The Obama Agenda: “Pro-Business…Pro-Growth…Pro-Job”
President Obama makes another effort to pivot to jobs and the economy in his weekly radio address, telling Americans on Saturday that “the economy is growing again” but an unemployment rate still hovering near 10 percent is “unacceptable.”
The president’ repeated his reframed message on jobs and the need for bipartisan cooperation in Congress, saying ” too many Americans still can’t find work” while touting new “pro-job” proposals that target small businesses and seek to boost new hiring. These include his recent call for using $30 billion of repaid TARP money to increase lending by smaller banks. “Government can’t create these businesses,” the president says in a bid to defend his proposals from Republican critics claiming they are “big government” spending.
Even though our economy is growing again, these are still tough times for America. Too many businesses are still shuttered. Too many families can’t make ends meet. And while yesterday, we learned that the unemployment rate has dropped below ten percent for the first time since summer, it is still unacceptably high – and too many Americans still can’t find work.
But what we must remember at a time like this is that we are not helpless in the face of our difficulties. As Americans, we make our own destiny. We forge our own path. And I am confident that if we come together and put aside the politics that keeps holding us back, we can do that again. We can rebuild this economy on a new, stronger foundation that leads to more jobs and greater prosperity.
I believe a key part of that foundation is America’s small businesses – the places where most new jobs begin.
These companies represent the essence of the American spirit – the promise that anyone can succeed in this country if you have a good idea and the determination to see it through. And every once in awhile, these ideas don’t just lead to a new business and new jobs, but a new American product that forever changes the world. After all, Hewlett Packard began in a garage. Google began as a simple research project.
Government can’t create these businesses, but it can give entrepreneurs the support they need to open their doors, expand, or hire more workers.
Obama also urged Congress to move beyond partisanship, telling lawmakers ” do not oppose good ideas just because it’s good politics to do so.” The president insisted that his proposals “are not Democratic or Republican; liberal or conservative. They are pro-business, they are pro-growth, and they are pro-job. ”
Next week, Congress will start debating many of these proposals. And if anyone has additional ideas to support small businesses and create jobs, I’m happy to consider them. My door is always open. But I urge members of both parties: do not oppose good ideas just because it’s good politics to do so. The proposals I’ve outlined are not Democratic or Republican; liberal or conservative. They are pro-business, they are pro-growth, and they are pro-job. Leaders in both parties have supported similar ideas in the past. So let’s come together and pass these measures without delay. Let’s put more Americans back to work, and let’s give our small business owners the support to do what they’ve always done: the freedom to pursue their dreams and build our country’s future.
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He is reading! This guy is funny!!