Opinion: Jobless Numbers And The Newest Right Wing Conspiracy Theory
There is a new breed of truthers on the right. Joining the paranoid ranks of the advocates of a government role in 9-11 and the birthers fascination with President Obama's birth certificate are conservatives that believe the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is making up jobs numbers to benefit President Obama.
Yesterday on FOX AND FRIENDS the four hairdos that host that show lost their minds when the first jobs numbers released after the election showed an uptick in first time jobless claims.
They insisted it was part of The Conspiracy! New jobless claims were a hint of future downward corrections to jobs numbers from the Labor Department.
Finally their world view, concocted and perceived in the hermetically sealed world of right wing paranoia entertainment media, was validated.
After all, as one co-host said, it could not have been Hurricane Sandy because "what, there's a storm and then you get fired?"
If these people spent less time in the makeup room and more time paying attention to local media (FOX AND FRIENDS is broadcast from a New York City studio) they would know the death and devastation that occurred within miles of them.
People were not fired because of the hurricane. Their lives, including homes and businesses were destroyed. For too many they did not have jobs to lose because their place of employment no longer exists. Also, displaced victims of the hurricane in some circumstances may claim jobless benefits even if their jobs still exist. The BLS included this fact throughout its press release – not that any of the hosts paused from their grooming regimen to read it.
It is disgusting that the right wing paranoia entertainment media will bend and distort any event, including misfortune, death and tragedy, to further their world view.
It is time Americans stood up and said enough to the mindless stupidity perpetrated by FOX and other outlets that spin and spew these lies.
About Bill Buck
Bill Buck is a Democratic strategist, President of the Buck Communications Group, a media relations and new media strategies consulting business based in Washington, DC, and Managing Director of the online ad firm Influence DSP. He has over twenty years of international and national communications experience. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CBS Local.
