Bush says economy has slowed; Democrats pounce

Faced with new figures showing 63,000 jobs lost last month, President Bush acknowledged Friday that “it’s clear our economy has slowed.”

However, Bush assured the nation in an address from the White House that “we anticipated this and took decisive action to bolster the economy, by passing a growth package that will put money into the hands of American workers and businesses.”

{mosads}Democrats, who worked with the administration to pass that stimulus package, seized on the jobs report and hammered Bush on his handling of the economy.

“The Bush administration’s economic policies have failed to create jobs and renew the American Dream for the middle class and those who aspire to it — instead leaving families struggling to make ends meet with rising prices for gas, home heating oil, groceries and healthcare,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), who is fighting for the Democratic presidential nomination, said the “dismal” news on jobs “should put to rest any doubts that our economy is in deep trouble.” The former first lady also pointed to high oil prices and record home foreclosure figures, saying they are “painful reminders that we need a president who is ready to be a steward of our economy, starting on day one.”

However, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) used the economic news to hammer Democrats for proposing what Republicans say is “the largest tax increase in American history” and using the money “to finance their agenda of bigger government and wasteful pork-barrel spending.”

“In the face of continuing economic uncertainty, Republicans will continue to fight for new tax relief for middle-class families and oppose wasteful Washington spending,” Boehner vowed.