Obama Talks Jobs, Economy In Ohio: Not 'Where We Need To Be Yet'

COLUMBUS, Ohio — President Barack Obama focused attention Friday on construction jobs created by the federal stimulus law while acknowledging the grinding toll the slow-to-rebound economy has taken.

"I'm under no illusion that we're where we need to be yet," Obama said during an hourlong visit to the capital of a state he won in 2008 with 51 percent of the vote.

The event was a groundbreaking for the 10,000th road project paid for by stimulus money, and it gave the president an occasion to leave Washington and promote progress on jobs.

Flanked by workers in hard hats and yellow safety vests, Obama stood at a lectern in the middle of a street and cited increasing signs of economic vitality, including evidence that businesses are starting to hire again. But he said that's not enough.

"There are still too many people here in Ohio and across the country who can't find work. Many more can't make ends meet," Obama said. "And for these folks, the only jobs we create that matter are the ones that provide for their families. So while the recovery may start with projects like this, it can't end here."

In his brief comments, Obama offered no new initiatives or messages.

The recession hit hard in Ohio, where unemployment hit 11 percent in March, the highest since September 1983. New figures Friday showed the rate dipped to 10.7 percent in May.

The president has made a practice of quick trips out of Washington to explain to workers that the economy is reviving. Even as the Gulf of Mexico oil spill sucks up much of Obama's time, he doesn't want to lose that focus on the economy, the public's No. 1 priority.

He visited a hospital where a $25 million project will add lanes and widen sidewalks. It is expected to create 300 jobs, but Obama said that the indirect effects were even greater, leading to investments by the hospital back into the community.

A growing number of independent economic analyses suggests the $862 billion stimulus law has boosted jobs and kept people off the unemployment line, though exactly how many jobs is a matter of dispute.

___

Online:

Stimulus site: http://www.recovery.gov

Comments

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

12:23 AM on 06/21/2010

When you spend your time listening to clinton, rubins, summers and geithner is there any wonder why the next decade of corupt supply-side voodoo looks just like the last?
dlc corporate dems are no different than ronnie the meat-puppet reagan.

[Indie3000]

11:36 PM on 06/20/2010

The dems have been in control of both the house and the senate since Jan 2007. It is now 3 1/2 years later and they still blame republicans. They have shown they can't accomplish anything while in power. Except spend over 3 trillion dollars of our money and put us in the most debt we have ever been since FDR. The most accurate way to analyze national debt is to look at it relative to percent of GDP. Bush left it at 64% when he left office. Obama has driven it to 95% in the short time he has been president. 105% is predicted in 2016. This is unsustainable...... And here is the irrefutable proof as a graph and the same numbers in an excel spreadsheet from whitehouse.gov to back it up:

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/downchart_gs.php?year=2000_2010&view=1&expand=&units=p&fy=fy11&chart=H0-fed&bar=0&stack=1&size=l&title=US%20Federal%20Debt%20As%20Percent%20Of%20GDP&state=US&color=c&local=s

More proof:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2011/assets/hist07z1.xls

[its miller time]

12:06 AM on 06/21/2010

Democrat’s have all the power, OMG, give that phrase a rest...this is a two Party Country, both Party's need the other to move this Country forward it only takes
one (NO) to take it down.

You make no mention of the actions or lack there of the Republican Party, why is that?
Do you agree with their conduct these past 17 months?

Enough bashing, I can’t remember, what was the Republican
Party saying the answer was 17 months ago?
No hindsight, audio or print from that time in September of 2008 will be fine
Also when the Obama Stimulus was voted on, what was their plan?

Democratic Party operates as a Democracy.
Democrats do not vote as they are told, they vote freely and without fear of Retribution.
That means that all Members are able to think, speak, act and vote for themselves, their
Constituents and their Country. And when a Party runs like a Democracy, then votes will be varied.

Republican Party operates as a Dictatorship.
When word gets out that one of their own has gone rogue, thinking, acting and
about to vote on behalf of the people the beckoning voice of the Leader must be
deafening.
I wonder what threats of Retribution are whispered into Repubican Member’s ears
by the Party's Leader that makes them turn on the people and obey their Leader?”

All agree to vote “no” on all the major issues, I don’t think so.

I'll look up your links now.

[Indie3000]

12:54 AM on 06/21/2010

You are foaming at the mouth with ignorance. The IS NOT a democracy. We are a representative republic. As for your dictatorship comment, well of course you are wrong, the dictators of this world are self proclaimed progressive liberals. Hitler, Stalin, Chaves, Castro etc. These people all said, "i will give you healthcare food and housing, just vote for me." This is exactly what the dems say here in the USA.

[Winston120]

01:45 PM on 06/20/2010

Obama won't do what is needed:
1) People need access to low interest money that the banks horde
2) Massive tax cuts and cuts in fed spending in alignment. In other words, move money into the private sector.

[its miller time]

12:13 AM on 06/21/2010

The President can bring it to the table

1. Congress and Senate...they are the one's writing the laws.

2. I don't know if those would help, or if it would even get the votes. Remember if
Obama's name is attached to it, the Republicans will vote "NO" regardless of
what it is.

[R U Sirius]

10:06 AM on 06/20/2010

...thanks to the obstructionists on the red side in Congress....

[pasko]

04:20 PM on 06/20/2010

LOL - when republicans are in power, it's their fault. When dems are in power, it's republicans' fault. Proof that liberals really don't believe in accountability, just blame. They got stimulus through and it's done a bang-up job.

