NEWT GINGRICH: Affordability Is Not A Marketing Problem

Affordability is the No. 1 issue Americans want solved.

Some Republicans seem to think this is a communications problem. They suggest the right messages could help Americans better understand the GOP’s economic agenda. Then, people could stop worrying and Republicans could get back to focusing on politically comfortable issues such as illegal immigration and crime.

This is a profound mistake. Americans know that virtually everything is too expensive, because they buy things. Leaders who assert otherwise will not convince voters to their way of thinking. They will only convince voters that their leaders are out of touch with reality. This is exactly what the Joe Biden administration did. It didn’t work for him. It won’t work for Republicans.

The depth of the affordability problem was driven home for me by a personal letter from a friend in the Philadelphia suburbs. Her name is Betsy. Callista and I first met Betsy at a book signing event in her township.

We got a note from her Saturday which outlined her personal experience with rising prices. She recently received a stack of take-out menus in her mailbox. After being surprised by the prices on the menus, she compared them to some older menus she had.

A plain large cheese pizza in her area has nearly doubled from $12 to $22. A regular hamburger is up to $9.50 from $4.95. A hoagie which was once about $7 is now $14.95. A nearby bagel shop which once sold a dozen bagels for $10 now charges $27. Her local Chinese take-out spot now offers fried rice or lo mein noodles for $17 – items which were once $7.95.

Importantly, Betsy pointed out that if Republicans keep talking about their policies making life more affordable for people – they had better deliver.

“These prices don’t comport with a message of ‘affordability.’ Especially for Americans on fixed incomes. Republican leaders need to be aware of this. Don’t try to sell ‘affordability’ when lo mein noodles cost $17.00 and a plain pizza is $22.00. Ouch!” Betsy wrote.

“Hope this is helpful info. This is what average Americans are experiencing. It’s financially painful and I fear many small family-owned restaurant businesses will end up closing. I’ve personally stopped purchasing take-out meals. Many of my friends and neighbors have also stopped. Bidenomics is still harming Americans.”