As you likely heard, the monthly U.S. jobs report came out for April 2012 - and unsurprisingly, the media harpies on the right attempted to focus exclusively on the fact that those specific numbers just weren't good enough - again.
Of course, as political scientist Jonathan Bernstein pointed out, "Trends matter. Single numbers don’t."
In fact, Gallup's Job Creation index, released earlier in the week, says that job creation is at a four year high - which displays exactly the kind of trend line Bernstein is talking about.
So yes - while U.S. hiring numbers slowed down, the overall numbers were still positive. The unemployment rate also dropped - again - down to 8.1%. Thursday's report from the Department of Labor on unemployment claims also showed sharp improvement, as Steve Benen and others pointed out this week:
Of course, you may have missed that factual information in all the fake outrage from the right.
Now if Mitt Romney were in charge, he'd likely change this trend line, as his advisor said that Mitt thinks that spiraling inequality and austerity are good for America. Of course, it's a shame for Mitt and Republicans that in Europe - where they leapt headlong into austerity economics - inequality and austerity have completely failed.
So yes - the economic performance wasn't as good as we'd like it to be. But President Obama and most Democrats in Congress chose the right path. We still made PROGRESS getting out of the Bush Recession. And that's the key. America is still moving - FORWARD.
MORE DETAILS ON JOBS AND THE ECONOMY
Chart: Jobless claims show sharp improvement
GM Q1 profit beats Wall Street expectations on strong U.S. demand
No summer break for Chrysler, demand is too strong
Factory Activity Picks Up Steam in April
Apparel sales stay strong in April in U.S.
CHART: Economy Has Recovered All Private Sector Jobs Lost Since Obama Took Office
How to make sense of the nonstop barrage of economic news
Study: CEO Pay Increased 127 Times Faster Than Worker Pay Over Last 30 Years
Romney Advisor Says Spiraling Inequality Is Good for the U.S.
Paul Krugman: Plutocracy, Paralysis, Perplexity
European Unemployment Rate Rises to Highest Level in Almost 15 Years
Austerity failing in Europe and here at home
