Once again we have the mainstream media lazily trying to continue a narrative that the economy is a problem for Biden. If there are weak economic numbers, it’s bad for Biden. If there are strong economic numbers, it’s bad for Biden.
The latest example is the pathetic front page headline in today’s Washington Post: The economy, and inflation, are revving up at a terrible time for Biden.
The article starts by pointing out that there are “unexpectedly strong job growth, wages and consumer spending” right now. Sounds good, right? But no, WaPo cries that these numbers come at a “terrible time” for Biden and are “bad luck” for him.
WaPo’s key point for trying to explain that these numbers are “terrible” for Biden is that they prevent inflation from dropping. Yes, inflation went up by a small 0.3% in March, but WaPo describes this blip with overblown language like “inflation revving up” and “ inflation heating back up.”
Nevermind that inflation is down from 9.1% in June 2022. Nevermind that inflation was higher at similar points in President Bill Clinton’s and President Ronald Reagan’s tenures, when year-on-year inflation was at 3.6% and 4.8%, respectively, and both went on to win reelection. Nevermind that, as WaPo points out, that “so far Americans have been more than happy to splurge on services like dining out, travel and hotel stays, despite inflation.” Nevermind that, as WaPo also points out, “big-ticket items like cars, furniture and appliances, have actually gotten cheaper in the past year.” Still, the newspaper decided to cast all of this in an extremely negative framing for Biden. That’s an intentional and manipulative choice, imho.
The key data point the article uses to show the problem with inflation is that gasoline prices have been “creeping up” over the past two months. Well, the current average is $3.633, up from $3.396 a month ago — up a small $0.237. Nevermind that it’s down from $3.645 one year ago. Nevermind that gasoline prices increase every year leading into summer.
Yet WaPo opines that Biden is “struggling” on his economic messaging. It’s no wonder, when you have the corporate media determined to beat to death its lazy narrative that the economy is a problem for Biden and always will be forever and a day. We all know that if consumer spending or job growth or wages were to drop, WaPo would jump on that as also being “terrible” for Biden.
Thanks for allowing me to rant.