That's the headline of an excellent IDB editorial that points out candidate Obama's complaints about "distractions" in 2008 that kept the conversation off the economy.

Remember how candidate Barack Obama complained in 2008 that any discussion not involving the economy was a "distraction"? This time, his entire campaign is built on distracting voters from the economy.

During his 2008 campaign, one of Obama's favorite words was "distraction." He constantly plugged it into his speeches and interviews to dismiss any controversy that might have erupted, or an issue he didn't particularly want to talk about.

Questions about how Obama could have sat in the pews and listened to Rev. Wright's anti-American, race-baiting screeds for years? Distraction. Questions about his relationship with radical Bill Ayers? Distraction. Questions about his qualifications to be president? Distraction.

Typically, Obama would follow up by talking about how we need to focus instead on "the real issues." Here's just a small sampling of Obama quotes:

• "You could see race bubbling up in a way that was distracting from the issues that I think are so important to America right now." March 2008
• "We knew that the closer we got to the change we seek, the more we'd see of the politics we're trying to end - the attacks and distortions that try to distract us from the issues that matter." March 2008
• "It's easy to get caught up in the distractions and the silliness and the tit for tat that consumes our politics." April 2008
• " Yes, we know what's coming. ... The same efforts to distract us from the issues that affect our lives by pouncing on every gaffe and association and fake controversy in the hope that the media will play along." May 2008

Now, of course, we have the "war on women," gay marriage, and the "lonely" decision to kill bin Laden that Romney wouldn't have made. Talk about anything but the dismal economy, high gas prices, and growing debt.

Obama apparently gets so distracted by these other issues, he can't remember how serious the recession has hit his fellow Americans. Voters should vow to remind the president on election day.