Perino Denies Recession: Only A Few Regions Of The Country ‘Are Hurting Right Now’
Perino Denies Recession: Only A Few Regions Of The Country ‘Are Hurting Right Now’
Yesterday on CNN’s late edition, Chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers Edward Lazear told host Wolf Blitzer, “We are seeing what I think anyone would characterize as a recession in certain parts of the country.” Watch it:
Today, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke echoed Lazear’s sentiments, saying that the nation is facing “a serious slowdown in the economy with serious consequences for the public,” but stopped short of labeling the downturn a recession.
But during a press briefing on Air Force One today, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino dismissed Lazear’s and Bernanke’s concerns. She argued instead that there are always “some regions” of the nation that are “hurting”:
PERINO: I think what [Lazear] was saying is that there are parts of our country that are hurting right now. … Economic cycles always have — someone is on the up and someone is on the down, even when you have a country that experienced, as we did, 52 consecutive months of job growth, you end up with some regions of the country not doing as well as others.
Earlier this month, Perino claimed, “I don’t think anybody could tell you right now if we’re in a recession or not.” But former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker said last week, “[T]he economy, I believe, is in recession” and Steve Forbes said similarly that “we’re in a recession, a very serious recession.” Furthermore, a recent poll by the Wall Street Journal found that a majority of American economists believe the U.S. economy is currently in a recession.
Explaining how to stave off further decline, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman wrote bluntly last week, “[W]e need major stimulus programs.” Bernanke said today that planning for such stimulus is “appropriate,” while Perino said only that the president is “open” to the idea.
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This is why use of growth as a metric for determining when we’re in recession is absolutely ridiculous. I mean, if every major corporation laid off 1,000 workers in order to up their profit numbers and stock prices, on paper it would look like growth. In reality, though, it would be pretty darn unhealthy for the economy.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:09 pmDear Dana Perino:
October 20th, 2008 at 4:09 pmI do NOT consider the entire state of Michigan as a region!
And I sure as hell don’t think Michigan is the only state suffering!
Typical Bush and neocon strategy — have the ideologues say they “don’t agree” with the experts and believe nothing is wrong. Problem solved for another 24-hour news cycle.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:10 pmPerino is another fool! I declare! Where do they find these idiot people? Perino obviously doesn’t see all of the homeless Americans in tent shelters when she looks out her bedroom window! Just another dumox out of touch with reality. For shame!
October 20th, 2008 at 4:11 pm“you end up with some regions of the country not doing as well as others.”
And we know exactly where they are… North, East, South and West of Castle Rock, SD.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:12 pmWTF? The White House is disconnected from reality?!? Wh – when did that happen? I’m truly SHOCKED.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pm“But during a press briefing on Air Force One today, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino dismissed Lazear’s and Bernanke’s concerns. She argued instead that there are always ’some regions’ of the nation that are ‘hurting’”
Yeah… the region containing 95% of the people, *lol*
October 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pmDitzy blonde Bushie…
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October 20th, 2008 at 4:14 pmReally? And we have talk of another stimulus package…a stimulus just to hold that finger in the dike a bit longer until the neocons leave office, then to explode when the dems take over.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:15 pmWhile we may not have experienced two or more consecutive quarters with negative growth (I believe that’s the standard definition of a recession, which is why they are so desperately denying we’re in one), shouldn’t many consecutive months of less growth than the month before count for something, too?
October 20th, 2008 at 4:16 pmIt always amazes me how insulated people are in Bush’s White House. Perino can’t see anybody hurting from where she stands — therefore, people aren’t hurting. After all, SHE has a job.
Of course, any staffer in any White House is somewhat insulated, just because of the nature of the job and the reality of security issues. But in most administrations people allow for that, and at least make an attempt to know what’s going on where Joe Citizen lives. It boggles my mind how obtuse everyone in this administration is.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:16 pmGotta wonder what position the bimbo will take in Feb 09?
Missionary?
October 20th, 2008 at 4:19 pmDana, Don’t you worry your pretty head, little lady, I am sure tht Fox Noise will slip you right into a slot over there at Fox News. You’re blonde, you’re cute and you’re not too bright. Perfect.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:20 pmJudy Miller was hired only an analyst (she’s too old, too brunette for anchor), so put your resume` in right now — you’ll be working for them on January 22nd.
At the next press conference, I hope the traditionally spineless media will ask her some hard questions.
I am soooooooo sick of republicans, except Colin Powell.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:24 pmTexas is seeing 3-4% economic growth at the expense of the rest of the country.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:26 pmSorry Dana. When your own rhetoric is nonsensical? You forfeit the right to interpret the words of others.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:27 pmmisshusseinmolly:
Actually makes sense, see … whatever you can see from where you stand is what you know about. This is how Palin’s claim of being able to see Russia leads to the acceptance of her as a foreign policy pro.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:29 pmPerino makes her living lying for the Chimp administration.
