Damage control?
(National Journal) — President Obama sought to reassure Americans that the recent economic turmoil will settle and that the country is on the road to recovery, despite a spate of bad economic news from the last few weeks that concluded in a major drop in the markets.
“We are going to get through this. Things will get better. We’re going to get there together,” Obama told a crowd of veterans at the Washington Navy Yard Friday, where he was speaking about lowering unemployment among the nation’s veterans. Neither he nor any member of the administration commented after the Dow plunged over 500 points Thursday, and Obama avoided addressing the market crash directly.
“There is no doubt this has been a tumultuous year,” said Obama. “My singular focus is the American people. Getting the unemployed back on the job.”
He called for Democrats and Republicans to do a better job of working together after a “divisive” and “delayed” process to negotiate a compromise on deficit reduction. “If we want our businesses to have the confidence they have to get cash off the sidelines and invest and hire, we have to do better than that. We’ve got to be able to work together to grow the economy right now, and strengthen our long term finances. That’s what the American people expect of us,” Obama said.
Yesterday’s Carney blunder:
(Business Insider) — As President Barack Obama once again pivots to focus on economic growth, Press Secretary Jay Carney declared Thursday that “the White House doesn’t create jobs.”
While undoubtedly true, it was certainly not a sentiment Obama wants to project as Republicans ratchet up criticism of his leadership on economic issues, and his presidential campaign kicks into high gear.
After a month devoted to raising the debt limit, on Tuesday Obama announced a new focus on boosting employment — at least his seventh such announcement in his presidency.
Facing tough questions from reporters on what Obama is doing to create jobs today, Carney responded that Obama was meeting with senior advisors to plot a way forward on the issue.
HT: Ed M.