Romney, GOP downplay positive jobs report

For most of his presidency, the unemployment rate hung like a millstone around President Obama's neck. But today's jobs figures, showing that unemployment last month fell below 8 percent for the first time in 43 months, marked a symbolic breakthrough. Nevertheless, the Republican Party today stressed that a 7.8 percent unemployment rate is hardly something to brag about.

"This is not what a real recovery looks like," Mitt Romney said in a statement.

The Labor Department said Friday that employers added 114,000 jobs in September. The economy also created 86,000 more jobs in July and August than first estimated. Still, the Republican candidate noted that there were fewer jobs created in September than in August, and fewer jobs in August than in July. And while manufacturing jobs have been on the rise since the spring of 2010, Romney noted that overall, "we've lost over 600,000 manufacturing jobs since President Obama took office."

"The choice in this election is clear. Under President Obama, we'll get another four years like the last four years," he said. "If I'm elected, we will have a real recovery with pro-growth policies that will create 12 million new jobs and rising incomes for everyone."

Mr. Obama today at a campaign stop in Virginia acknowledged that "every month reminds us we've still got too many of our friends and neighbors who are looking for work." At the same time, he said, "Today's news is certainly not an excuse to try to talk down the economy to score a few political points."

"This is a reminder this country has come too far to turn back now," he said. "I have seen too much pain... to let this country get hit with another round of top-down economics."

Romney and other Republicans have repeatedly stressed the number of months that unemployment remained above 8 percent. Most recently, Romney said in his closing remarks during Wednesday's presidential debate, "There's no question in my mind that if the president were to be reelected you'll continue to see a middle-class squeeze with incomes going down and prices going up... We've had 43 straight months with unemployment above 8 percent. If I'm president I will create -- help create 12 million new jobs in this country with rising incomes."

This latest jobs report blunts that rhetorical strike. Still, as Republicans made clear today, there are plenty of other depressing economic statistics they can employ to demonstrate the president's shortcomings.

"After four years of spending, taxing, and red tape, millions of Americans remain jobless, underemployed, or have simply given up looking for work," House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement. "Wages are stagnant. Gas prices and health care costs are up. And economic growth is even lower today than in 2010 when the president said the 'fiscal cliff' tax hikes he now demands would mean 'smaller paychecks' and 'fewer jobs.'"

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor called the unemployment report "encouraging news," but like Romney said, "it simply isn't good enough. 7.8 percent unemployment should not be cause for celebration. Millions have given up looking for a job, and left the workforce. The workforce participation rate hasn't been this low since Jimmy Carter was President. America needs a new direction."

The White House reacted to the jobs report with measured optimism, acknowledging that the economic environment is far from ideal.

"While there is more work that remains to be done, today's employment report provides further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to heal from the wounds inflicted by the worst downturn since the Great Depression," Alan Krueger, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, wrote in a White House blog post. "It is critical that we continue the policies that are building an economy that works for the middle class as we dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007."

White House senior adviser David Plouffe said on MSNBC, "We continue to recover from a horrible recession."

[b8tovene]

A good friend of mine is the manager of a large, fast food franchise. He was handed marching orders a few weeks ago mandating that he reduces all full time employees to part time, and cannot - I repeat CANNOT hire any full time employees until further notice. The owner of this franchise informed him this was being done to counter the mandates by ObamaCare relative to mandatory health care coverage by employers of x numbers of full time employees - just make them all part time!!! This is not covered by the media but certainly helps explain the jobs report. Its the first thing I thought of when I heard about the drop in unemployment in September.

[walkthetalk]

I'm one of the lucky people,i have a job and it's a full time job, just looking for work.

[lami987]

Republicans always deny anything good happens in the country. Just like Romney denies $5 trillion tax cuts that he has been talking for months. The only thing he admits during the debate was he wont cut any taxes on the wealthy. Every thing else was denials and theories. They are good at chastizing our government but they turn around and spend millions trying to get into our government. Reagan said government is the problem not the solution and indeed our government became a big problem after he became the president. His tax cuts more than quadrupled our national debt in just 12 years. Our debt before him accumulated over a period of more than one century was $900 billion but after him and Bush Sr. it ballooned to $4.2 trillion.

