Romney: Jobs report a 'kick in the gut'

(CBS News) WOLFEBORO, N.H. -- Mitt Romney called the June jobs report released on Friday "a kick in the gut to middle-class families," as he said the continuing high unemployment numbers demonstrate that President Obama's policies have failed to create jobs and stimulate the manufacturing sector.

"There is a lot of misery in America today, and these numbers understate what people are feeling and the amount of pain which is occurring in middle-class America," said Romney, who interrupted his weeklong New Hampshire family vacation to speak with reporters. "Not only is the 8.2 percent number unacceptably high, and one that has been in place now for over 41 months, but in addition, if you look at the broader analysis of people who are out of work, or have dropped out of the workforce or that are underemployed in part-time jobs, needing full time work, it's almost 15 percent of the American public."

Noting that recent reports show manufacturing growth has stagnated just as Obama embarked on a bus tour through the middle of the country, Romney asked, "How do you go across Pennsylvania and Ohio and not talk about being serious about creating jobs through manufacturing policies that make America more attractive for investment and growth?"

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks about job numbers, Friday, July 6, 2012, at Bradley's Hardware in Wolfeboro, N.H.

/ AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

He said his own policies to increase energy production, expand trade in areas such as Latin America, crack down on China and reform the tax code will improve the economy.

"It doesn't have to be this way. America can do better and this kick in the gut has got to end," he said.

The president frequently cites outside factors to explain the stubbornly high unemployment rate. During his tenure as Massachusetts governor, Romney used a similar phrase in 2006 when he was explaining a disappointing jobs report, according to a video being circulated by Democratic super PAC American Bridge 21st Century.

Asked about the statement during his press conference on Friday, Romney said, "In any jobs figures, there are going to be factors that come and go that you can't control." But he said that Obama's policies had failed for too long for the jobs report to be a a mere monthly or even yearly statistic.

Romney also sought to reassert his opposition to the president's health care law after he contradicted his senior adviser in a recent CBS News interview about whether the mandate qualifies as a penalty or a tax.

"I've spoken about health care from the day we passed it in Massachusetts, and people said is this something that you'd apply at the federal level and I said no," Romney said in response to a question about whether he was abandoning the support of an individual mandate in the law he passed in Massachusetts. "I said the right course for the federal government is to allow states to create their own plans, and by the way, the proof is that I was right. Because Obamacare is costing jobs in America. When three-quarters of small businesses say that they're less likely to hire people because of Obamacare -- you know the president has put his liberal agenda, Obamacare, ahead of the interest of creating jobs," he said.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus called the jobs report "devastating news," saying the hallmark of the economy under the Obama administration was "chronically high unemployment."

[lg144]

by CaptainSmollett July 7, 2012 2:24 PM EDT
Oh, give me a break. Typical liberal thinking. The Federal governmant can't create permanent jobs by borrowing and spending on temporary infrastructure projects. Permanent jobs have to come from the private sector, and that won't happen as long as we have an administration that is anti-capitalist, unfriendly to business, and creates an environment of uncertainty. So stop rationalizing excuses for Obama's FAILURE.
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But government can create jobs by borrowing money from China to give tax cuts for corporations, big oil and the super rich? Corporations, big oil and the super rich have more money than ever yet they are not spending it to hire. So what is the rationale for continuing them? Oh wait, if we don't they won't create jobs or hire. Typical con job propaganda spewed by republicans and their supporters. Isn't it time to end tax breaks that aren't working for America? Nah..because republicans know corporations, big oil and the super rich can give that same money to them as donations to use against anyone and any legislation that favors average Americans over corporations, big oil and the super rich. The 2012 elections will show if struggling Americans are still falling for the republican con job.

[audemus]

So many "experts", self-proclaimed and otherwise, believe this election will be decided based upon what's going on in the economy come November. It's no secret that big-business, and the corporate greed people are firmly entrenched in the Romney camp. What's to prevent a large conspiracy that would slow if not stop any meaningful hiring increases and industry expansion for a few months until the election is over, thereby throwing the election Romney's way ? At the very least, I'm fairly certain if those on the right have that sort of power and influence, they most assuredly will exercise it.

[bbglow]

No kidding ...!

Wondering why the American job market isn't improving faster ... can you say "emphasis abroad" ...

Shaghai, China:
GM's first Chinese Automotive Research and Development (R&D) facility, otherwise known as GM China's Advanced Technical Center. The facility sits on a 16.3 acre campus and work performed there will focus on advanced design, vehicle engineering, advanced powertrain development, urban mobility and manufacturing processes, and testing. Upon completion, the nearly 355,000 SF Advanced Training Center will consist of 62 testing labs and 9 research labs.

