Last Friday morning’s jobs report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is being met with skepticism. The report found that, from August to September, the unemployment rate dropped from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent. The Labor Department said Friday that employers added 114,000 jobs in September.
In fact, when Labor Secretary Hilda Solis appeared on CNBC this morning, the first two questions for her were whether the books have been cooked: Solis called the charges insulting and “ludicrous.”
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former economics adviser to John McCain and the former head the Congressional Budget Office, calls the numbers “implausible.”
“September unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent due to an extraordinary – but implausible – estimate of 873,000 jobs in household survey,” said Holtz-Eakin on Twitter.
And the Wall Street Journal warns that these numbers should be taken “with a grain of salt.”
Why would anyone question these statistics? Well, at least two economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) have contributed to President Barack Obama’s campaign. Harley Frazis of Bethesda, Md., has contributed at least $2,000 to Obama and $9,000 to the Democratic National Convention over the last three election cycles. During his time at BLS, Harley has published a number of papers including his most recent, “How to Think About Time-Use Data: What Inferences Can We Make About Long-and Short-Run Time Use from Time Diaries?”
Stephen Phillips of Washington, D.C., has contributed at least $270 to Obama during the 2012 cycle. According to his LinkedIn profile, Phillips served as an economist at BLS between June 2009 and July 2012. Phillips was responsible for examining the impact of Obamacare on Healthcare North American Industry Classification System indices.
Skeptics are wondering how a decline in the unemployment rate for September could be so different from the trend over the last few months. Some charge that is just a political slight of hand by the administration to “cook the books.”
I wonder if these numbers will be revised after the election or before, as has often been the case in the BLS reporting of the unemployed.
All of this politicking, if that’s what it is, could have something to do with the fact that no standing president has been elected with the unemployment rate above 8 percent.
Keith Hansen
Comments (62)
Add commentBarack Obama:
“One nice thing about the situation I find myself in is that I will be held accountable. You know, I’ve got four years...If I don’t have this done in three years, then there’s going to be a one-term proposition.”
Cooking the books
In the fall, Sep, Oct, Nov etc., all of the farming crops in the country are being harvested. Sugar Beets, Corn, etc. Consequently you have an increase in employment. TEMPORARY JOBS. After crop harvest, you have holiday season jobs, AGAIN TEMPORARY JOBS. Kind of like when they hired tens of thousands of people to take the census last year. AGAIN TEMPORARY JOBS. Anyone notice a trend. Where are the real jobs. The full time permanent skilled jobs. Call it cooking the books, or deceiving the public, it's still criminal DFL tactics to help win the election.
Next thing they will tell us is "Obama won the debate"
I guess he did.
Truth cannot be
slander, eyolf. The truth hurts doesn't it? Our true unemployment is over 20%.
Easy Change...Flip...Flop...And...
Stand By for Mittsters Foreign Policy Speech for tips on
How to effectively stash your cash internationally to avoid paying US taxes ,and other helpful travel tips you can use to visit your foreign investments.
He will focus on both those with interests in the Cayman Islands ( beach) and those die hard skiers who are tired of the Wasatch Range and long for the Swiss Alps.
Jobs and the economy are old news now to Mittsters campaign consultants.
All I know is...
That I have to pay taxes on foreign investments and accounts. Why wouldn't Mitt?
Besides, I thought the U.S. banks were evil? Can't have it both ways.
Also, if the off-shore banks are paying higher interest, then the individual wins, as well as the IRS! 15% of 1% is less than 15% or 4%.
Captron is acting like
just another jealous communist with his hand out.
Land Of Kookery
Mr. Hansen along with Jack Welch and the other kooks are now spreading another lie. And that is exactly what this is - A LIE!
Does Mr. Hansen or Mr. Welch or any of the other kooks have any evidence? No, they just again spread lies and their fellow kooks just lap it up. How can we run a democracy with this kind of ignorance?
I'm glad
we have a republic and not a democracy where the workers are slaves to the slothly.
Arguing With Idiots Saying
"Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience." - anonymous
Boy bond
There ya go talking to yourself again.
