For only the ninth time since 1970, the unemployment rate was below 4% in July. Even better than that, the U-6 number, which is like the normal unemployment number but also includes people who were limited to or reduced to partial employed as well as people who are underemployed, fell to the lowest it has been since before 9/11.
AND THAT’S BAD for some reason.
DNC Chair Tom Perez statement on new 3.9% unemployment numbers out today: “Donald Trump’s reckless policies continue to hurt millions of hardworking families."
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) August 3, 2018
Wait, what?
It’s not just the DNC playing opposite day, though. The headlines have tried desperately to play down this tremendously good news for American workers.
Time, for example, used this headline: “Job Growth Cools Slightly but Unemployment Rate Still Drops Below 4% for July”
It’s not just that they start with job growth ‘cools’ (still high, btw, it was amazing already), it’s that they throw in a “but” and “still” to make sure you know the unemployment rate did this DESPITE some hurdle. Golly I wonder if they want you to think it’s better DESPITE TRUMP rather than because of him. You think?
USA Today went one better with: “Economy added disappointing 157,000 jobs in July but unemployment fell to 3.9%”
Disappointing. Come on guys.
There are dozens more examples. Which is why Fox’s Greg Gutfeld said the media are “good news fire extinguishers.’ And is why Trump tweeted that quote.
“The media are good news fire extinguishers!” @greggutfeld @TheFive
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2018
So the economy is good and unemployment is amazingly low AND Trump had a good tweet. Is it opposite month?
Judging by the media’s reaction to good news… maybe so.