U.S. President Barack Obama doesn’t “get” the unemployment crisis that has a record 15.1 million Americans currently out of work. Nor does he seem to be spending much time worrying about it, either.
That’s according to a scorching critique of Obama’s performance on economic issues – from the left – by columnist Bob Herbert.
From Hebert’s most recent column in the New York Times:
The Obama administration seems hamstrung by the unemployment crisis. No big ideas have emerged. No dramatically creative initiatives. While devoting enormous amounts of energy to health care, and trying now to decide what to do about Afghanistan, the president has not even conveyed the sense of urgency that the crisis in employment warrants.
If that does not change, these staggering levels of joblessness have the potential to cripple not just the well-being of millions of American families, but any real prospects for sustained economic recovery and the political prospects of the president as well. An unemployed electorate is an unhappy electorate.
Damn! This guy must be a racist, right?
Oh wait … never mind.
Also, it’s important to note that Herbert’s “rage” against Obama is due to the fact that the President has yet to endorse another “stimulus” package for our “economy.”
You know, because the first two “stimuli” (which went to banks and government bureaucracies) have done such a bang-up job and all …
By stimulus guy October 6, 2009 at 3:37 pm
This article has the logic of the underpants gnomes. It implies that Obama has overlooked job creation but wasn’t the whole stimulus plan designed to improve the economy, an effect of which would be creating jobs? You can certainly argue that the stimulus plan didn’t work but I’m not sure you can argue that it didn’t take place. Am I missing something? Doesn’t this article essentially say that Obama hasn’t even thought about creating jobs. I’m confused.
By Red October 6, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Washington can’t even balance a budget . Why in the hell should we have any illusions about their ability to create private sector jobs. Sure they can keep unemployment low by sending our youngsters off to fight wars or by growing government and creating jobs in the public sector.
It is painfully obvious the billions they have already blown have done nothing to help the middle class.
I see now where China and the Arabs are going to start trading oil in non-dollar currencies.At the rate Washington is printing money, I can’t blame them.
By Hmmmmm October 6, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I wonder if Mr. President remembers the phrase “its the economy stupid?”
By rebel October 6, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Bob Herbert, champion of the downtrodden, suggesting that Obama move his ass and do something? “No dramatically creative initiatives.” How about cut taxes? Duh.
It seems we’re just going to stand around and let everything go to hell. I can’t believe it.
By stimulus guy October 7, 2009 at 11:05 am
I wonder if there is a way to cut taxes with the string attached that says you have to use the money saved to create a job?