I honestly don’t understand why ANY reporter would bother asking her a question. It’s not like she would answer it truthfully, even if she knew the truth.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:31 pmThis is an ad waiting to happen…
October 20th, 2008 at 4:33 pmThe reduction of consumption is the market’s self-healing reaction.
The old consumption level (on the macro-economic level) cannot be sustained – the other nations simply don’t want to subsidize the Americans anymore. The trade balance deficit needs to be cured.
To push domestic consumption cannot cure the illness this time.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:34 pmShows how out of touch these creeps are that they still think this is just some Michigan automakers deal. This is a crumbling of America’s social and economic fabric as we know it. Obama won;t help…
http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog/
October 20th, 2008 at 4:35 pmDana is another Sarah Palin with no brain. Dana is a bimbo and when she speaks it shows. As millions lose their jobs, homes and life savings and the Stock Market crash as banks close and Govenment taking Billions for bailout and kick backs to CEO’s. I guess Dana wants us to wait until the GOP meets it’s mission of 53 Trillion Debt before she says ” oh my we’re in a recession “.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:35 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
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It always amazes me how insulated people are in Bush’s White House. Perino can’t see anybody hurting from where she stands — therefore, people aren’t hurting. After all, SHE has a job.
Exactly, bush and all his buddies are doing just fine, so in
October 20th, 2008 at 4:35 pmher eyes everything is going great.
Who is Dana Perino to question the opinion of Ben Benanke. She is acting as Doug Feith did when questioning the opinion of the intelligence community.
Do you remember where that got us?
October 20th, 2008 at 4:37 pmRight on, Marie. Dana is too pretty to be part of an economic downturn. There will always be a jock venture capitalist available to sweep her off her feet.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:38 pm00mpp00 Says:
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Shows how out of touch these creeps are that they still think this is just some Michigan automakers deal. This is a crumbling of America’s social and economic fabric as we know it. Obama won;t help…
So your a psychic?
October 20th, 2008 at 4:40 pmIt’s only a recession when a Democrat is President.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:44 pmLet’s see what she thinks when she doing advertising wear a sandwich board!
October 20th, 2008 at 4:45 pmand if a recession happens during a Republican administration, blame the previous Democratic administration by trying to adjust the recession date.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:50 pmPerino thinks we should all stop whining and get jobs as professional liars.
She did.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:50 pmOT:
My son, a kid in college, was hired at a corporate store part time and was placed in a manager position with a salary of a few cents above minimum wage. He literally runs this store, inventory, money and staff while the boss he reports to is constantly on trips taking care of the other in state stores.
My son is being used while experienced managers,that once made 30K a year starting out pay are out of a job.
This is third world style in corporate America creating loos of livable paying jobs.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:52 pmAnd we’re taking Press Secretary Barbie seriously because….?
October 20th, 2008 at 4:53 pmCome one folks. Dana Perino is the President’s spokesperson. She isn’t speaking for herself, whether in these White House press conferences or when she appears on a cable news network (usually FOX). She speaks for the current administration. Period. If we should be blaming anyone else, we should blame the White House press corp, who day after day ask questions they know darn well that will never be answered honestly. EVER!! If the free press had any self-respect any more, no one would attend these stupid propaganda sessions and just become investigative reporters.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:53 pmAs long as she denies the existence of the dreaded “recession” word, it didn’t happen on this administration’s watch.
And, fer cryin’ out loud, people just need to get on board with the administration’s plan not to extend unemployment benefits; that way, they’ll get jobs, and — voila! — no more unemployment.
Yep, she said that. Thanks, Dana Einstein Perino
October 20th, 2008 at 4:54 pm“Why, no, of course the Titanic’s not sinking!! Some parts of the ship are merely lower in the water!!”
October 20th, 2008 at 4:54 pmOkay, bring it on. Technically Perino is correct. The country as a whole can be in recession with some regions or states hit very hard and some doing reasonably well. The point is that recessions aren’t defined by regions or states, but by the whole country’s economy.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:57 pmSo not only do we have pro-America and anti-America parts of the country, now we have some parts of the country experiencing great economic times and other parts experiencing a recession. Could somebody tell these people that their imaginations don’t count as a “part of the country?”
October 20th, 2008 at 5:05 pmstewarjt Says:
they can be technically right if they want, I still don’t like them, respect them or believe them.
October 20th, 2008 at 5:18 pmPerino needs to do some research, people in our area, North of Houston are cutting back from the essentials to the luxury items. This area has a diverse group, retirees, immigrants, young and middleage workers, so when you see a community as a whole doing less spending for medical care to everyday items something is happening. An acquaintance who builds classic cars has had 3 owners just stop working on the cars, so high income people are holding their breath as well.
October 20th, 2008 at 5:20 pmIs Washington out of touch or just pretending until they are out of office. Wonder what hannity has to say now after a month ago throwing a tantrum because a guest stated the economy was slipping. How they can lie with a straight face is just incrediable.
