Obama hardens tone in push for his jobs bill

[TomCADem]

Source: Reuters

President Barack Obama sharpened his rhetoric on Wednesday in a push for his $447 billion jobs package, even as polls showed Americans skeptical of the plan and Democrats' loss of a congressional seat raised new questions about his political strength.

In the latest stop on what has become a "pass this bill" tour, Obama used a campaign-style rally to press his warning to Republicans not to let election politics delay action on his proposals to reduce chronically high U.S. unemployment.

"You need leaders who will put country before party," Obama told a cheering crowd at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. "The time for gridlock and games is over. The time for action is now."

Obama and the Republicans -- all looking toward elections in November 2012 -- are locked in their third major budget battle of the year, after a near-shutdown of the government in April, a last-minute deal to avert a government default in August and negotiations now over the president's jobs plan.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/15/us-obama-jobs-idUSTRE78D6HL20110915

---

The problem is that the corporate media gives Republicans a complete free pass on their refusal to take any action to improve the economy. The 112th Congress is the worst Congress ever in terms of legislative activity with Republicans in the House able to attack the poor and middle class while protecting the rich with impunity. The President is calling out Republicans, but the corporate media completely ignores the absolute failure of Republicans to address unemployment. The President has not merely made job proposals, he has provided a complete bill, plus a means for paying for it. Still, the corporate media portrays Republican inactivity as a win!

Worse, the American public accepts this narrative. Even liberals buy into this false narrative where the inaction of the 112th Congress is blamed on the President. If Barack Obama was the Speaker of the House, then this attack might make sense, but at some point when are we going to hold the 112th accountable for its complete failure to take any action during this crisis.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Some congressional Dems are nitpicking the bill (Mary Landrieu upset

over less oil and gas subsidies--who would've thought? :eyes: ).

[Pirate Smile]

2. Dems obstructing isn't going to help pinning the blame on Republicans.

This has been a good lesson for people who think better legislation could have been passed if the President just gave them a complete Bill. No, they pick it apart and usually pass little to nothing then. We'll see what happens.

[msongs]

3. now would be a good time for Obama to go all LBJ on these people...if he has it in him that is nt

[TomCADem]

4. Ah, Blame Democrats and Give Republicans A Free Pass

The 112th Congress is the worst in history when you look at the number of bills emerging from Congress. This is due in large part to Republican's deliberate refusal to take any efforts to help the economy, and instead focus on austerity.

Yet, your post gives the 112th Congress a free pass, and blame President Obama even though he expressly calling out Republicans.

This blame Democrats and give Republicans a free pass narrative, which is encouraged by the corporate media, merely enables Republicans to continue to block any bills that might help people. Afterall, the worse they act, the more you are going to blame President Obama, as your post perfectly illustrates!

[No Elephants]

8. News flash: Obama is not "Democrats." He is one Democrat.

[FreeBillClinton]

5. Obama on the campaign trail...

Nobody believes his nonsense anymore. Obama talking tough? ooooo scary....

The right wing still hates him despite his pandering, as we all predicted. And now he's lost a good part of his base.

[TomCADem]

6. Ah, Blame Democrats and Give Republicans A Free Pass, Rupert Murdoch...

...would be happy. Obama is doing more than talking tough. He introduced a complete bill, and he is using the bully pulpit to promote it. At a certain point, you have to hold Republicans accountable for refusing to take action on it. But, it seems that many folks are incable of holding Republicans accountable.

[No Elephants]

9. News flash: Obama is not Democrats. He is one Democrat.

[No Elephants]

7. Unrec for yet another swipe at liberals in the OP.