Chuck Todd Bashes Mitch Daniels for Indiana Having Same Unemployment Rate as Nation
Chuck Todd on Sunday bashed Republican governor Mitch Daniels for his state having a 9.1 percent unemployment rate.
The substitute host of NBC's "Meet the Press" must not be aware that this is lower than most of Indiana's neighbors and is basically the same as the national rate (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHUCK TODD, SUBSTITUTE HOST: Let's talk about your record as governor of Indiana. I want to put up a basic thing here on jobs. When you took office, the unemployment rate was 5.4 percent. Now it's 9.1 percent. When you took office, nearly three million Indianan--Hoosiers were employed, now it's 2.8. I say this--so it's a loss of 144,000 jobs.
I say this because you have made a huge effort to pay down the state's debt, to really pinch the budget down. But that has--job creation hasn't come with it. And we've heard arguments among Republicans here in Washington and across these statehouses that you shrink government, it will create jobs. When did--we're not seeing evidence of that in Indiana.
GOV. DANIELS: You could put up that same graphic for probably 48 or 49 states in America. A national, catastrophic recession will do that to you. Before that recession started, we were at essentially full employment.
I guess Todd forgot about the supposedly worst recession since the Great Depression that started in December 2007. Also slipping his mind was that the national unemployment rate is 8.9 percent basically the same as Indiana's.
More importantly, as far as the Midwest is concerned, Indiana's doing pretty well. Here are the unemployment rates for Indiana's neighbors:
-
Illinois - 9.0 - Kentucky - 10.4
- Michigan - 10.7
- Ohio - 9.4
Put in that context, Indiana looks pretty darned good.
Of course, Todd didn't share this with his viewers. Think he would have if Daniels was a Democrat?
Equally absurd was Todd's comment, "[We've] heard arguments among Republicans here in Washington and across these statehouses that you shrink government, it will create jobs. When did--we're not seeing evidence of that in Indiana."
As this state with its tight budget has basically the same unemployment rate as the nation as a whole, doesn't that disprove the Left's view that profligate government spending such as what President Obama and the Democrats have done will create jobs?
Which would you rather have - an 8.9 percent unemployment rate with exploding debt or a 9.1 percent unemployment rate with a balanced budget?
I wish Daniels would have thought to ask his liberal interrogator this.
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Comments
"Think he would have if Daniels was a Democrat?"
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 6:29pm.
Why certainly, and he would have slobbered all over himself singing his praises, too.
UpChuck Toady is such a jerk.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
walker of WI has foolishly promised 200,000
Submitted by Paarl on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 6:46pm.
private sector job growth over the next 2 years because of his policies. It is politically fool hardy to make such promises as much in the macro economy is out of the control of governors....fiscal prudence as advocated and practiced by Daniels and walker has its own rewards and benefits to their respective states over the long run. Paarl of rhodesiaYou're Low
Submitted by Caringwhiteguy on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 7:07pm.
The actual number is 250,000 and it will happen. And contrary to what the Weekly Standard has published, Walker has stated that some of the new jobs might well be government-related.it will happen ???
Submitted by Paarl on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 7:34pm.
do you have any back up to Walker's forecasts?? certainly hope it is true but I haven't scene anything concrete... Paarl of RhodesiaYes.
Submitted by The Vet on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 8:49pm.
Wisconsin governor Scott Walker's office has released excerpts of a speech later today in which the governor will unveil his biennial budget. “This is a reform budget," Walker will say. "It is about getting Wisconsin working again – and to make that happen, we need a balanced budget that works -- and an environment where the private sector can create 250,000 jobs over the next four years.”
basic math skills
Submitted by Injest on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 7:45pm.
Paarl of rhodesia paarl
Why?
WI added 10100 new private sector jobs in January. WI unemployment rate fell to 7.4 percent.
The USA added a net TOTAL 36,000 jobs Jan thru March. (new jobs added minus old jobs lost).
Even if you lack basic math skills the trend is obvious.
BTW, how did you miss it?
i did miss it....tks for the tip...
Submitted by Paarl on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 8:44pm.
certainly if there is a positive trend in WI ...walker's policy will augment it....250,000 is a big number and just wanted to know the source...will do some digging myself... paarlCHUCK (THE PIMP) TODD
Submitted by Herbster on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 6:53pm.
Did anyone expect facts to trump ideology with Little Chucky? Another mediapimp is heard from. Have you ever watched the repulsive morning show he does with the sorority girl? It's like a cross between Regis and Kathy Griffin........then, after this TV travesty, they jump into phone booths to put on their "White House Correspondents" outfits. Any doubts that journalism is dead in this country?Love how Libs make up "things" to talk about.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 6:58pm.
