CONGRESSIONAL NOTEBOOK: Job Creation Is GOP's No. 1 Talking Point

[JPace]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA9P3OEHKD.html

CONGRESSIONAL NOTEBOOK: Job Creation Is GOP's No. 1 Talking Point

WASHINGTON (AP) - Memo to House Republicans when talking to voters this fall: "It is not possible for you to talk about jobs too much."
That's the advice from Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio, writing to members of the GOP rank-and-file just back from their summer break.

"I ask that you please be attentive to driving a jobs message more than ever before," added Pryce, fourth-ranking in the GOP leadership as head of the Republican Conference. "I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to communicate that job creation is our top priority."

The economy has lost more than 3 million jobs since President Bush took office, and unemployment stands at 6.1 percent. And despite signs of a strong economy in recent weeks, the Labor Department reported that new claims for unemployment insurance rose last week to a two-month high of 422,000.

The memo told Republicans they face a "difficult communications environment," given public concerns about the economy and post-war Iraq, as well as the presence of nine Democratic presidential contenders consistently attacking President Bush.

A few polling details underscore the point.

In a survey taken last week by Republican pollster David Winston, 37 percent of those questioned said the country was moving in the right direction, and 51 percent said it was on the wrong track. Moreover, Democrats are doing a better job of communicating with the country than before.

"Of those who heard a message from House Democrats, 44 percent were more favorable to Democrats, and 38 percent were less favorable," Pryce wrote, adding that was the first time this year the Democratic message "received a positive reaction."

At the same time, the memo said Republicans continue to have a better "brand image" than Democrats, 50 percent favorable to 39 percent unfavorable for the GOP; 46 percent favorable to 43 percent unfavorable for the Democrats.

Apart from jobs-related issues, Republicans were urged to stress commitment to Medicare prescription drug legislation, "stand four-square behind our commander in chief in producing the necessary resources for our troops in Iraq," and mention support for education.

Kori Bernards, spokeswoman at the House Democratic campaign committee, said the memo "doesn't tell House Democrats anything they don't know. We've known for a long time that House Republicans were extreme and out of touch with ordinary Americans and this confirms it."

[LeftCoast]

1. The economy has lost 3 mil + jobs and NOW unemployment is a high priority?

Good to see the Republicans are on the ball in Congress...

A cynic would say their new-found interest in jobs-creation might have something to do with upcoming elections...

[FarLeftRage]

2. "Republicans aren't working"

A take on a British political slogan of the late 1970's.

Just say this to the repukkkes and it'll drive 'em mad with the truth!

[dflprincess]

3. All of us with Republican senators or reps

should send them this article and then ask them why the RNC has sent its fundraising operation to India.

[Democat]

4. Republican "brand image"

Republicans, the party of big business, not the people.

[Kahuna]

5. That's all they do is talk about it...

They aren't likely to impress anyone with their "talk." :eyes:

[aquart]

6. How many Americans families could live well

on the pay of one Republican CEO?

How many American jobs could stay home if one Republican CEO were paid $20,000,000 less? Two? Three? Four? Five?

[madfloridian]

7. Ha! Talking or doing.

They spin so much they don't know how to come to a full stop!
:argh:

[Stephanie]

8. That's hysterical, when they are now going to outsource FEDERAL jobs

Unbelievable. They stoop to new lows.

[Lindsay]

9. The problem is

that talk is their solution to every problem. Tell people what ya think they want to hear...and then go ahead and do what you were gonna do anyway.

Feh.

[DrBB]

10. As opposed to DOING anything about it.

Great advice. Keep blathering assholes. You're still going to have to run on the first job-losing presidential tenure since Hoover. Have a nice day.

[pruner]

11. too bad that talking about jobs doesn't actually create them

n/t

[MO_Dem]

12. I wonder if they've ever heard the expression

that TALK IS CHEAP! People with no income get a little tired of hearing politicians talk, talk, talk when they do nothing, nothing, nothing. One day soon I hope voters realize that GeeDuhBya's talk is nothing more than talk that "signifieth nothing", and if the republicans in Congress follow his example, I see a ray of hope for those of us who disagree with them on everything.

[AP]

13. Bush has Antention to Defecit Disorder

Kleptocracy causes it, I understand.

