GOP Revels in US Setbacks

From worse-than-expected unemployment numbers to Chicago’s foiled Olympic bid, today was a lousy day for America, but Republicans reacted as if Christmas had come early. Soon after the jobs numbers hit, Glenn Thrush of Politico got a slew of GOP press releases. “Rep. Mike Pence literally hit the send button at 8:30 am, the moment the announcement” hit, says Thrush.

“We are reminded yet again that wasteful government spending is not the solution,” he wrote. Within seconds of Chicago’s loss, Republicans lit up Twitter. “Actually, Obama got the flowers, not even the bronze,” crowed one GOP operative. Newt Gingrich summed it all up, tweeting, “President Obama fails to get the Olympics while unemployment goes to 9.8% Iran continues nuclear program. America needs focused leadership.” (More Republican stories.)