62,000 Jobs Lost in June, Jobless Rate 5.5%; Obama and McCain React
The Labor Department reported this morning the economy shed 62,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent. A total of 8.5 million Americans are now jobless and last week 16,000 Americans filed applications for first-time jobless benefits. The number of those recently laid off and now seeking new benefits was 404,000 in June, the highest total since March.
John McCain’s campaign released this statement at 9:05 a.m. EDT:
“Americans across this country are hurting and today’s job numbers are just the latest indication. From rising gas prices to home foreclosures, families are struggling to meet economic challenges that become greater every day. Washington can no longer abdicate its responsibility to act. Our focus must be clear: enact policies to create jobs today.
“To get our economy back on track, we must enact a jobs-first economic plan that supports job creation, provide immediate tax relief for families, enact a plan to help those facing foreclosure, lower health care costs, invest in innovation, move toward strategic energy independence and open more foreign markets to our goods.
“The American people cannot afford an economic agenda that will take our country in the wrong direction and cost jobs. At a time when our small businesses need support from Washington, we cannot raise taxes, increase regulation and isolate ourselves from foreign markets. These are the same old siren songs that have failed the American people time and time again.”
Barack Obama released this statement at 9:18 a.m. EDT
“As we head into the 4th of July weekend, today’s report that our economy has lost another 62,000 jobs is a stark reminder that far too many Americans will spend this holiday out of work and struggling to provide for their families because of the failed policies of the last eight years.
Our economy has now shed 438,000 jobs over the past six months, while workers’ wages fail to keep pace with the skyrocketing cost of gas, groceries and healthcare. The American people are paying the price for the failed economic policies of the past eight years, and we can’t afford four more years of more of the same. That is the essential issue of this campaign because Senator McCain has fully embraced the Bush economic agenda. I believe it has to change.
But, as these numbers demonstrate, the American people can’t wait another six months. We need action now.
That’s why I’m calling on Congress and the President to enact real, immediate relief with energy rebates for working families this summer, a fund to help families avoid foreclosure, extended benefits for the long-term jobless, and assistance to states that have been hard-hit by the economic downturn.
As President, I’ll move us in a new direction with policies to restore broad-based, bottom up growth that benefits all Americans. I will provide working families with a middle-class tax cut; fight for affordable health care and college tuition; work to help raise workers’ wages, and invest in infrastructure, education and a clean energy future to create millions of new jobs. That’s the change the American people need.”
7 years of Bush and the Rethuglicans in control of government.
I agree with everything the McCain statement said. Even Obama’s statement was similar when you overlook the Bush bashing.
But, neither one of them proposed any concrete solution to actually fix anything. “…calling on Congress and the President” is not concrete. “…enact a job-first economic plan..” is not concrete either. They are both telling people what they want to here, but which one has real answers?
2 years of congress who have done what ? Oh, thats right, they’ve done nothing to help this country out either even though they have had a chance.
And what will raising taxes now do. I certainly want everybody to keep all their money and use it to spend on the economy.
We also need to look into being energy independent. Nobody will stop flying, driving long distances etc., so we need to start using our on Oil as a start to lowering prices.
[...] many suppliers shut down the last week of June. I am not trying to imply that automotive accounts for all of this, but it does account for at least half. These shutdowns are semi-annual, December and July, therefore, it is not uncommon to see spikes [...]
Louise,
The current congress has its hands tied by Bush vetoes. The failure of the last 2 years, and the previous few years are all on Bush. Each and every act passed by Congress for the past 2 years has come with Bush’s approval.
He has vetoed everything that he didn’t like. So, if the last 2 years have been a failure it is because Bush did it willfully and purposely. Or, he approved and signed stuff in complete ignorance of reality.
Why is it a Democrate cannot answer a question? All they can do is slam someone else for what they have said or done, never an answer to an issue, because they don’t have answers.
Rudy NYC – not all true. Congress have a lot to be accountable for, which is why they have a very small approval rating.
mccain is too focused on creating jobs in south america. maybe he can whip out his amex that he spent $750,000 on last month and buy us some jobs.
mccain made a propaganda video for the north vietnamese. just like jane fonda.
