New Obama TV ad pushes Congress to pass jobs plan

(CBS News) President Obama's re-election campaign is out with a new television ad called "Jobs" that suggests that more Americans would be at work if Congress would stop blocking Mr. Obama's agenda.

The ad is airing in nine swing states - Colorado, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia - and will also be airing on national cable channels starting next week.

It opens with a shot of Mr. Obama speaking in Minnesota, where he says "We're still fighting our way back from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression."

"Our businesses have created almost 4.3 million new jobs over the last 27 months, but...we're still not creating them as fast as we want," he continues. The message: You may not be happy with the state of the economy, but the nation has made progress during my presidency.

A narrator then says that "The president's jobs plan would put teachers, firefighters, police officers and construction workers back to work. Right now."

The "jobs plan" being discussed is the American Jobs Act, which the White House (citing an independent economist) says would create 1.9 million jobs. Mr. Obama has been pushing the plan since last year, and Congress has acted on some of its proposals, including a payroll tax cut, but has elected not to act on many of them.

The White House is still seeking passage of measures to keep teachers and police from being laid off, employ construction workers by authorizing infrastructure repairs, and expand refinancing options for responsible homeowners, among other proposals.

In the ad, the narrator goes on to say that the "jobs plan" is "paid for by asking the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more."

"But Congress refuses to act," the narrator continues in what is the president's first ad directly criticizing the legislative branch. "Tell Congress we can't wait."

Update, 11:45 a.m.: The Romney camp's Amanda Henneberg responds: "President Obama has had three and a half years to keep his campaign promise to grow the economy and create jobs. Now, with record-level unemployment and job creation that even the president calls inadequate, it is clear his policies haven't worked."

In Nevada, Obama must overcome miserable economy

[LILYGARLOW]

If he was really serious about getting Congress to pass a bill--he would be in DC talking to them face to face----Just more election BS

[RCRawlings]

Don't try to put it off on the Congress Obama when you blew a billion on your failed stimulus package that you promised would create millions of shovel read jobs and jobs in the small businesses and Green Energy Cos.

It never happened
This is your tree Obama and you have to sit in it alone.
The blame game nevers ends with this shameless and spineless president.

[Inbred_TeaTarded]

Good luck getting the TTs in Congress to pass anything that makes the president look better. They would rather slit the throat of their own mothers than help the president get any credit.

[stormerF69]

Did we not have a stimulis bill that was suppose to create or save 4 million jobs already? Question is who is going to pay for all this free money Obama wants to spend? Why do I feel it will just add to our deficit for Obama to buy votes?

[Inbred_TeaTarded]

They should raise the taxes to where they were when out country was great. Send it back to the 75% top tax rate it was historically before Reagan and the Reps set aim at the destruction of middle class affluence to make way for a corporatist serfdom.

[Reaganer]

Sorry Barry, but you gave the money needed for these jobs to the big financial institutions, GM, and the unions. There is only so much that we "might" be able to pay back. If your concern is really these jobs, why don't you divert "cell phone" money and Planned Parenthood money to this cause? Which means more to you, the killing of innocent life or these police and teachers?

[Inbred_TeaTarded]

Yet, you support the death penalty for innocent people wrongly convicted, right? Which means more to Republicans, the killing of innocent life or trying to berate the President and demonize unions who've fought for decent working environments?

[sjc_1]

Gene Sperling, the chief White House economic adviser, said, "There is no question that had Congress acted on the president's proposals nine months ago to prevent teacher layoffs, put construction workers back to work and cut small-business taxes, our job situation today would be notably stronger and unemployment would be lower." Analyses by macroeconomic firms and nonpartisan financial analysts agreed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47661998/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/#.T9Dc_LDY8dV

[Reaganer]

Why not just borrow enough money from China to give everyone that is unemployed a check? Why stop at Police and Teachers? Maybe..just maybe..America could look at how we are spending the money that we are spending. How about some of those billions given to China, Russia, and Pakistan? What about government cell phones for the poor? Gas subsidies for the poor? Why not ask the gays and Hollywood elite to donate to the cause? 60 Million dollars might be a better spend if raised for teachers.

[jbl3770]

there is no doubt that passing Obama's "Jobs Bill" would decrease unemployemnt - no need to hire a financial guru to tell us that - the question is how do you pay for it??? he has yet to offer any solution other than borrowing more from China. we already have a debt level that will hamper the livlihood of my unborn grandchildren.