Did Mitch McConnell Just Take Credit for the Economic Recovery?

By Vikas Bajaj, NYT
January 7, 2015 11:24 am

The new Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, suggested earlier today that the Republican Party deserves credit for recent data showing that the economic recovery has picked up speed. As ridiculous as that statement is, at least it is intellectually consistent with the party’s past statements. After the financial crisis, Republicans said President Obama had hurt the economy by (occasionally) criticizing Wall Street bankers for their misdeeds. Now, Mr. McConnell is claiming credit for a recovery based solely on the fact that Republicans have just taken control of both houses of Congress, even though the year has barely begun and they have not yet passed any bills.

Here’s what Mr. McConnell said on the floor this morning:

After so many years of sluggish growth, we’re finally starting to see some economic data that can provide a glimmer of hope. The uptick appears to coincide with the biggest political change of the Obama Administration’s long tenure in Washington: the expectation of a new Republican Congress.

Here’s how the Democratic National Committee’s communications director responded on Twitter:

Jokester Mitch McConnell said that economic recovery is due to 2014 election results. Our response: Hahahahahahahaha http://t.co/KvY3nDE1q5 — Mo Elleithee (@MoElleithee) 7 Jan 15

(Original here.)