Republicans Jump On Latest Job Numbers
You knew this was coming. Republican leaders are piling on the increased unemployment numbers released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which announced the rate jumped three-tenths of a point to 9.7 percent.
Yesterday the vice president touted the success of the stimulus, which provided fodder for Republicans today. The White House just announced that Biden will address the latest job numbers at a previously scheduled event on the Recovery Act at noon.
Here is a sampling of the press releases in our inbox:
RNC Chairman Michael Steele: "Yesterday Vice President Biden gave yet another speech to try to convince the American people that President Obama's stimulus bill is creating the jobs he promised ... Today's unemployment report proves that this Administration is ignoring reality ... The president's economic experiment simply isn't working, and Americans shouldn't expect his government-run health care experiment to work, either."
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor: "Since President Obama signed his stimulus bill into law, nearly 2.5 million people have lost their jobs. In the eyes of the American people, that is not success. Families across the country are struggling to cut costs and cope with a tough job market, and they see a massive disconnect between that reality and the President's agenda."
House GOP Study Committee Chairman Tom Price: "Despite all the evidence to the contrary, the White House continues to tout the alleged success of their so-called stimulus bill. The Democrats' unprecedented level of government borrowing and spending will not stimulate job creation, nor has it stopped the job losses being experienced by so many Americans."
House Minority Leader John Boehner ties the jobs report to health care: "Where are the jobs? Approximately 2.4 million private-sector jobs have been destroyed since February 2009. In light of these numbers, it is more clear than ever that the President and the leaders of his party in Congress need to abandon their plans for a job-killing government takeover of health care and work with Republicans for a more responsible approach to health care reform."
NRCC communications director Ken Spain: "While Obama administration officials and Democrats in Congress have been touting their so-called 'stimulus' plan and taking victory laps all week, Americans are asking one simple question: Where are the jobs? Whether it's their massive government takeover of healthcare, their national energy tax, or their failed economic policies, one thing is clear: President Obama and the Democrats have quickly grown out of touch with the needs of middle class Americans."