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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTouting job numbers, RNC forgets what unprecedented means
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/touting-job-numbers-rnc-forgets-what-unprecedented-means?cid=sm_fb_maddowTouting job numbers, RNC forgets what unprecedented means
08/08/17 08:00 AM
By Steve Benen
In response to Fridays jobs report, which found the U.S. economy added 209,000 in July, Donald Trumps re-election campaign argued that the figures are proof that the president has already begun to Make America Great Again. That, of course, doesnt stand up well to scrutiny: job growth since Trump took office is actually down a little, not up.
Which is why it was even stranger yesterday, when the Republican National Committee declared that job growth under Trump 1 million new jobs from February to July is unprecedented.
Perhaps theres some confusion as to what unprecedented means. Lets revisit the data we discussed yesterday, showing job growth over comparable periods:
February 2017 to July 2017: 1.07 million jobs
February 2016 to July 2016: 1.24 million jobs.
February 2015 to July 2015: 1.37 million jobs
February 2014 to July 2014: 1.51 million jobs
February 2013 to July 2013: 1.17 million jobs
February 2016 to July 2016: 1.24 million jobs.
February 2015 to July 2015: 1.37 million jobs
February 2014 to July 2014: 1.51 million jobs
February 2013 to July 2013: 1.17 million jobs
In fact, you can pick pretty much any six-month period from Barack Obamas second term and find at least a million new jobs suggesting the RNC may not fully appreciate the not-so-subtle nuances of the word unprecedented.
But wait, we can go a little further down this road.
The Washington Post, generously giving the RNC the benefit of the doubt, thought Republican officials may have meant it was unprecedented for a new president to see this much job growth in his first full six months in office. On this front, Trumps tally would easily exceed Obamas numbers, since Obama took office in the middle of a global economic crisis in which the economy was hemorrhaging jobs.
But as it turns out, the RNC is still wrong.
Maybe the RNC tweet meant the first six months of a presidency? Even then, though, Bill Clinton saw more jobs created 1.25 million in his first six months in 1993. None other than Jimmy Carter saw twice as many created as Trump 2.14 million in 1977. And if you adjusted for todays population size, George H.W. Bush (about 900,000 jobs created in 1989) would also beat Trumps vaunted 1 million standard.
So three of Trumps six immediate predecessors had at least his jobs numbers in their first six months (again, population-adjusted in one of those cases). Two others Obama and George W. Bush began their presidencies in recessions.
So three of Trumps six immediate predecessors had at least his jobs numbers in their first six months (again, population-adjusted in one of those cases). Two others Obama and George W. Bush began their presidencies in recessions.
Look, I appreciate the bind Republicans are in. Trumps public support is faltering; the administration has no meaningful accomplishments; the White House is mired in scandal; and the president and his allies are looking for something positive to bring to the public. Theyve settled on the latest job numbers as the political life-preserver the party needs to remain afloat.
And while thats understandable, and job creation isnt bad, lying about the figures wont make the GOPs political troubles go away.
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Touting job numbers, RNC forgets what unprecedented means (Original Post)
babylonsister
Aug 2017
OP
maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)1. Facts are irrelevant
The important thing is the lie.
underpants
(182,829 posts)2. Excellent
Thanks. Bookmarking.
babylonsister
(171,070 posts)4. I figured someone
could use this as a retort to a rwnj. I have a whole page on FB I post stuff like this at. Good therapy for me.
procon
(15,805 posts)3. How many Republican voters are ever going to factcheck anything?
Besides, the lies are so much easier than looking up a bunch of stupid facts.
babylonsister
(171,070 posts)5. That's why I occasionally look up those
'stupid facts' for them. Tends to shut them down.