Job growth alters political playbook for Obama and his critics

[TomCADem]

Source: NY Times

LANDOVER, Md. — President Obama has not had a lot of good news in a term defined by assorted crises. But on Friday he reported the “good news” about job growth in March to an appreciative audience at a United Parcel Service shipping facility here — and did so with a bit more of a celebratory air, and less caution, than in the past.

After 12 months of up-and-down job creation, the significant increase in March suggested that maybe, just maybe, the economy was gaining enough strength to grow and bring unemployment down substantially this year.

And as the unemployment rate ticked down, the hopes of Mr. Obama and his party ticked up: perhaps by the approaching election year they could claim vindication for the stimulus policies Democrats have enacted, or at least dodge the sort of blame that Republicans so effectively stuck them with last November in the midterm elections.

At the same time it has given Democrats new ammunition to argue that Republican efforts to cut spending could hurt the recovery just as it is gaining traction, and that forcing a government shutdown could put more people out of work.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42388296/ns/business-us_business/

---

I think Republicans are going to try to turn 2012 into a referendum on workers rights and argue that weakening unions is the key to continued economic prosperity. They have had success in Wisconson, Ohio and Florida, and are already planning on targetting the National Labor Relations Act. Frankly, despite Republican rhetoric, state and local governments have been trimming payrolls, but the corporate media will conveniently ignore this fact in pushing the BIG GOVERNMENT narrative.

[iwishiwas]

1. Service sector jobs no doubt!

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. You just know the GOP is hoping for job losses to continue

[Newest Reality]

3. I am

puzzled. Just how double-plus good is a little less bad than worse?

[spedtr90]

4. Do Democrats know how to use ammunition?

They seem afraid to even touch it.....

[SkyDaddy7]

7. Democrats remind me of the Libyan Rebels!! LOL! nt.

[ixion]

5. Job growth my arse

There has been no job growth, in reality.

[appleannie1]

6. Spoke to a friend in Michigan. The radiation leak in Japan is keeping auto industry from getting

parts. He said the Coast Guard is meeting the ships before they come into port and going over them with geiger counters. If any radiation is found, they have to turn around and return to Japan with the cargo. So he is afraid all the gains that have been made in the last year will go down the toilet.

[MJJP21]

8. BS

What job growth? Who is hiring? The numbers represent less than 1/6 of the US economy. How much of these numbers are devoted to continuing the two (three) wars we are engaged in?
John Williams of Shadow stats states the real unemployement is around 22%.

[cstanleytech]

9. Actually so far the success they (the republicans) have had

has been limited to getting the votes to pass the laws because they control those states, it doesnt mean though that the majority of voters will in the end approve of them doing it when it comes time for the next major elections.