Example, Todd, "And we've heard arguments among Republicans here in Washington and across these statehouses that you shrink government, it will create jobs."Who said that Chuckie? I suppose in Chuckie's world ever expanding big government is a job creator. I suppose in one sense it is. But the government can't hire everyone. What is needed is jobs not requiring tax payer funding or extortion.
@RED
Submitted by Samshile on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 6:23pm.
I was thinking the same thing. BIll Maher: Republicans said!. My response? "So one bonehead who identifed as a Republican said it".And ummmmm
Submitted by Ashrak on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 7:06pm.
Illinois just raised income taxes, business taxes and even jumped into taxing internet business. But hey, the Democrats abolished the death penalty.....
Hey Chuck, things aren't improving here, they are getting worse. I am sure you will have Governor Quinn on to hammer him just this, won't you? Better do it quick while the tax return money is propping up the economy, cuz after that, the reality is going to show here in ways not even your spin will be able to hide.
The closing sentence of this piece is outstanding. When are these weak kneed GOPers going to stop playing nicey-nicey and let 'em have it? Are they just incapable?
Mitch could spend and borrow
Submitted by Edhenry on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 8:00pm.
Mitch could spend and borrow all available money, immediately create paychecks (not jobs) to 90,000. In 2 years, the money would run out, we would lay off the 90,000. We would then return to high unemployment and then have debilitating debt and increase taxes destroying the private sector. Just like DC, Illinois, Michigan and California. Or we can methodically build and encourage private industry, that creates long lasting jobs and investment (auto, steel, farming, specialty manufacturing, transportation hub), permently decreasing unemployment, increasing government revenues without raising tax rates and be solvent in the long term. But we are just simple minded knuckle dragging hicks here in Indiana- with belief in the constitution, individual repsonsibility = individual freedom, fiscal discipline (and bible and guns).Hey, give poor Chucky a
Submitted by Captain Repus on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 8:12pm.
Hey, give poor Chuckie a break.. he has something terrible going on with his hair and just hasn't been himself lately. His recent 'rug' test drive didn't go too well.Up Chuck lacks the mathematics to understand
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 8:48pm.
he's a drone and must do whatever it takes to protect the hive.brainwashed
Submitted by grammajane on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 11:38pm.
nbc surely knows how to brainwash young "substitute hosts"That is why I believe Mitch Daniels is not our best presidential
Submitted by Rush Fan on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 11:48pm.
candidate. Yes I admire many of the decisions he has taken, including rescinding collective bargaining rights of state employees and turning a deficit into a surplus.
But Daniels is a little too passive for me. I agree with the Wall Street Journal's John Fund who wrote in a column titled Daniels in the Lions Den:
Hey Mitch, Shove Your Truce Up Your Anus.
Submitted by Tenebrous on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 2:12am.
That's how I feel about this guy and his "truce" on social issues. Mitch speechifies while babies die! He won't be getting my vote.Visions and Principles blog
Mitch Daniels?
Submitted by Herbster on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 2:09am.
Mitch Daniels for President? President of what? He and obambi could open a chain of pancake joints called the FLIP FLOP. This is a lib in Repub clothing. Problem is there's no one out there in Repub land that can WIN. Starting in '12 we are going to have four more years of Mr. Colf/Basketball/Party animal......with a drooling press corp that would out Lewinsky, Lewinski.plenty of winning candidates in GOP
Submitted by Paarl on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 7:31am.
Bachmann, Daniels, Jindal,..pawlenty.... paarlCurse You Sir....
Submitted by Samaritan01 on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 2:09am.
.......curse you for having the same unemployment rate as the rest of the nation! Tell us Mr. Todd what is your opinion of Pres. Obama and his nationwide unemployment rate? Todd: OMG he is a manly, man and a super-genius!!!!!!Success Is When a Governor Gets His State Better Than It Was
Submitted by Avitar on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:36pm.
The state of Indiana was relatively worse off compared to the national average when Mitch Danels became Governor than it is today. Now it is just average.
Too bad Mitch Danels isn't backing making Indiana a Right-to-Work state. If you reassure employers that big labor bosses are not going to be able to come in and knock down their businesses good things happen, at least relative to non-Right-to-Work states.
If we get a Congress and a President in 2012 who at least have read read an economics book, say a President Bachmann, great things could happen to the states whose Governments prepare them.