Did you find yourself thinking, while watching
last night’s presidential debate, that some of Barack Obama’s
talking points sounded eerily familiar? That’s maybe because they
were.

Check out some of the similarities between President Obama’s

first 2012 debate performance, and candidate Obama’s
initial 2008 effort:

*

2012: I also want to close those loopholes that
are giving incentives for companies that are shipping jobs
overseas. I want to provide tax breaks for companies that are
investing here in the United States.

2008: Let’s just be clear. What I do is I close
corporate loopholes, stop providing tax cuts to corporations that
are shipping jobs overseas so that we’re giving tax breaks to
companies that are investing here in the United States.

*

2012: And so the question here tonight is not
where we’ve been but where we’re going. Governor Romney has a
perspective that says if we cut taxes, skewed towards the wealthy,
and roll back regulations that we’ll be better off. […]

Are we going to double down on the top-down economic policies
that helped to get us into this mess, or do we embrace a new
economic patriotism that says, America does best when the middle
class does best? And I’m looking forward to having that debate.

2008: Now, we also have to recognize that this
is a final verdict on eight years of failed economic policies
promoted by George Bush, supported by Senator McCain, a theory that
basically says that we can shred regulations and consumer
protections and give more and more to the most, and somehow
prosperity will trickle down.

It hasn’t worked. And I think that the fundamentals of the
economy have to be measured by whether or not the middle class is
getting a fair shake. That’s why I’m running for president, and
that’s what I hope we’re going to be talking about tonight.

*

2012: Now, I’ve identified areas where we can,
right away, make a change that I believe would actually help the
economy. The — the oil industry gets $4 billion a year in
corporate welfare. Basically, they get deductions that those small
businesses that Governor Romney refers to, they don’t get. Now,
does anybody think that ExxonMobil needs some extra money when
they’re making money every time you go to the pump? Why wouldn’t we
want to eliminate that?

2008: And if we want to talk about oil company
profits, under your tax plan, John — this is undeniable — oil
companies would get an additional $4 billion in tax breaks. Now,
look, we all would love to lower taxes on everybody. But here’s the
problem: If we are giving them to oil companies, then that means
that there are those who are not going to be getting them.

*

2012: [W]e’ve got to boost American energy
production. And oil and natural gas production are higher than
they’ve been in years. But I also believe that we’ve got to look at
the energy source of the future, like wind and solar and biofuels,
and make those investments.

2008: We have to have energy independence, so
I’ve put forward a plan to make sure that, in 10 years’time, we
have freed ourselves from dependence on Middle Eastern oil by
increasing production at home, but most importantly by starting to
invest in alternative energy, solar, wind, biodiesel, making sure
that we’re developing the fuel-efficient cars of the future right
here in the United States[.]

*

Previously at Reason:
The 6 Biggest Debate Promises Obama Failed to Keep.