[R U Sirius]

05:20 PM on 06/20/2010

It has, actually. As a matter of fact, everything you said is true. With the aside that the Repughlicans in power whose fault it is just left office. Thank God.

[webandgraphics]

02:10 AM on 06/20/2010

He "admits" or finally realizes? Either way this guy Has never created a job or lead anything in his life. What do you expect.

[R U Sirius]

10:07 AM on 06/20/2010

Spoken like a man who just got here from Mars!

[pasko]

04:21 PM on 06/20/2010

Really Web. Look at all the census jobs he's created. And look how well he's used tax dollars to prop up the car and housing market. You can't deny the guy's talent.

[Bill in Virginia]

12:29 PM on 06/20/2010

webandgraphics, excellent comment and thank you for you service!

[corymac]

11:48 PM on 06/19/2010

Obama is dropping the ball all over the place. He is absolutely MISSING-IN-ACTION on the gulf clean-up effort.

[Bill in Virginia]

12:30 PM on 06/20/2010

corymac, you are correct!

[wizzardly]

10:24 PM on 06/19/2010

Lots of small business won't hire because they are afraid of ObamaCare. Obama went a%$ backwards by killing jobs with legislation that is poorly thoughtout and as we are seeing, poorly executed with missed deadlines.

[ObamAtomic]

12:38 AM on 06/20/2010

Lots of small business won't hire because small business welfare is over,that is why.

[wonketteRAWKS]

10:22 PM on 06/19/2010

I heard that many of the workers were sent home WITHOUT pay because of this photo-op.

[wizzardly]

10:28 PM on 06/19/2010

I saw an interview with one of the workers. Way to go Obama. You know, I think I want him on the golf course for the next 2 1/2 years so no more damage can be done or spent.

[littlemonster]

09:19 PM on 06/19/2010

You want jobs? RAISE taxes. A lot. Why? Because, our economy grows more robustly when tax rates are higher. Check your history. Something most people don't like to admit is that only profits are taxed. So, when tax rates are more progressive, PROFITABLE companies spend money on employees, research and equipment in order to avoid paying taxes. When tax rates are, say, ZERO, they tend to, you know... HOARD wealth.

[dnalpahs]

10:36 PM on 06/19/2010

That is ridiculous

[masher]

11:17 PM on 06/19/2010

It's wasn't higher taxes in the past that caused wages to rise for the middle class. It was a trade policy that said communism was slave labor that kept out slave made goods. Both parties today don't mind slavery because it's so profitable.

If there is a relationship between higher taxes on the rich and good economic times it's that when both political parties are not owned by Wall Street we have fair trade policies. My point is that trade is the real driver and taxes are just a symptom.

And the real arguement should be " why aren't taxes on working people 0% if low taxes are so wonderful!?" seriously people, if low taxes are good then zero tax for all working people would be the best! But neither party would go for that. They only lower taxes on the top .1%. Yes they give us tiny cuts bit nothing like the huge tax cuts the rich get.

[dnalpahs]

08:25 PM on 06/19/2010

Why even pretend Obama is trying to create jobs?

Create jobs? Obama is extending the joblessness with every comment he makes.

Obama/Pelosi/Reid have created so much uncertainty in the private sector on what it will cost to run a business, insure employees and pay taxes that we are all holding off from hiring until we can get a handle on the wild federal mandates. That and the threat of cap and trade means "go slow" for business.

It's hard to plan when you have such a business unfriendly administration in the white house. The last thing you want to do is add more employees if you can wait.

[nclayla]

12:12 PM on 06/20/2010

Why even pretend that the GOP/teabagger/rightwing nutjobs won't do everythign in their power to ensure that every Obama initiave fails, even when it means that our nation suffers as a result?

[criticallydampedroots]

08:12 PM on 06/19/2010

Maybe all these lazy bums on 99 weeks unemployment should just go and get jobs?

[hypnotoad72]

10:00 PM on 06/19/2010

So you know where all the jobs are?

Most companies are STILL LAYING PEOPLE OFF.

Amongst other issues, but I've said them too many times.

You can keep your empty one-liners. One day you'll realize how wrong you are. We hope.

[nclayla]

12:14 PM on 06/20/2010

I guess that you, your friends, your family, and your neighbors haven't been hit by the tidal wave of layoffs and unemployment that they rest of us are suffering from. I can asure you that this is not the ccase for the rest of us.

[ConservativeUSA]

07:41 PM on 06/19/2010

You won't see too many Libs on this post. I would argue we are exactly were Obama wants to be on jobs. Many people are losing them. How can you create a welfare state if people are employed?

[TeaLady005]

03:57 PM on 06/19/2010

CBS news reports Mr. Obama blew between $500,000 and $1,000,000 of taxpayer money to fly to Ohio and give a TEN minutes speech and have a photo op,, to tell us what a great job he is doing! These politicians do not care about the taxpayer, and do not care about running up our national debt and spending us into bankruptcy.

We must demand a national balanced budget amendment

[masher]

03:47 PM on 06/19/2010

Obama supporters constantly defend this president by saying "his heart is in the right place". To which I want to ask "so then is your only problem with Bush that he wasn't warm and cuddly?"

It seems Democrats just want to have their hands held. They don't want to admit there really is no difference. They don't want to admit the real fight hasn't even started.

[appacom]

03:11 PM on 06/19/2010

Headline Writer Bombs Again. . Obama did not "admit," he "continued to acknowledge. . ." Bias in news outlets that profess impartiality must be a lot more subtle.