Boehner Video Stars "Job-Sniffing Bloodhound" To Whack Obama

The loss of 467,000 jobs in June, driving the national unemployment rate to 9.5 percent, is unwelcome news for the Obama administration, which has spent half a year trying to turn the tide of the economic downfall. Already the president has conceded that 10 percent unemployment is likely in America's future. But the job front remains a particular vulnerability for this White House -- the one major chink in the Obama armor, far more politically delicate than the president's handling of foreign affairs or health care.

And so, it shouldn't come as a surprise that within minutes of their release, Obama's political opponents turned the porous June job numbers against him. Obviously anticipating the bad news, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) released a web video featuring a job-sniffing bloodhound named Ellie Mae asking: "Where are the jobs."

The clip, a Boehner aide says, is meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Narrated by Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga), it is based off a 1984 TV commercial by the Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

"This is a light-hearted web video, but the underlying point is no laughing matter," Boehner said in a statement. "At a time when Americans are looking to Washington for leadership, the trillion-dollar 'stimulus' isn't working. Americans were promised the stimulus would keep the unemployment rate from going above 8 percent. It's now skyrocketing above 9 percent. Where are the jobs?"

WATCH:

Obama's allies will point out that the foundation of this current wave of job loss is rooted in the policies of the Bush administration. Economic models hold that the stimulus spending by the administration won't take affect fully until months from now. But, six months into office, it is also a widely accepted that the White House now "owns" much of this economy. Even Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has insisted that the success of the administration's policies should be measured in the number of jobs created.

"A good starting point is looking at broad measures of economic performance, like jobs," Geithner said in a response to questions posed by Huffington Post readers.

The Treasury Secretary went on to note that "job losses in the month of May were at their lowest level since September 2008." That talking point, however, now seems inoperative as pace of job losses in June was nearly 50 percent greater than the month before.

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Comments

[MizLiz]

Okay, am I the only one who immediately got the subtle meaning here? Bloodhounds used to capture runaway slaves? This is a local symbol that must have amused every die-hard redneck republican in the south.

[weatherwaxx]

Try Southern Ohio.

[dimplesmile7]

Orange man and his orange best friend.

[bowthai]

Aren't jobs a lagging indicator of economic health? I don't mean to say that these numbers are unimportant, but I imagine there are other factors to consider. Poor dog.

[junior111]

He has tantalizing eyes like his dog.

[zeezan]

And they both are an interesting shade of orange.

[AmericanWarrior]

Hey, when you are though with apologizing, you have to blame somebody.

[mick7191]

Just imagine how bad it would have been had McCain won.

[sueinmn]

25 - 40 % probably. No stimulus EXCEPT for more tax cuts and more jobs leaving for China.

[jh1432]

i was hoping that dog would turn on him and bit him in the crotch

[planetjeffy]

GOP destroys the economy and blames everyone but themselves.

Typical.

[CanadianBeef]

Waddya know? Conservative humor, which I thought had died with Dennis Miller, is back. It's healthy to be in the minority again, eh, GOP?
Of course, it's a little early to be complaining that Obama is not pulling America fast enough out of Bush's recession, but I think the people viewing the ad would understand that.

[unhhockey]

What a vapid slug.

[globalcitizenlinda]

We need to issue this direct challenge to Boehner and his fellow members in The Party Of No: Why would an elected official celebrate the loss of American jobs???

These fools have been dancing on the grave of GM, Chrysler, the rest of the people who are loosing their jobs and I think they need to be shamed publicly.

Ps: I am close enough to this fool's congressional district that I will definitely volunteer my services to see that he too looses his job and then just maybe he will understand not to celebrate when Americans are hurting through no choice of their own!

[sueinmn]

please do support his lost in next elections! These red states need to begin voting their economic interests instead of religious views. The Bible does not put the food on the table or the roof over ones head.

[6bd]

Approval rating...16%.

[denicci1977]

Boehner and that bloodhound are almost the same shade of color. Just one more spray tan to finalize his look.

[lovetolast]

I was noticing the same thing. At least the bloodhound doesn't look sloshed.

[BigAl72]

LOL. That's a good one.

[rightsize2005]

Even when he isn't trying he still looks s.tu.pid!

[d00derman]

I hope Boehner doesn't stay out in the sun too long, he might get a natural tan.

[Osusuki]

Looks like Boehner got himself a good dog. Give him two extra hands and a flashlight to round out the ensemble, and he might even be able to find the seat of his own pants.