Obama Tells U.S. Businesses To Bring Jobs 'Back Home'

By Caren Bohan and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama kicked off an effort to encourage U.S. businesses to keep jobs at home instead of outsourcing them overseas, as he rolled out a new election-year theme on Saturday aimed at courting middle-class voters.

In his weekly radio and video address, Obama previewed an event he will hold next week with business executives to highlight the advantages of investing in the United States.

"We'll hear from business leaders who are bringing jobs back home and see how we can help other businesses follow their lead," Obama said.

The White House forum on "Insourcing American Jobs" will be held on Wednesday. Executives from more than a dozen companies will attend, including padlock maker Master Lock, furniture company Lincolnton Furniture, software application developer GalaxE Solutions, and chemicals company DuPont.

The emphasis on keeping U.S. jobs at home is in line with a populist economic message championed by Obama that could play well with union workers, whose support the Democratic president will need to win re-election in November.

The White House sees an increasing trend of companies deciding to "insource" jobs and invest in U.S.-based plants and factories, according to a White House official. It wants to encourage more businesses to follow that trend, the official said.

The practice of U.S. companies moving jobs to foreign countries such as India and China, where labor is cheaper, is a source of concern to many U.S. workers.

The issue resonates strongly in Midwest industrial states such as Ohio and Michigan that have been hard hit, not only by the 2007-2009 economic crisis, but also by years of shrinkage in the manufacturing jobs sector. Many of those states are battlegrounds that are vital to Obama's re-election hopes.

Republicans vying to challenge Obama in November, including front-runner Mitt Romney, have hammered him over his economic stewardship. They contend that his regulatory policies, including new rules for Wall Street and the overhaul of the healthcare system, have discouraged investment. They also say his fiscal stimulus measures have not succeeded in bringing down high unemployment.

But the White House was encouraged by the December jobs report, released on Friday, which showed a drop in the jobless rate to 8.5 percent, its lowest level in nearly three years.

"We're heading in the right direction. And we're not going to let up," Obama said. (Reporting By Caren Bohan)

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Comments

[apana41718]

03:45 PM on 01/12/2012

What does the GOP have to offer ? We are in this mess because they encouraged out sourcing during the last administration. Look at the tax breaks they are getting for bringing jobs to China. Notice the GOP doesn't have anything to offer ? They made their rich friends richer by sending jobs overseas where there is cheaper labor. Now where did that get us ? Wake up people, open your eyes and see who is representing the interests of the middle class. How much more proof do you need ? Isn't the historical record enough for you ?

[zanytothemaxx]

07:35 PM on 01/11/2012

Republicans blocked a bill to cut off tax breaks to companies outsourcing American jobs. Once again republicans sided with big business over jobs for Americans.

[NYS Voter]

08:37 AM on 01/11/2012

Obama uses the Same word -but with 2 opposite meanings ? Obama is trying to change what "Insourcing" really means , taking contracts and work away from Small Business - He's been "Insourcing" Jobs since 2009 by taking work from the private sector and hiring more Federal Employees. He suspended ALL A-76 cost studies again (for a 3d year now) so he wouldn't have to compare costs or answer to the Taxpayer. http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2011/March/Pages/FederalAgencyInsourcingWhyGovernmentCostsSoMuch.aspx ...This is all a game to confuse the issue , and the public buys into it ?

[apana41718]

03:58 PM on 01/12/2012

You don't know the facts, the GOP is good at stuff like that. When they don't have anything positive to say than they just make stuff up. For your information under Obama there are 273,000 fewer federal workers than Bush had. Know your facts before making statements like that. We finally have a President who is trying to do something positve for the economy and you try to put a negative spin on it. I believe people like you don't want the economy to get any better, this way you can point your finger at Obama. Who were you pointing at when Bush was president ???.

http://www.politicususa.com/en/big-government-obama-reagan

[twambly]

09:48 PM on 01/27/2012

obama should have got jobs for americans befor he started whith healh care...

[usamade]

09:42 AM on 01/10/2012

President Obama put tariffs on China. Of course we wouldn't hear about it in our so called "liberal" media.

[usamade]

09:40 AM on 01/10/2012

I wouldn't mind paying extra for things made in America. I'm sick of all these Chinese goods that I don't trust and don't last.

[JAT3]

10:02 AM on 01/10/2012

I agree if our product is made with pride and strive for better quality. I know its possible because I see in the auto industry of making cars more appealing. But what is with the banks not making loans? It back to the govt either trying to making it possible but of course the REP don't want the govt to have any role! This problem with the "free market" to the point that banks want all the leverage to call the shots. Meanwhile we're at their mercy...their rules, regs and rates! Sucks not to have options,huh?

