Obama Announces Jobs Summit

Obama Announces Jobs Summit
By JEFF ZELENY
Copyright by The New York Times
November 12, 2009, 10:00 AM
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/obama-to-announce-jobs-summit/?hpw


Updated President Obama announced on Thursday that he will convene a jobs summit at the White House next month, saying “the economic growth that we’ve seen has not yet led to the job growth that we desperately need.”

“Millions of Americans, our friends, our neighbors, our family members are desperately searching for jobs,” Mr. Obama said. “This is one of the great challenges that remains in our economy, a challenge that my administration is absolutely determined to meet.”

Mr. Obama made his remarks in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House, shortly before leaving Washington for a weeklong trip to Asia. He spoke after a report was released Thursday showing that fewer people had submitted applications last week for unemployment benefits than in recent weeks.

“Hiring often takes time to catch up to economic growth,” Mr. Obama said. “Given the magnitude of the economic turmoil we’ve experienced, employers are reluctant to hire.”

With health care and Afghanistan dominating the debate in Washington, many Democrats have grown concerned that the administration has not focused extensively enough on the economy and the unemployment rate that has inched up to 10.2 percent.

The jobs forum in December will include business leaders, small business owners, labor union leaders and others. It marks a pivot for Democrats as they head into next year’s midterm elections, where the party’s control of Congress is at stake.

While Mr. Obama is not on the ballot next year, his economic policies will be, as Democratic members of Congress and governors face an angry and worried electorate. Party strategists have been urging the White House to take more steps to respond to the economic concerns. Or, at least, show that the administration is focused on jobs.

“We all know there are limits to what government can and should do, even during such difficult times,” Mr. Obama said, “but we have an obligation to consider every additional and responsible step that we can to encourage and accelerate job creation in this country.”

The renewed attention on jobs at the White House comes amid repeated waves of bleak economic news. The Labor Department issued a jobs report last week that showed one out of every six workers – 17.5 percent – were unemployed or underemployed in October. The previous high was 17.1 percent, in December 1982.

The outcomes of governors’ races in New Jersey and Virginia last week, along with other contests, raised alarm for Democrats as voters voiced deep concern about the economy.

“Voters are concerned about the economy,” Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said last week. “I don’t think the president needed an election or an exit poll to come to that conclusion.”