Democrats

President Obama Talks Jobs

January 22, 2010 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅ ⋅ Post a comment

Insiders are now saying that next weeks State of the Union address will see President Obama place a heavy focus on jobs and the economy. Well isn’t that what he should have been doing all along? What’s with the new focus, where has his focus been? And is his concern for jobs genuine or just a knee-jerk reaction to the recent Democratic Party’s stunning election defeat in Massachusetts? How can the President have had any other focus planned for his State of the Union address? Sure Health Care and the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are important but in case you just got rescued from a deserted island you know that the most pressing issue facing Americans at this time are the economy and jobs. And to tell you the truth jobs trump the economy because big business is up and running, it is just not running in the United States. China recently reported almost %10 percent growth in the last fiscal quarter; they have a hiring frenzy still occurring. I guess their policies of reducing imports, taxing imports, and forcing businesses to build there rather than import their products is working, maybe we should do the same and maybe that’s what the President will tell us. Maybe he will tell us how he will make American workers more competitive in our own economy rather than how businesses who export our jobs, but import their products, will continue to thrive and recover. Recently, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told the media that President Obama is, and has been dealing with the financial crisis which has supposedly caused our economic downturn long before Tuesday’s Senate race, but many political insiders say that the Democratic win in Massachusetts has the Obama Administration concerned and several of the rank and file have actually admitted that the Democrats probably could have done a better job of conveying their jobs and economic message to the public in Massachusetts. Many say this is why the White House will now intensify its efforts to show Americans that their job status is of great concern to the President and his Administration. Gibbs stated, “The president works each and every day on making our economy stronger and putting us in a position to where we’re creating jobs, businesses are hiring again…I can certainly assure the American people that that is the chief focus of the president of the United States.” The President is actually getting a head start on his new policy focus by holding several jobs and economic events where he will speak with Americans and listen to their cares and concerns. The first event is to be held in Lorain County, Ohio, which is just outside hard hit Cleveland. The President also appears to be looking to attain American support for his renewed jobs focus by also taking the popular position of that of a Wall Street-hater. Many are frustrated with Wall Street and its practices and President Obama is looking to tap into this sentiment by pushing for major financial regulatory reform. Many say the Wall Street bashing will help the President gain momentum because many Americans now feel that big business has betrayed them by outsourcing and eliminating their American jobs. Big banks, Multinational companies, and Imports are deeply unpopular, and making them a target for the presidents ire will tap into a deep American sentiment which will work in the presidents favor and garner him much needed momentum. Last week the President provided information on a new fee to be imposed on big banks to recoup taxpayer bailout funds, and this week he followed that up by unveiling tough new regulations designed to limit the risk from large banks. Obama is cleverly positioning himself to be the David in the oncoming David versus Goliath confrontation the Obama Administration appears to be heading for. Being the little guy who is going against the villains on Wall Street is a position that Democrats feel the President will do well in. In regards to taking on Wall Street, President Obama stated, “If these folks want a fight…this is a fight I’m ready to have…We simply can’t return to business as usual.” So is this new focus, this tough talk for real? Or is it because the Democrats feel politically vulnerable? Either way, it’s jobs which Americans are concerned about and it is jobs which should be the main focus, so I am glad it has taken its rightful position even if it is a little late. Taking the “White House to Main Street” is a great idea; now let’s see what results from it.

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