Rick Santorum’s Dumb Unemployment News Quote Of The Day
Rick Santorum’s comments about this morning’s unemployment news, Rick Santorum said the following:
Rick Santorum, speaking in New Hampshire, said that unemployment dropped because of “optimism that Republicans will take the White House”
Umm Rick, you really want to go with that one?
That line was trotted out by House Republicans during the 2010-11 recess. The economy is improving because businessmen know the cavalry is coming!
Wasn’t convincing then, isn’t convincing now.
In fact, it’s so unconvincing that I don’t think the expressing the content of the statement, per se, is the point of making it. Nobody really believes that unemployment is down because the business community is optimistic about the GOP. What Santorum is trying to do is reinforce the CW/stereotype that the GOP is good for business.
If you have a meme you’re trying to sell, like the one I just wrote, don’t stop with repeating it. Follow the logic another tenuous step. People are so preoccupied with debunking the conclusion you jump to that your premise, the meme itself, is uncommented upon and therefore tacitly accepted.
Energy stocks have been doing so well the past year because speculators are more confident that the GOP will be able to implement their “mandatory electrocution of illegal immigrants” policy. See how that works?
Animal Spirits are always real, though partisans tend to shuttered on/off view of when they might apply. It is certainly possible that some right-Republicans are fired up and optimistic.
FWIW, economists note a common “new year optimism” around this time as well.
Rick Santorum??
It’s almost as dumb as saying “Pass my $800 billion stimulus bill or else unemployment will top 8%.”
@Septimius:
Heh.
ZING!
via Balloon Juice