More Truisms
"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative. "
John Stuart Mill
Mitt's Money
A. Is Mitt breaking laws by placeing his money in off shore banks?
B. are we really concerned more about Mitt placeing is money in a foriegn country or have a president from a foriegn country.
Can somebody please
Give mr bond johnny wards #. I hear he works with people that have emotional behavior disorder. Thats why so many dems like him.
A Birther?
"...a president from a foreign country."
Really? Another resident from [filtered word] mountain? (Hint: watch the Stewart/O'Reilly debate).
Can somebody please
Give OldFarmBoy Paul Gazelka's #. I hear he works with people that have far right views. Thats why so many reps like him.
Chuck Todd Responds to Crazies
Good response to the crazies like Jack Welch, Donald Trump and our own Keith Hansen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DLZztjivaI
Can JB please explain the dropping of U6 numbers to the stupid"?
I still cannot get anyone to explain the 29 year record increase in jobs just before the 2012 presidential election with a net increase of 1,000 jobs.
JB without using mindless Democrat talking points (use your own words), can please explain this to us "stupid" people. This does not square with U6 numbers.
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t15.htm.
And if you can, please use facts.
Mr. Jack Welch, meet JJ of Brainerd!
When Mr. Jack Welch was asked if he had any, any evidence to back up his claim about the 7.8% rate, he said he had none.
Well, right here in Brainerd we have an esteemed economist, JohnnyJing, who has found the evidence you need!
Johnny, it is your patriotic duty to contact Mr. Jack Welch with your findings so he can go back on television and tell the nation that yes, truly the BLS has fudged the numbers and here is the proof.
Who Exactly Are The Kool-Aid Drinkers?
Purposed, what makes you think that those who espouse right wing views have not drunk the Fox News, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Drudge Report, Rush Limbaugh, World Net Daily, et. al. Kool-Aid?
Are you saying anything else substantive? Have you added any facts to this discussion? Do you have any information to disprove the 7.8%? Nope, I thought not.
JanesBond is getting
a little shrill now.
Hate vs. Disagreement
Purposed I do not hate Mr. Hansen, I do not agree with this and many of his other editorials. He has made his ideology apparent long ago.
This attack on the BLS is just another in a long line of lies from the right. Did you not watch the YouTube clip from Meet The Press?
The contribution list proves nothing, absolutely nothing. If you and the other conspiracy theorists have some substantive evidence, then please provide it. In a court of law your case would be denied for lack of evidence.
Chuck Todd?
I watched Meet the Press yesterday including Chuck Todd.
I think he gets information from his democrat operative wife and shares it as unbiased opinion.
You're Right Purposed
Yep, Purposed, shows like "Meet the Press", "This Week" and "Face the Nation" are just entertainment unlike the hard hitting Fox News shows like "Fox and Friends" and "Hannity". That Gretchen Carlson, Steve Doocy, and Brian Kilmeade are hard hitting journalists, aren't they? And don't forget Sean Hannity, he is second to none to getting to the real story.
007 You Have Remember , While we wait for your new film in Nov
Never attempt a discussion with yahoos that champion a return to a mythological America that never existed.
They deny scientific data ,history & empirical evidence , have no sense of shame nor any grasp on reality as they continue to make up their own facts.
Then they pretend the problem is noboby understands their moral high ground superior thought process.
You know what they say about fixing stupid .... while the Genital & Ovary Police ( GOP) keep us all informed via the Faux News Network , who think they are the official govt spokes persons for the world.
The unemployment numbers are what they are , get over losing another misguided GOP talking point.
Move on to Mittsters " Foreign Policy " speech , we will all be better informed about Intl relations hearing from someone who evaded the Viet Nam era draft by hiding out on the French Riveria... Now thats Intl Experience !!!!!
Mythology is great...
In moderation...
http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Zeus/zeus.html
James Bond is full of gas or ...
Enough said.
Jing...Did you just Insult the Green Bay Packers...
Same Team the Vikes Lost to...
Indianapolis...
That's so...Un...Fair...
purpose
I totally get the "Meet the depressed" reference and I agree.
I still try to watch some of that show and some of the George Stephie show on ABC which was good yesterday when Mary Matalin set Krugman straight. He is such a jerk, it only shows the Nobel Prize to be a joke.