From Jack Welch, a Conspiracy Theory

9:50 a.m. | Updated

Well, that didn’t take long. Just a few minutes after the jobs report for September was released, showing a drop in the unemployment rate, conspiracy theories began flying around Twitter that the Obama administration had manipulated the data or strong-armed the Bureau of Labor Statistics in some way. Even Jack Welch, the former chief executive of General Electric, chimed in:

Unbelievable jobs numbers..these Chicago guys will do anything..can’t debate so change numbers

— Jack Welch (@jack_welch) 5 Oct 12

The response to Mr. Welch was just as swift, and as harsh:

I cannot believe a serious person like Jack Welch is suggesting BLS cooked these numbers. Disgraceful.

— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) 5 Oct 12

BTW Isn’t Jack Welch about the last person on earth who shd talk about organizations manipulating numbers to impress markets?

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) 5 Oct 12

love ya jack but here you’ve lost your mind @jack_welch Unbelievable jobs #s. the Chicago guys will do anything..can’t debate, change #s

— Austan Goolsbee (@Austan_Goolsbee) 5 Oct 12

The labor secretary, Hilda L. Solis, also responded to Mr. Welch’s comment in an appearance on CNBC. “It’s really ludicrous to hear that kind of statement,” she said. “We have to look at across the board, not just one month.”

Ms. Solis added: “I have the highest regard for our professionals that do the calculus.”

Source & Image : New York Times