GM is anticipating completion of Phase 2 construction to be in the second half of 2012.

There are many more examples not covered by our media. Does anyone know exactly to what extent corporate America has abandoned the American worker?

Does this represent how the tax cuts for the wealthy are being invested? We have all heard that corporate profits are at an all time high. Why does this not reflect in improvement in the US economy? Can you say emphasis abroad ...?

[CaptainSmollett]

No, the reason jobs are going abroad is because this administration has created an anti-capitalist environment that is unfriendly to business, and has created so much uncertainty that business do not dare to invest. Other countries are more business friendly - labor is cheaper and taxes are lower. In a competitive world economy, this administration is preventing us from being able to compete.

[soap-suds]

Their last attempt at the standard great Republican economic plans gave us a recession; want that again?

[CaptainSmollett]

...and Obama's ideology and policies have kept us stuck in it.

[w_roos]

If Romney really cared, he'd publicly tell his obstructionist allies on Congress to get off their keisters and work with the president to pass some jobs legislation.

[CaptainSmollett]

Oh, give me a break. Typical liberal thinking. The Federal governmant can't create permanent jobs by borrowing and spending on temporary infrastructure projects. Permanent jobs have to come from the private sector, and that won't happen as long as we have an administration that is anti-capitalist, unfriendly to business, and creates an environment of uncertainty. So stop rationalizing excuses for Obama's FAILURE.

[lg144]

by CaptainSmollett July 7, 2012 2:24 PM EDT
Oh, give me a break. Typical liberal thinking. The Federal governmant can't create permanent jobs by borrowing and spending on temporary infrastructure projects. Permanent jobs have to come from the private sector, and that won't happen as long as we have an administration that is anti-capitalist, unfriendly to business, and creates an environment of uncertainty. So stop rationalizing excuses for Obama's FAILURE.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

But government can create jobs by borrowing money from China to give tax cuts for corporations, big oil and the super rich? Corporations, big oil and the super rich have more money than ever yet they are not spending it to hire. So what is the rationale for continuing them? Oh wait, if we don't they won't create jobs. Typical con job propaganda spewed by republicans and their supporters. Isn't it time to end tax breaks that aren't working for America? Nah..because republicans know corporations, big oil and the super rich can give that same money to them as donations to use to against anyone and any legislation that favors average Americans over corporations, big oil and the super rich.

[royalstar05]

I'd like to kick him in the gut. Romneys a loser, a gutless wonder.

[esq777]

Willard "mitt" Romney is familiar with kicks in the gut. That's what he gave all of the American workers he fired and outsourced when he destroyed their companies and took their money to his sleazy offshore tax shelters. "Believe in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Switzerland."

[KPeters_from_UK]

by mentalist65 July 6, 2012 10:29 PM EDT
Not enough trickle down.




by theshark82 July 6, 2012 10:30 PM EDT
oh my god!! are you seriously still waiting on that? wow!! time to move on in life buddy
---------------------------------------------


Shark,
The GOP promised that Trickle Down Economics would work. They still defend that idea. So there is it? ...Wait...are you implying that it has worked and won't work therefore we need to move on? Ah,,,you admit that the GOP's treasure economic ideal of Trickled Down Economic was a failure.

[KPeters_from_UK]

I have gone through most of your posts and you sound like an bitter archaist with no insightful suggestions. Rather you insult those you disagree with whether they be Republican or Democrat. You have never offered any of your own ideas supported by reasons. Nothing you have written is worthy for me to ponder, to contemplate. Instead you rely on a hit and run strategy of posting; a very juvenile approach to debating.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Shark,
I believe that's the problem with the GOP. They don't particularly like Romney but they have so much hatred for Obama that they are willing to thwart anything idea, action or bill that Obama puts forth in order to ensure his failure. It is though the GOP is so damn willing to harm the future of millions of Americans in order to defeat one man. Sick.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Leading respected economist, Anna Schwartz (died on June 21, 2012)who was idolized by Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, said that to fix the current economic slump, she advocated Keynes' remedy of INCREASED government expenditure. "People are saving, not spending," she said. "In order to revive this economy the government WILL HAVE TO RESUME SPENDING. By spending, the government will require that the current inventory will be depleted and have to be replenished. And that will bring on additional jobs."

Will Romney follow his party's saviour, Reagan and follow Schwartz's advice?