Cavuto’s question went like this (emphasis mine):
Gov. Kasich, we are not even two weeks into this stock-trading year but think about it: Investors have already lost $1.6 trillion in market value. That makes it the worst start to a new year ever. Many worry that things could get even worse, and that banks and financial stocks are particularly vulnerable. And, if this escalates like it did back when Barack Obama first assumed the presidency, what actions would you take, if the same thing happens all over again just as in this example you are taking over the presidency?
What is interesting is that he is asking the question during the worst opening weeks of any year in the stock market’s history, ten months ahead of the next president presumably inheriting an economy affected by these last two weeks. To critical thinkers, then, it is clear that the implication is that the next president will be facing a situation like the one Obama faced when he took office. Cavuto was not implying that the future president would be the cause, was he? By that same logic, he was not implying that President Obama was the cause when he took office, either.
It turns out that my interpretation of the question isn’t far off; Cavuto thinks of it the same way. He has responded to the backlash like this:
This is a perfect example of the election season habit of making something out of nothing. Cavuto was there to ask questions and because it was Fox Business, he was especially there to ask economic questions. His question was a fair one. When I get back to the office on Monday, it will be my birthday. As a present to me, can we never bring this inconsequential debate question up again?
[image via screengrab]
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