Johnson claimed there's an “amazing disconnect” between advisers on recession

From the December 14 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:

[begin video clip]

SUMMERS: We were talking about depression. We are talking about the financial system collapsing. Today everybody agrees that the recession is over.

ROMER: You are not recovered until all those people that want to work are back to work.

DAVID GREGORY (Meet the Press host): So, in your mind, this recession is not over?

ROMER: Of course not.

[end video clip]

JOHNSON: So why are President Obama's economic advisers sending more than mixed messages, and are they working together to create jobs in a recession that may or may not exist? We're back with former White House press secretary Dana Perino. Dana, have you seen too often such an amazing disconnect between senior officials on the question that every American is talking about, whether the recession is on or off?

DANA PERINO (Fox News contributor): Looking at the video like that, it is a stark contrast, right? It makes you wonder if the left hand knows what the right hand is doing. And the truth is, none of us actually know for sure when the recession will end. Just like we didn't know exactly when it will begin. Because that data lags, we won't know for a few months. But unfortunately, I think that what we are seeing, because I believe the policies that they've put in place, that we are going to have a jobless recovery. And, so, even if technically we are out of a recession and we start to return to growth in the economy, without jobs it's going to feel like people are still in a recession for a long time.

STEVE DOOCY (co-host): Sure, but even the definition of a recession -- two quarters back to back at least of negative growth -- we haven't had two positive back-to-back quarters, so you can't say it's a recovery.

PERINO: But, you know, they are going to get a GDP number this week that's probably fairly good as I understand it, and so maybe we are on our way back. And hat's what happens. Recessions don't last forever. The economy cycles. And if they were to win a second term, I will bet you that we will have another downturn at some point because that's just the way the market works.

JOHNSON: Does someone talk to each other after they watch Fox & Friends today and say well, you know, should we get on the same page on this?

Fox & Friends: “Mixed Messages,” “Summers & Romer Differ On Recession.” Fox & Friends also aired the following on-screen text during the segment:

Romer said we've “reached” the end of the recession according to “the official definition,” “at least in terms of GDP”

Romer: We have “reached” the end of the recession, “at least in terms of GDP.” On the December 13 edition of NBC's Meet the Press, Romer said: “You know, there's the official definition, and that talks about just when do you turn the corner, when do you go from plummeting to, to finally starting to go back up? And I think we have, at least in terms of GDP, reached that point.” Romer went on to state that “for the people on Main Street and throughout this country, they are still suffering. The unemployment rate is still 10 percent.” From the December 13 edition of Meet the Press: [portion aired by Fox & Friends in bold]

GREGORY: When is the recession over, do you think?

ROMER: You know, there's the official definition, and that talks about just when do you turn the corner, when do you go from plummeting to, to finally starting to go back up? And I think we have, at least in terms of GDP, reached that point. But I think the president's always said, and what I firmly believe, you're not recovered until all those people that want to work are back to work.

GREGORY: So in your mind, this recession is not over.

ROMER: Of course not. We have -- you know, for, for the people on Main Street and throughout this country, they are still suffering. The unemployment rate is still 10 percent. That's what--that's why the president was talking this week.

Summers also pointed to GDP when he said the recession is over

Summers: “These things happen in stages. First, GDP goes up. That has happened.” On the December 13 edition of ABC's This Week, Summers said: “Today, everybody agrees that the recession is over, and the question is what the pace of the expansion is going to be. These things happen in stages. First, GDP goes up. That has happened. Then, hours that are worked by workers who already have jobs go up. That's starting to happen. Then employment goes up. We got very close to that this year, this month, with only 11,000 jobs lost.” Summers added that “it will take a little longer for the unemployment statistics to come down.” From the December 13 edition of This Week: [portion aired by Fox & Friends in bold]

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (host): And Mr. Summers, let me begin with you, and let's start with just the overall economic situation right now, especially on jobs. We saw that drop in unemployment in November, but private economists predict that unemployment is likely to head back up. Mark Zandi sees it peaking at about 10.6 percent next year. Others say it could go up to 11 percent. Is that in line with your forecast?

SUMMERS: George, here is what I know. We were talking about depression, we were talking about the financial system collapsing. Today, everybody agrees that the recession is over, and the question is what the pace of the expansion is going to be.

These things happen in stages. First, GDP goes up. That has happened. Then, hours that are worked by workers who already have jobs go up. That's starting to happen. Then employment goes up. We got very close to that this year, this month, with only 11,000 jobs lost. And then unemployment starts to come down. So these problems weren't made in a month or a year, and they are going to take a substantial time to solve. But what we can take satisfaction from is that we've walked back from the brink. And you know, forget what we say. Most professional forecasters are now looking for a return to job growth by spring.

Now, when job growth starts, more people are going to be looking for work, so it will take a little longer for the unemployment statistics to come down, but make no mistake, we were losing 700,000 a month when President Bush turned the economy over to President Obama. The number last month was 11,000.