Obama claims Republicans undermined middle-class and he has spent last three years “cleaning up after some of that mess"

A quick look at the RCM chart (pdf link) of household income from 2000~2012 (2000 base) shows that median household income was stable until President Obama took office. Even though the recession officially ended in mid 2009, household income has continued to plummet and shows no sign of recovery.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Thursday that the 2012 election will be a “fun debate” over two competing visions for the nation, referring to Mitt Romney as the Republican “front-runner” who has backed policies that would undermine middle-class families.

At a fundraiser held at a Washington hotel, Obama told supporters that his administration had spent the past three years “cleaning up after some of that mess, and I don’t want to have to do it again.” He warned that a budget plan pushed by House Republicans would hurt early childhood education, veterans and road and bridge projects crucial to the nation’s economic recovery.

Obama revisited many of the same arguments he made earlier in the week during a speech to newspaper executives, in which he framed the election as a choice between his work to use government to help people prosper and Republicans who would let average Americans struggle while pushing policies that help the wealthy few.

“It’s going to be a big debate, and it’s going to be a fun debate. Because it’s always good to have the truth on your side,” Obama said. Keep on reading...