Laser-Like Focus: Obama‘s Jobs Council Hasn’t Met in Six Months

Hey, remember all those times we were told President Obama was focused like a laser (or something) on jobs? Yeah, we remember that too. Say, it must be awfully difficult to address the nation’s unemployment when, you know, your jobs council hasn’t met in six months.

Yes, you read that correctly: the president‘s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness hasn’t met since January 17.

“Coming off the worst quarter of job-creation in two years, and with the worst jobs record of any president in modern history, it’s clear President Obama has failed to live up to his promises,” said Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul.

“Yet President Obama is listening more to his campaign donors and special interest groups than to his own jobs council. That makes perfect sense for a president more concerned with re-election than getting the economy back on track,” she added.

With unemployment at 8.2 percent (and real unemployment much worse than that), some may think it rather odd that the president can find time to do back-to-back-to-back-to-back fundraisers and play his 100th round of golf but not find time to meet with this jobs panel.

Considering it's in the interest of american conservatism at the moment for the economy to do as poorly as possible to vindicate their selfish predictions, I'm not sure why they would want to criticize some jobs council not meeting.

your trolling lies and generalities aside, maybe it's because of something called 'principles' which is a concept that might be something foreign and alien to some...some people actually hold what is important for the nation and its prosperity and success over party affiliation and blind loyalty to someone in office because of the D or R after his name and/or the color of his skin.

eg many conservatives here and in the conservative media complained about Bush's spending, medicare part D prescription drug coverage that is going to cost us TRILLIONS (21 Trillion in unfunded liabilities [usdebtclock.org], let's not even go into Obamacare), nomination of his unqualified friend Harriet Miers to the Supreme court, just to name a few....however, you hardly ever hear of dems complaining about Obama...they defend him even when they disagree with him...again: principles, and the avoidance of celebrity-worship of politicians....read up on them.

Given the absolute glee with which the conservative press reports any semblance of economic negativity, as is mirrored in numerous threads here, my statement is wholly accurate.

I've seen many democrats defend Obama even they disagree with, though, and they generally justifying doing so because the alternative embodies the kind of behavior just described. I can't necessarily disagree with this justification.

Jay Carney is known to give some quote-worthy comments while standing behind the podium in the White House briefing room. And his performance yesterday might be the best this summer. What am I talking about? Well, after being asked about why the president hasn’t met with his jobs council for six months, Carney justified it by saying Obama’s just been too busy.

Shit goes both ways.
Partisans in the other side behave the same way when the other party is in power.

So let's discuss the issue at hand, why hasn't this "council" met lately?
And why isn't Obama giving this most pressing issue, more of his attention?

First, why does the failure of this particular counsel to meet constitute a failure by obama to focus on jobs?

Second, does a failure to meet mean the counsel isn't working? IMO, meetings rarely get much accomplished. The real work is done outside of the meetings. Wouldn't the better inquiry be whether the counsel is doing other work?

I know this makes great political fodder, but if you're pissed about this, why don't you also get pissed at Congress for doing nothing? Hell, the republican jobs bill didn't have ONE idea that Obama supported (even those ideas that Obama agreed with that came from republicans? And then they waste time trying for the 33rd time to repeal the ACA. Let's be honest here--nothing is getting done in congress except a bunch of politicians playing political games.

The White House's answer as to why? : "Obama's too busy" [theblaze.com].... too busy for his number 1 concern? (as he incredulously claims)

"too busy attending back to back fundraisers, golf games, and planning his next family vacation", is maybe what Carney meant .

Come on man, I'm pissed at all those farks on the Hill.
I think every single one of them should be thrown our on their asses.
R's and D's alike.
They aren't serving our country, most are serving their own self interests.
Fire them all and strip them of benifits.

I'm going to invoke the George W. Bush card.

George W. Bush took more vacations and time off from the White House than any president in the history.

Therefore, Obama is still far ahead in terms of getting work done.