[ozone_man]

14. "difficult communications environment" is right.

Translated: "it's going to be hard to put lipstick on this pig". Bush is going to be nailed by the state of the economy. 3,000,000 jobs is unbelievable.

[The Magistrate]

15. Another Nail In The Coffin Of Satire

You just cannot make this stuff up. After presiding over the loss of millions of jobs, they intend to go to the country and talk of their capacity to create jobs?

Words fail me....

[Junkdrawer]

17. Orwellian, n'est pas? n/t

[The Magistrate]

22. Indeed, Sir

They will go to the country on a platform of raising the weekly chocolate ration from thirty grammes to twenty grammes, expecting spontaneous demonstrations of gratitude for the new happy life bestowed by the Ministry of Plenty.

[Boom_cha]

16. If they're so concerned about job creation

why the f&ck are they trying to do away with overtime for up to 8 million Americans? That's job destruction because it takes billions of dollars of purchasing power (demand) out of the pockets of the affected workers. Also, the original intent behind the mandatory time-and-a-half regulation was to incentivize employers to spread the work (i.e., hire new workers rather than have existing ones work overtime). Elimination of this incentive is inimical to job creation. What a bunch of hypocrites the GOP are. I hope the Dems call them on it.

[Starpass]

18. Just remember

a $300 million declared warchest ( and christ knows how much illicit money) can make a one tooth, unemployed, nut scratching, six kid, can't pay the rent and have no hope to in this lifetime, Limbaugh listening moron, BEEEE-LIEVE. And that's our horror.

[dusty64]

19. Hope the Democrats

note what happens when they attack the rightwing agenda, its SUCCESSFUL! Sounds like the repukes are nervous and they have every reason to be.

[w4rma]

20. Yup. "Talking" points. They control Congress and the White House

And the judiciary. Jobs are just "talk" to Republicans.

[teryang]

21. I am detecting an odd turnabout

Where wealthier usually liberal professional people have succumbed to the terrorism "clash of civilization" neo-con propaganda to the point where they are distracted from or indifferent to the turn down in the economy and the reversal of fortunes for working class Americans. It's almost as if they have caught amnesia. It's like they have caught the pervasive fear thing.

On the other hand, working class republican types who in the past were ideologically inclined to buy bushco bullshit are pissed about their economic situation and prospects and are surprisingly adopting a hostile attitude toward this government. These people are just reacting to their pocketbooks. The 87 billion dollar thing does bother them.

In your heart, you know it's a con job.

[TacticalPeek]

26. Class, please turn back to Chapter 1, 'Class Warfare Is Passe'.

And not allowed without special permission from the agents of social control.

[Wes]

23. Another bill of goods

but since 70% of Americans apparently believe Saddam was connected to 9/11, they'll probably buy this one too.

[Mel]

24. talk is cheap

and I see pukes are still trying to put lipstick on a pig.

[dusty64]

25. This really is ironic.

Deserves a :kick:.

[malachi]

27. Brilliant strategy

What can be better than to have the repugs making jobs creation their #1 talking point? Every time one if these jackasses opens their pie hole they'll be reminding people about their abject failure to create jobs. The American people HAVE to see through this heap of bullshit. Forget it, on second thought, it'll probably work.

[TacticalPeek]

28. Lipstick spotted on Sen Lugar's . . .foreign relations committee hearings?

Really demeaning display on c-span coverage of hearing I saw last night.

I think Lugar is that rare, sometimes thinking, sometimes putting national interest before political or personal interest, repug. But his thoughtful-process chain jumped the gear in this diplay. Practically non sequitur, as if handed a reminder note, he starts talking long, almost rhetorical 'questions', to the Treasury guy on the panel, and someone else, about China and the dollar, even manages to smudge in NAFTA, and jobs, our friends the jobs, the people of Indiana's jobs mattering, and we've got to think about jobs, and jobblah, jobblah, jobblah.

Just doing his job: to job the voters.

It was like on MSGOP when Ken Oberman throws his script in the air at the end; Lugar was just throwing the words up in the air, JobsJobsJobs; catch 'em if you can, find 'em where you will.

The treasury guy was like "Right, Senator, we're still trying, still talking". Talking about jobs is now important to these boobs.