Conference, circa 1945.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt on board a Clipper aircraft returning to the USA after the Casablana Conference, circa 1945.   (Getty Images)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt with his vice-president and successor Harry S Truman on the lawn of the White House, shortly after both men received the Democratic Party nomination for the forthcoming election.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt with his vice-president and successor Harry S Truman on the lawn of the White House, shortly after both men received the Democratic Party nomination for the forthcoming election.   (Getty Images)
American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 - 1945) on tour circa 1943.
American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 - 1945) on tour circa 1943.   (Getty Images)
Major General O W Griswold shows President Franklin Delano Roosevelt a map of an American army camp circa 1943.
Major General O W Griswold shows President Franklin Delano Roosevelt a map of an American army camp circa 1943.   (Getty Images)
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To be sure, you can credibly argue that the New Deal had its share of problems. But overall, the numbers prove it helped—rather than hurt—the macroeconomy. - David Sirota, Salon

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2 comments
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kokuaguy
Jan 2, 09 8:56 PM CST
...and check out commondreams.org for a good discussion of the decision of Sirota and others to appear on Fox in the first place. Reply
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kokuaguy
Jan 2, 09 9:03 PM CST
Oh, and I want to thank Newser for putting this on the grid. Sirota is a huge asset to our nation and deserving of all the exposure he can get, even on Fox. Reply
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