McConnell batters Obama over jobs crisis

McConnell was returning fire after the president, who is on a “jobs tour,” blamed gridlock in Congress caused by Republicans for the continued economic slump.

The Republican leader went on, from the floor, to accuse the president of attempting to deflect attention from the 1.5 million jobs the U.S. economy has lost since the first stimulus package was signed into law, and argued that if Obama’s Keynesian economic policy worked, the jobs crisis ought to be over by now. 

“At this point, at any time President Obama says, ‘Pass this bill,’ people have a real reason to be skeptical,” said McConnell.

“What is the president trying to do?” he asked. “He is trying to change the topic, he is trying to deflect attention from that job loss. Let’s be clear. The president got everything he wanted from a Democrat-controlled Congress.”

Obama is currently on a tour through several states critical to his reelection in 2012, promoting his latest $447 billion jobs agenda. 

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) followed the Republican leader to the floor but dismissed his view of the Obama presidency, instead turning the blame for the nation’s economic woes toward the George W. Bush administration.

“I listened to the distinguished Republican leader, but it’s interesting how history can be viewed from different ways,” said Menendez.