Rudy NYC- Bush vetoes? Give me a break. So what you are trying to tell me is that he needs to pass each and every bill that is proposed to him? Even the ones he didn’t like? Well, friend, how about also admitting that congress is at fault for not proposing bills that he would agree to? Huh? No? Of course not. It’s all his fault. Whatever.
The fact of the matter is the jobless rate wouldn’t be so bad if not for the rising costs of fuel. You’ve got to cut somewhere to offset the cost of the fuel prices.
Louise
So how does a slight increase in taxes for people making over $250,000 hurt the American people? It seems that one of our biggest economic problems right now is that there is a huge and growing schism between the rich and the poor in this country. To help the average American, it seems necessary to enact policies that close this gap. Can you find a logical error in my argument?
It is in the Presidents interest not to accept any of the Democractic led bills. This way congress’s approval ratings hang around where his is at. President Bush is an idiot!!
Laughing,
Jan,
Congress has made themselves a laughing stock. All puffed up about what they were going to do when they over took the place. oil/taxes/the war, on and on, they have done squat. It has nothing to do with Bush, they out number.
Congress’s rating are much lower than Mr. President.
The only idiots are those that believed they would do something, they never did before, oh yes, they get everyone to buy into the ROBIN HOOD theory, take my money and give to to others so they can sit home and eat drink and be merry.
not any more
Mccain is a Franco-Unamerican
Jeremy- I can. How slight? Tell me that first? How much is “slight?” These people that make over $250, 000, well, if they own businesses they will have to make cuts to their workforce, meaning cutting the higher salaried people an/or number and then higher cheaper laborers. There’s one “logical” argument for you.
If economy issue nr 1 it is not the best approach to advocate more free trading, thats a mojor drawback of MCCain. First you have to fix contructively your own house, otherwise nothing chances.
S2433 threatens US Sovreignty-bill sponsor Obama
The latest that you won’t hear in the msm, (aka – mainstream media)
(the major media’s cover-up of the bill, which makes levels of U.S. foreign aid spending subservient to the dictates of the United Nations, demonstrates the media’s desire to see Senator Obama elected to the presidency. ) http://bearcreekledger.com/2008/02/1…ax-bill-s2433/
An extremely dangerous bill sponsored by Senator Barack HUSSEIN Obama (reminder-his wife is on the board of the Council of Foreign Relations, and is why Obama has risen to such sudden stardom.) We are already throwing enough money into foreign aid without literally losing our sovreignty to the UN under this bill.
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org…php?id=1386596
Excerpts:
The legislation would commit the U.S. to spending 0.7 percent of gross national product on foreign aid, which amounts to a phenomenal 13-year total of $845 billion over and above what the U.S. already spends.
AND
In addition to seeking to eradicate poverty, that declaration commits nations to banning “small arms and light weapons”
AND
A global tax will clearly be necessary to force American taxpayers to provide the money.
For the actual bill, search for bill #S2433 at thomas.loc.gov
You can check on the bill’s status at the LOC site too.
Read more goodies such as this visit: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s2433/show
like this little goodie:
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtri…tics_02_14.asp
Call your senators today and urge them to vote against this bill! when it comes up for a vote!! It won’t be long so call today!
http://www.senate.gov/general/contac…nators_cfm.cfm
Richard Lugar of Indiana – (202) 224-4814 is head of the committee that is rushing this bill through – so rather than urge him not to vote – you should voice your disgust of his treasonous act.
If you have friends and family in other states, pass this on. Especially those whose senators are up for re-election in ‘08:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_…lections,_2008
http://www.ronpaulforum.com/showthread.php?t=304263
__________________
“The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing bankruptcy and economic turmoil to our people.”
New McCain ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afawZWEtCKc
You know what…all I ever hear from Fox these days is “anything” on Obama. Where is your fair and balanced. Everytime Obama is speaking you cover it for what seems an eternity…when McCain speaks you have someone on the side “interpreting” what he is saying without letting us see it for ourself. You appear to be slanting, and appear to be courting the left for ratings. It won’t be too long before I turn off Fox like I have NBC, ABC and CBS…it’s all up to you…be fair and balanced…all the time…for all the candidates and news or your the loser.