Fox Still Doesn't Know Public Sector Jobs Hit Harder In Recession

Written by Chelsea Rudman

Published

Fox again attacked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) for noting that “it's very clear that private-sector jobs have been doing just fine. It's the public-sector jobs where we've lost huge numbers.” But Reid is right: Since the Recovery Act took effect, the private sector has gained more than 1.5 million jobs, while the public sector has lost more than 500,000.

Fox & Friends Claims Reid “Got It Exactly Backwards” On Private Vs. Public Sector Jobs

Doocy Claims Reid “Got It Exactly Backwards” On Public Vs. Private Sector Job Losses; Gasparino Replies That Reid “Could Be Smoking Something.” On November 10, Fox News' Fox & Friends aired a clip of Reid saying that “it's very clear that private-sector jobs have been doing just fine. It's the public-sector jobs where we've lost huge numbers.” Co-host Steve Doocy then hyped a Heritage Foundation study to claim, "[Reid] got it exactly backwards." Fox Business correspondent Charles Gasparino then said, “It's as if he doesn't understand the economy. ... Or he could be smoking something.” From the broadcast:

REID [video]: The massive layoffs we've had in America today, have, of course, are rooted in the last administration, and it's very clear that private-sector jobs have been doing just fine. It's the public-sector jobs where we've lost huge numbers.

DOOCY: He got it exactly backwards. He said, you know, the public sector is going down. Private sector going up. He got it backwards. We got a little animation. Let's go ahead and put it up so folks can see it right here. Look at this. Federal government has actually gone up 230,000 jobs. State, local, education about 150,000 jobs, so private sector has lost six million jobs. What is Harry saying?

GASPARINO: Who knows what he's saying? I mean, the numbers speak for themselves. I will say this, there are state -- there are cutbacks at the state and local level in terms of jobs. There's no doubt about that. You know, budgets are too big. They're bloated. They're bleeding. So governors and mayors are cutting back but even compared to the extent of job losses on the private sector is mind boggling. It's as if he doesn't understand the economy, what else could you say?

DOOCY: It could be an election year.

GASPARINO: Or he could be smoking something. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 11/10/11]

But Reid Is Right: Since Stimulus Passed, Private Sector Has Gained Over 1.5M Jobs, Public Sector Has Lost Over 500,000

Since July 2009, When Stimulus Began To Take Effect, Private-Sector Jobs Have Grown By Over 1.5 Million While Public Sector Jobs Have Fallen By Over 500,000. From PoliticalCorrection.org, a project of Media Matters Action Network:

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[Political Correction, Media Matters Action Network, 11/4/11]

Fox Previously Attacked Reid For Accurate Statement

Fox Figures Mocked Reid's Claim, Falsely Claimed It Was Untrue. In October, several Fox figures attacked Reid's claim. On his Fox Business show, Eric Bolling claimed, “Public-sector jobs have increased by 160,000 since President Obama took office.” On her Fox News show, On the Record host Greta Van Susteren said, “If [Reid] truly thinks ... that private-sector jobs have been doing just fine, I'm thinking to myself, where in the world has he been?” [Media Matters, 10/20/11]