Prez gives press a "little homework assignment"

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from yesterday's White House news conference: http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/10/obama_oct_6_2011_press_confere.html


___ Bill Plante: Anybody on Capitol Hill will say that there's no chance that the American Jobs Act, in its current state, passes either House. And you've been out on the campaign trail banging away at them saying, pass this bill. And it begins, sir, to look like you're campaigning, and like you're following the Harry Truman model against the do-nothing Congress instead of negotiating.

Are you negotiating? Will you?

THE PRESIDENT: I am always open to negotiations. What is also true is they need to do something. I'm not -- look, Bill, I think it is very clear that if members of Congress come in and say, all right, we want to build infrastructure -- here's the way we think we can do it. We want to put construction workers back to work; we've got some ideas -- I am ready, eager, to work with them. They say, we've got this great idea for putting teachers back in the classroom; it's a little different than what you've proposed in the jobs bill. I'm ready, eager, to work with them. But that's not what we're hearing right now. What we're hearing is that their big ideas, the ones that make sense, are ones we're already doing.

They've given me a list of, well, here's the Republican job creation ideas: Let's pass free trade agreements. It's great that we're passing these free trade agreements. We put them forward; I expect bipartisan support. I think it's going to be good for the American economy. But it's not going to meet the challenge of 9 percent unemployment, or an economy that is currently weakening. It's not enough.

Patent reform: very important for our long-term competitiveness. There's nobody out there who actually thinks that that's going to immediately fill the needs of people who are out of work, or strengthen the economy right now.

So what I've tried to do is say, here are the best ideas I've heard. Not just from partisans, but from independent economists. These are the ideas most likely to create jobs now and strengthen the economy right now. And that's what the American people are looking for. And the response from Republicans has been: No. Although they haven't given a good reason why they're opposed to putting construction workers back on the job, or teachers back in the classroom.

If you ask them, well, okay, if you're not for that, what are you for? Trade has already been done; patent reform has been done. What else? The answer we're getting right now is, well, we're going to roll back all these Obama regulations. So their big economic plan to put people back to work right now is to roll back financial protections and allow banks to charge hidden fees on credit cards again or weaken consumer watchdogs, or alternatively they've said we'll roll back regulations that make sure we've got clean air and clean water, eliminate the EPA. Does anybody really think that that is going to create jobs right now and meet the challenges of a global economy that are -- that is weakening with all these forces coming into play?

I mean, here is a good question, here's a little homework assignment for folks: Go ask the Republicans what their jobs plan is if they're opposed to the American Jobs Act, and have it scored, have it assessed by the same independent economists that have assessed our jobs plan. These independent economists say that we could grow the economy as much as 2 percent, and as many as 1.9 million workers would be back on the job. I think it would be interesting to have them do a similar assessment -- same people. Some of these folks, by the way, traditionally have worked for Republicans, not just Democrats. Have those economists evaluate what, over the next two years, the Republican jobs plan would do. I'll be interested in the answer. I think everybody here -- I see some smirks in the audience because you know that it's not going to be real robust.

And so, Bill, the question, then, is, will Congress do something? If Congress does something, then I can't run against a do-nothing Congress. If Congress does nothing, then it's not a matter of me running against them; I think the American people will run them out of town, because they are frustrated, and they know we need to do something big and something bold . . .


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(photo Reuters/Jason Reed)

transcript of press conference: http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/10/obama_oct_6_2011_press_confere.html

[TBF]

1. I gotta say he is sounding a little tougher lately -

maybe our backing him in the streets is helping? :shrug:

[Ship of Fools]

2. Thank you, Mr. President --

now all you need to do is shorten this a bit, commit it to memory, speed up the delivery of it, and pound on the podium a couple of times. Alas for me, that's NOT why I voted for you. I THOUGHT America was all growed up and could be spoken to quietly & rationally. Unfortunately, we've proven to be petulant, bigoted, homophobic children that have to have leaders beating their chests day in and day out. If so, GO FOR IT. It's our last chance before the Repubs steal the next election.

[midnight]

3. yes... By all means score the Republicans jobs bill....

Then compare theirs to the Dems...

[malaise]

4. K & R

Good post

[NYC_SKP]

5. K/R.

[yodermon]

6. One of the best press conference responses I've ever read.

I didn't see the video.

[bigtree]

7. if you wanted . . .

video: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/10/06/president-obama-s-news-conference-american-jobs-act

[Selatius]

8. I simply think he is reaching his wits' end with the Republicans.

I only wished he'd reach that point a day after he assumed office because anybody here could've told him they were planning on opposing everything under the sun if it came from a Democrat.