
Reprinted with permission from AlterNet.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Monday posted a lie-filled tweet about job numbers under Barack Obama and Donald Trump—and was immediately schooled.
“If @BarackObama’s jobs numbers were anywhere close to what we’re talking about with President @realDonaldTrump……the media would stop the Earth from rotating to make sure everybody heard about it!” Graham, a former Trump opponent who now appears in lock step with the president.
If @BarackObama‘s jobs numbers were anywhere close to what we’re talking about with President @realDonaldTrump……the media would stop the Earth from rotating to make sure everybody heard about it!
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) November 5, 2018
During the last 21 months of Obama’s presidency, the U.S. economy created 4,477,000 new jobs; in his first 20 months as president, Trump has presided over an economy that grew by 4,054,000.
As the New York Times’ Peter Baker writes, “job creation is no better now than it was under Obama. What is striking is that the recovery continues so long after it started.”
Read some more responses below:
Always thought of Lindsey Graham as a straight-shooter in the 2 decades I covered him, but his sycophancy for Trump now has him telling ridiculous falsehoods/lies– More jobs were created in Obama’s last 21 months than in Trump’s first 21 mos, half-million more. @LindseyGrahamSC https://t.co/FNoPKDVtYq
— Jackie Calmes (@jackiekcalmes) November 5, 2018
Not true. You gotta keep up Blanche. Obama’s job numbers were better than Trump’s, particularly once he led the recovery from GWB’s economic collapse in ’08.
— Peter Ames Carlin (@peteramescarlin) November 5, 2018
Lindsey Graham has become a riddle wrapped in mystery inside an enigma https://t.co/EWbo0j8eCa
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) November 5, 2018
They were better, you gross sycophant
— David Greenwald (@davidegreenwald) November 5, 2018
Under Obama, Republicans tried to unskew the BLS reports. Now they’re just making up unstated numbers? Anyhow, job growth is down slightly and Lindsey Graham is lying. https://t.co/8fVcVDPMvG
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) November 5, 2018
Lying liar lies.
— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) November 5, 2018
I’m starting to believe you failed 1st grade math.
The 10 months leading up to the last midterm election: 2,447,000 jobs.
The 10 months leading up to the current election: 2,125,000 jobs.Source: Dept. of Labor pic.twitter.com/LCpWLNqnuO
— Mike Flacy (@mikeflacy) November 5, 2018
They were, in fact, higher. But facts don’t matter anymore, do they? You don’t give a shit. You know who you’re trying to incite and you know they don’t care enough to look at the factual numbers.
— Andrew Cook (@andrewtothemoon) November 5, 2018
“In the last 22 months of Obama’s presidency, the economy added 4.8 million. By that math, job creation has actually slowed slightly under the Trump administration.” https://t.co/LHGtUBX6BY
— marisa kabas (@MarisaKabas) November 5, 2018
“The economy added more jobs in every year of Obama’s second term than it did in Trump’s first year.” https://t.co/T0tOU6qBFi
— John Haltiwanger (@jchaltiwanger) November 5, 2018
Why do these people lie so much? Lindsey Graham KNOWS he’s lying, and he just says it anyway. Here are the numbers, recently highlighted by @peterbakernyt: Jobs created during first 21 months of Trump’s presidency and final 21 months of Obama’s:
Trump: 4,054,000
Obama: 4,477,000 https://t.co/Ze8zQKT6GK— Matthew Nussbaum (@MatthewNussbaum) November 5, 2018
You’re a fool. Compare the last 21 months of Obama job creation to Trump’s.
Obama’s numbers were better.
Do. Your. Homework. https://t.co/45GKSWu0ZM
— Jason Page (@TheBackPage) November 5, 2018
Obama’s jobs numbers were actually stronger than Trump’s which was why Sean Spicier at a press conference last year declared that the jobs numbers “may have been phony in the past, but it’s very real now.”https://t.co/Ssj4QrGk8f
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) November 5, 2018
Elizabeth Preza is the Managing Editor of AlterNet. Follow her on Twitter @lizacisms.