[usamade]

10:31 AM on 01/10/2012

Well said.

[OldTulsan]

11:21 AM on 01/10/2012

Agreed.

If something goes wrong, like the tainted heparin from China that killed 81 Americans, it's much easier to sue in a U.S. court.

[Rudym]

08:56 AM on 01/10/2012

There Obama goes again. It is election time. Does anyone remember the promise he made when he campaigned last time about renegotiating all Nafta trade agreements and of which he has done squat about.

Now I read labes stating "assembled in Mexico" which means the Mexicans buy the parts from China and assemble and ship to the US so the 300 billlion trade balance with China does not grow and the Nafta agreements are even more friendly than the WTO agreements for exports to the US.

Buddy Roemer is the only candidate that says anything and the Republicans won't alllow him to debate in the primaries.

[OldTulsan]

11:22 AM on 01/10/2012

Those labels are on their way out, to be replaced by "Made in the World".

[Patriot86]

08:43 AM on 01/10/2012

Big issue and since Obama has enforced trade agreement which Bush never did...he has the right to speak on this issue...we should stop buying things made overseas...target certain companies ..the worst offenders and show them what would happen to them if we stop buying their craaaaaaaap...Apple is good place to start.

[Polite Libertarian]

03:53 AM on 01/10/2012

Lip sevice: behind the scenes he is bending over backwards for wall st. but liberals don't care.

[Patriot86]

08:44 AM on 01/10/2012

Not true...he has enforced trade agreements besides you libertarians believe in open borders.

[usamade]

09:41 AM on 01/10/2012

Are you behind the scenes?

[Polite Libertarian]

11:50 AM on 01/10/2012

nope, it is his record that reveals his activities

[realorpretend]

11:45 PM on 01/09/2012

It really comes down to… do you want the government to tax people and give you their money so you don't have to provide a way to attain it yourself… or… do you want to provide for yourself.

[Patriot86]

08:45 AM on 01/10/2012

If the jobs are stolen you can't provide for yourself and this ushers in socialism because if Americans can't provide for themselves they will demand it from the government and get it.

[realorpretend]

02:41 PM on 01/10/2012

How does one steal a job? You can only steal physical or intellectual property.

[lindaj3884]

09:16 PM on 01/09/2012

I am sure there is much groaning and gnashing of teeth on the Republican side. Not ON E Republican has talked about bringing jobs back to the United States or about stopping subsidies to companies that outsource jobs. We should give companies incentives to locate jobs here in the US. Sam Walton used to be the king of Made in Americ and advertise it on his trucks. I am sure he would be appalled at what his family has done to his legacy. Well done Mr. President! It's about time!

[dcol]

06:01 PM on 01/09/2012

I'm sure the GOP will twist this action into another political stunt and not back it. We all know the GOP stands for "Government Owned People"

[Eris23]

03:21 PM on 01/09/2012

More talk. Until this is something with a little more teeth than a simple request, it will be ignored, and President Obama is well aware of that. Hence, this is cynical theater in an attempt to get votes for doing nothing.

[skjn62]

01:14 AM on 01/10/2012

He is getting together with business leaders to try and come up with some workable solutions to get jobs back here. Just what do you want him to do? Wave that magic wand that doesn't exist??? You are the cynical one.

[Eris23]

10:26 AM on 01/10/2012

"Just what do you want him to do? "

Propose legislation. Whoda thunk? :P

[Karma2U]

03:05 PM on 01/09/2012

Make it happen Mr. President.

[mrhandyman3105]

02:07 PM on 01/09/2012

There should be a 5 year tax break for any company creating a job located in the U.S and its Territories with a pay scale of a "low-level" range; and a 5 year tax break & exempt status for any job created and permanently maintained in the U.S. and its Territories with the pay scale of a med-level range.

[JAT3]

10:10 AM on 01/10/2012

Good initial idea. But whats to keep them from jetting away after the 5yrs?

[Polpotski]

11:48 AM on 01/09/2012

That's the guy that just gave us a few more "free Trade" deals , isn't it? Save the dishonest babble about "in sourcing".

[Patriot86]

08:46 AM on 01/10/2012

There can be trade deals the trouble is Bush and other negotiated bad deals and then did not enforce the agreements...Obama has been enforcing them.

[JAT3]

10:14 AM on 01/10/2012

How can it dishonest and bad, if the deals creates jobs here? You just don't expect the us to be no longer be "globalized"? Many of our product would do good to be exported and sometimes in order to secure that deal, that country may want us to import something of theirs!