Hope and Fail

Top advisers confused on jobs created numbers

Watching the Sunday shows today, one was hard pressed not to remember the classic scenes from the “Austin Powers” franchise where Dr. Evil has a tough time determining how much money he wants from the “World Organization.”

Three top White House officials appeared on TV, and each one gave a different figure when describing the number of jobs “created” by the 2009 stimulus package.

From Politico:

Valerie Jarrett had the most conservative count, saying “the Recovery Act saved thousands and thousands of jobs,” while David Axelrod gave the bill the most credit, saying it has “created more than – or saved more than 2 million jobs.” Press Secretary Robert Gibbs came in between them, saying the plan had “saved or created 1.5 million jobs.”

It’s no secret that the Obama administration’s calculation of jobs “saved or created” by the $787 billion stimulus is sketchy. The White House even dropped the entire calculation. But that’s not going to stop it from claiming jobs were created — even if they don’t agree on the numbers.

Here’s Gibbs on Fox News Sunday:

Well, Chris, let’s take for instance the example you just used of the stimulus package. We had four quarters of economic regression in terms of growth, right? Just last quarter, we finally saw the first positive economic job growth in more than a year. Largely as a result of the recovery plan that’s put money back into our economy, that saved or created 1.5 million jobs.

Jarrett on Meet the Press:

And we’ve taken several bold steps over the course of the year. The recovery act saved thousands and thousands of jobs. There are school teachers and firemen and, and teachers all across our country, policemen, who have jobs today because of that recovery act.

And, of course, Axelrod on State of the Union:

But understand that, in this recession that began at the beginning of 2007, we’ve lost 7 million jobs. Now, the Recovery Act the president passed has created more than — or saved more than 2 million jobs. But against 7 million, you know, that — that is — it is cold comfort to those who still are looking.

So is it “thousands and thousands” of jobs, 1.5 million jobs or 2 million jobs? And remember, the president promised 3 million jobs, some 95 percent of which were to be in the private sector.

In all fairness, Axelrod puts the numbers — made up or not — into context. Even if the stimulus has “created or saved” more than 2 million jobs, it’s still a net job loss of 5 million.

But we’ve got to wonder: When the White House sends the troops out, do they coordinate in any way? Or is it just standard policy to make things up as they go?