The economic recovery may not be moving as fast as some had expected, but despite a slowdown in gains, President Obama has no plans to respond by adding more road trips or ramping up his public message, according to a senior administration official. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
The economic recovery may not be moving as fast as some had expected, but despite a slowdown in gains, President Obama has no plans to respond by adding more road trips or ramping up his public message, according to a senior administration official.
“What he says isn’t going to change,” stressed the official.
The President and top aides have cautioned against an overreaction to the latest jobs numbers which showed only 54,000 jobs created last month, instead of an expected 150,000.
“Recovery doesn’t happen overnight,” said the official, who added that one disappointing report doesn’t indicate a trend.
Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki said the economy is in a much better place than it was when the President first took office, but acknowledged that there is much more work to be done.
“He knows that it [economy] was the top issue on the minds of the American people one month ago when the jobs numbers exceeded expectations,” said Psaki, “and it will be six months from now.”
Psaki said the admnistration’s strategy of investing in education, clean energy and research and development needs time to pay off.
“He will continue to travel the country to discuss his policies and the steps he is taking to put people back to work.”
White House aides say that skeptics should take a look at the auto industry as a “good example” of the long and difficult process that can yield good results.
The auto bailouts in 2009 were controversial and unpopular with some Americans who didn’t appreciate their tax dollars being spent to keep private companies afloat.
But on his visit to a Chrysler plant in Toledo, Ohio last week President Obama touted his administrations efforts as a big win for the auto industry the economy and Americans.
“I want you to remember the improbable turnaround that’s taken place here at Chrysler,” the president said.
With the 2012 campaign season already underway there’s mounting pressure to deliver a stronger economy much sooner. Polls show most Americans aren’t happy with the president’s handling of the economy.
