Joseph Stiglitz: Jobs Numbers Conspiracy 'Literally Absurd

[hazlnut]

Joseph Stiglitz: Jobs Numbers Conspiracy 'Literally Absurd'

Joseph Stiglitz appeared on 'Up w/ Chris Hayes' to discuss the jobs report released on Friday. Several prominent conservative figures, including former GE CEO Jack Welch, have accused the Obama administration of skewing the numbers to appear in its favor.

"No president, maybe except Nixon, would actually try to change what the Bureau Labor Statistics does or what the DEA does. These are really independent agencies and the idea that they would do that is literally absurd," Stiglitz said.

Stiglitz said the only thing that presidents can do is explain the numbers and put them in context of larger economic tides.

"You don't monkey with the numbers because that would destroy your credibility," he said.

Friday's report showed that unemployment had fallen to 7.8% after 114,000 jobs were added last month.

Although some Republican politicians and conservative commentators have questioned the accuracy of the figures, officials deny any wrongdoing.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis told CNBC that it's "really ludicrous" to suggest that BLS manipulated the data.

We know, it's teatard desperation, but thank you for confirming it.

 

[uscitizen]

"Absurd" is a descriptor that aptly fits right wingnutz.