Remember President Bush's strong economy? Now it's strong enough

It has been the mantra of the White House this summer: Yes, there is pain, but the fundamentals of the economy are strong.

Today, the mantra underwent an ever-so-slight rewrite.

In effect, the new message goes like this: The fundamentals are strong enough.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked whether it was still accurate to say "the economic fundamentals are strong."

It's a "very mixed picture right now, and no doubt we're going through some challenging times," she said -- noting that productivity was up, but so too was unemployment. But overall "we are in a position of strength to be able to deal with this crisis."

So, does that mean the economic fundamentals are still sound?

Presenting neither a "yes" nor a "no," she said: "We have the strength to be able to deal with this crisis in our economy."

Pressed, she said, "I answered the question."

Indeed. And the language has changed.

-- James Gerstenzang