[ccoslow]

The Republican party has come to a new low....

[ongelooflijk-2009]

No doubt, Romney was the best performer in Wednesday's debate----emphasis on 'performer'; focusing primarily on generalities and dancing upon the periphery of a majority of the issues.
Although there was little if any substance in anything he said------he sure did sound good!
Could have sold a glass of saltwater to a sailor marooned at sea, which is analogous to his and Ryan's prescription for a floundering economy and struggling middle class!
I hope those watching and listening realize this and know that looking and sounding good doesn't necessarily make for the best policy!
I'm not looking for a president who is the best debater but one who is honest, deliberate, thoughtful and decisive and who wants what's best for 'all Americans'. These are qualities that Obama has and Romney doesn't!
Romney's a first-class chameleon, as evidenced by his now saying he was completely wrong about the 47% and for numerous other statements in the past!
As for the 47%, did he mean he was wrong to have said it or wrong about what he said? I guess we'll never know!

[ccoslow]

I couldn't be a member of the Republican party b/c they have shown me that it is a party made of lies. It is also so disrespectful to our current president. I am not affiliated with either party but will be voting Obama.
I think they are taking this to far now saying the president has skewed the unemployment numbers. They also said the media was skewed too! They also said that the polls are skewed too.(Even their own fox news poll) Is skewed any poll that has Obama up can't be right...
I think it is time that the republican party suck it up and get busy with moving forward! Congress is so lazy! I have never seen a lazier congress in my 40 years of life! The sad thing is that they only want to support republican bills. Why can't they vote on a bill that would benefit me the 47%? Why can't they vote on a jobs bill that our president has put forth? Ill tell you why.....Anything that helps Obama (even if it helps America) they won't address why? B/c they don't want to see America do well? This reminds me of my children bickering! I can't be apart of such a disgusting, inmature party! Go Vote!

[ongelooflijk-2009]

No doubt, Romney was the best performer in Wednesdays debate----emphasis on 'performer'; focusing primarily on generalities and dancing upon the periphery of a majority of the issues.

Although there was little if any substance in anything he said------he sure did sound good! Could have sold a glass of saltwater to a sailor marooned at sea, which is analogous to his and Ryan's prescription for a floundering economy and struggling middle class!

I hope those watching and listening realize this and know that looking and sounding good doesn't necessarily make for the best policy!

I'm not looking for a president who is the best debater but one who is honest, deliberate, thoughtful and decisive and who wants what's best for 'all Americans'. These are qualities that Obama has and Romney doesn't!

Romney's a first-class chameleon, as evidenced by his now saying he was completely wrong about the 47% and for numerous other statements in the past!

As for the 47%, did he mean he was wrong to have said it or wrong about what he said? I guess we'll never know!

[1988JAck]

The only numbers I know that are suspect are the ones on Romney's taxes.

[ugacrew]

Jack_25,

The other wealthy Americans, Republicans or Democrats, are NOT running President! So yes, Romney's tax returns ARE suspect and RIGHTFULLY so!

[walkthetalk]

President Obama has been a great SuxExcess!

[ConcernedCitizen2012]

CNN Post-Debate Poll: The economy dominated the first debate and according to the CNN poll, and by a 55%-43% margin, debate watchers said that Romney rather than Obama would better handle the economy. On the issue of taxes, which kicked off the debate, Romney had a 53%-44% edge over Obama. And by a 52%-47% margin, debate watchers said Romney would better handle health care, and he had the edge on the budget deficit by a 57%-41% margin.

[Think3Times]

If GOD has some direct input on any subject, I'm willing to listen, but you don't speak for GOD, and neither does anybody else, so please keep GOD out of the discussion.

[ConcernedCitizen2012]

Since B.O.'s paster screamed G.D. America for 20-years, with B.O. sitting there nodding his head, I doubt you want to raise the topic of religion. If you were to do so, most would say his religious beliefs disqualify B.O. from being President of the country he curses.