Obama to turn focus to economy

With the unemployment rate increasing to 9.6 percent for the month of August, White House officials said President Obama would turn his focus to “all economy all the time.”

For Democrats looking to retain their majority in the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate as well this could not have come at a better time as campaign season really gets underway. Unfortunately, it might be a little too late to change voter opinion and give Democrats a better chance come November.

Some might argue instead of pushing through big legislation such as health care and Wall Street reforms, the Democrats and President Obama should have done nothing except focus on jobs, jobs and more jobs. It is true spending months attempting to pass these measures took away from focusing on the economy – despite the notion that fixing these systems also fixes the economy in the long run.

Others also could argue though that there was only so much that could be done. Not every single day could have Congress working on the economy because measures already implemented needed time to work.

There is no quick fix to the economy. Republicans claim the president has not been doing enough and the measures they would pass – although fairly limited in specifics on what they would be – would help, but fixing the economy is going to take time no matter what policies by which party are implemented.

Obama will kick off his “economic-filled week” on Labor Day when he speaks at an AFL-CIO sponsored picnic in Milwaukee. On Wednesday he will travel to Ohio to comment on the economy and on Friday he will hold a press conference. The president is expected to give specific proposals on additional measures to help stimulate the economy including further tax breaks and a possible payroll tax holiday for businesses, which economists have said could provide an immediate economic stimulus.

A CNN/Opinion Research survey showed the public disapproves of Obama’s handling of the economy 59 percent to 40 percent. His approval rating on the economy has steadily declined since last September as the unemployment rate remains high and signs economic growth is drastically slowing.

The American people should realize there is only so much either party can do to stimulate the economy and it is ultimately up to corporations and businesses to start hiring again. There is no reason why businesses and banks are reporting millions of dollars in profits and CEOs are getting millions in extra bonuses at the expense of the American taxpayer. If the businesses are making millions in profits surely they can hire a few more people. Heaven for bid they only make $2 million in profit and hire thousands of workers instead of making $3 million in profit and keep thousands laid off.

For anybody who seriously does not think the economy is getting better, look at the numbers. When Obama became president this country was losing 700,000 jobs a month and had a negative gross domestic product growth. Now, about 20 months later this country added 67,000 private sector jobs and lost 54,000 jobs overall in August while having a 1.6 percent GDP growth in the second quarter. Of course, those numbers are still awful, there is no denying that, but they are much better than they were.

“The key point I’m making right now is the economy is moving in a positive direction, it’s just not moving as quickly as we’d like it,” Obama said after the monthly jobs report was released.

While it is nice Obama is turning his focus to the economy again, he never should have stopped focusing on it. Now, nobody should honestly think the President of the United States has not had the economy in his mind everyday and has not had meetings with his advisers virtually everyday. The problem for the president is he has given the appearance of that being the case and that has not played well with the American people and their confidence in the Democratic Party and it could cost his party dearly on Election Day.

Obviously Obama cannot ignore other issues facing our country but he also has to realize nobody really cares about those other problems right now. All the American people care about is the economy and if they will be employed when they wake up the next day or if they will be lucky enough to find work after months if not years of being out of a job.

So, Mr. President, for your sake, for the Democrats’ sake and for the sake of this country now that you are putting the economy front and center again please, please, please keep it there.

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