The economy has grown during the Obama administration. However, the new Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is assuming credit for the growth, two days after the GOP officially took over Congress, reported Talking Points Memo.
“After so many years of sluggish growth, we’re finally starting to see some economic data that can provide a glimmer of hope; the uptick appears to coincide with the biggest political change of the Obama administration’s long tenure in Washington: the expectation of a new Republican Congress,” McConnell said on Wednesday. “So this is precisely the right time to advance a positive, pro-growth agenda.”
You’ve read that correctly. Apparently Mitch McConnell thinks that an entire nation’s economy magically decides to improve two days after the GOP assumes the majority in both chambers of Congress. This assertion is a transparent attempt to mislead Americans and fool them into believing that the improved economy was all-Republican.
One would think this would anger Democrats, but it actually prompted laughter. An email sent out by the Democratic National Committee encapsulated the Dem response perfectly.
DNC Communications Director Mo Elleithee sent out this email:
Hahahahahahahahahahaha. That Mitch McConnell is one funny guy. He likes to remind people all the time that he’s not a scientist. Now we know he’s not a mathematician or an economist either. The fact is, under President Obama we’ve had 57 straight months of private sector job growth leading to nearly 11 million jobs added. All Republicans have given us is a government shutdown that cost the economy $24 billion. I get why he wants to take credit for the economic recovery. But maybe he should first do something to help contribute to it.
Talking Points Memo also noted that the national unemployment rate has fallen below 6 percent since 2008, which Obama mentioned before the 114th Congress began.
Sadly, people are going to hear or read this false proclamation of McConnell’s and take it as the sweet gospel. Preying on the ignorance of poorly-informed Americans has become a favorite tactic of the Republicans. Give it until 2016, the GOP will show their incompetence and the seats will change again.