October 20th, 2008 at 5:24 pmYeah, Dana, just because we just took $1.5 trillion from taxpayers to bail out banks and investors….just because FY2009 budget deficit might approach $1 trillion….just because our trade deficit is about $0.8 trillion every year…just because average wages have gone down over the past eight years….doesn’t mean there is any problem with our economy.
The rich are still doing fine.
October 20th, 2008 at 5:28 pmAnd we ain’t got the $3 Trillion full costs of the Iraq war. And in the near future Social Security and Medicare will need $53 Trillion.
October 20th, 2008 at 5:32 pmWould Barbie Doll Perino like to name some areas that aren’t hurting. That is besides the ex head of AIG, the ex head of Lehman, etc.
October 20th, 2008 at 5:49 pmShe is correct. Only 4 regions are hurting. The north, south, east, and west.
October 20th, 2008 at 6:20 pm“North of that part, and somewhat east, and south of there…”
sound familiar?
Saddam has hidden the recession in the US!!!
(probably in some less than “pro-american” part, i bet)
October 20th, 2008 at 6:33 pmRecession by zip code? How is it that republicans wage a class war and subsequently and simultaneously accuse democrats of doing so?
The madness!
October 20th, 2008 at 6:38 pmF you ClusterTim
October 20th, 2008 at 6:54 pmPerry logan Says
October 20th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
It’s only a recession when a Democrat is President.
_____________________________________________________________
Watch for Republicans everywhere to use the “R” word starting January 21.
October 20th, 2008 at 6:55 pmOnly some parts of this nation are hurting. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. As far as I can see everywhere in this country people are hurting. Do they expect us to believe that only certain parts of the country have 401K money invested in the stock market. Then only certain parts of the country are being denied credit? WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE SMOKING?
October 20th, 2008 at 7:19 pmI bet that there are people in every part of this country who would disagree with them.
October 20th, 2008 at 7:20 pmThe Republican White House’s “response” to this economic crisis our nation is facing looks hauntingly similar to their “response” to Hurricane Katrina.
When New Orleans flooded, the Bush/Cheney administration delayed the federal “response” to this disaster for critical, life-threatening days, even going so far as to eventually blame Michael Brown, the head of FEMA, for what must have originated as a partisan directive from the top levels of the DHS and the Bush/Cheney administration. Top Bush officials also put the squeeze on the FEMA emergency disaster coordinator at his command center in Baton Rouge, especially after he complained to a reporter (as people were dying in New Orleans) that he was seeing his federal disaster relief efforts subverted and his orders directing personnel and supplies to New Orleans overruled…presumably by someone higher-up at DHS. Plus, the Bush/Cheney administration blocked civilian rescue attempts (Louisiana boaters offering their services) while chastising some Air Force helicopter pilots (flying out of Pensacola FL) for their daring to help rescue people from rooftops in New Orleans.
The prelude to this massive economic crisis reeks of similar Republican partisan antics. Warning signs had been abundant for several years that the artificially-created, Republican-promoted housing bubble would burst. Attempts to stop predatory lending practices were blocked time and again by Republican in the White House and by their rubber-stamp Republican friends in control of Congress through the end of 2006. Republicans milked the housing bubble for everything they could until the bottom fell out, then they came up with a “bail-out plan” several weeks ago with provisions meant to milk it even more.
Unfortunately, for the culture of corruption Republicans, many people weren’t “buying” the crony Republican “bail-out plan.” Unfortunately, for American citizens and the rest of the world, Republican delays in addressing and mitigating this artificially-inflated housing bubble (just like during Hurricane Katrina) has made things much worse. Immediate action was called for, but Republicans dropped the ball, dropped the ball, dropped the ball, apparently in an attempt to hand off all their crap to the next administration. But no one should be surprised, especially since neither Bush nor Cheney (nor any other of the top Republicans in their administration) can ever seem to admit that they make mistakes, mistakes that have done severe harm to our nation and the future of our nation’s children.
Too bad there is still a several month delay before we can finally kick these Republican Bush Bums out, leaving them several more months to continue harming our nation and the future of our nation’s children.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:39 pmPerino is the dumb blonde and the Bush hack par excellence. Someone needs to clue the twit about the BLS monthly statistical reports showing the job losses incurred by the economy since January.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:47 pmTell that moron to come to my neck of the woods or just look out his damn limo window for a change. 10,000 out of work in Elkhart County, Indiana alone. What a freaking idiot!
October 20th, 2008 at 11:07 pmAlright, that tears it. I want these guys to provide me with a map.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:40 pmWe needed to create about 1.25 million jobs so far in ‘08 just to keep up with population growth. Instead we have lost about 750 thousand so far. That means an extra two million people with no jobs the first 10 months. Some economists say it could be much worse the coming 10 months.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:16 am