Matt Blunt to Missourians: "You Can't Handle the Truth"

Here is a classic case study in how Team Blunt distorts beyond recognition even the most basic public information--- in this case, monthly unemployment numbers.

Last week, Blunt's Department of Economic Development issued its monthly report under the headline, "Missouri’s Job Growth Continues in August; State Has Created 54,800 Jobs Since 2005".  

The report even included a shameless quote from Blunt himself:

"Our efforts to strengthen our state’s economic climate are clearly having a positive and lasting impact,” Blunt said. “We will continue our commitment to attract the kind of high quality, high paying, family-supporting jobs that will keep our economy growing.”

It is only in an "Editor's Note" buried at the end of the release that the truth starts to emerge:

Editor’s Note: Below is a complete review of August’s unemployment and employment totals:...

• Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment increased four-tenths of a point in August to 5.1 percent. (emphasis added)

Fired Up readers are encouraged to consult the (gulp) Bush Administration for a more objective view of unemployment in Missouri.