Obama blaming GOP, Congress for economy draws Republican backlash, then backpedal

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Fox News:

President Obama's comment Friday that the private sector is "doing fine" and the GOP Congress is slowing down the economy was immediately pounced on by Mitt Romney and other Republican leaders, resulting in the president backpedaling by the afternoon.

Obama said late Friday it is "absolutely clear" that the U.S. economy is "not doing fine." He also said there has been some "good momentum" in the private sector, but Congress needs to act to help boost jobs in the public sector.

“The private sector is doing fine,” the president said during a morning White House press conference. “Where we're seeing weaknesses in our economy have to do with state and local government. … If Republicans want to be helpful, if they really want to move forward and put people back to work, what they should be thinking about is how do we help state and local governments.”

Romney, the GOP presidential candidate, responded within minutes from a campaign stop in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

“He said the private sector is doing fine,” Romney said. “Is he really that out of touch? I think he’s defining what it means to be detached and out of touch with the American people. Has there ever been an American president who is so far from reality as to believe in an America where 23 million Americans are out of work.”

Obama also said economic recipes being promoted by Republicans are "basically the kinds of policies that would add weakness to the economy, would result in further layoffs, would not provide relief in the housing market, and would result, I think most economists estimate, in lower growth and fewer jobs, not more."

The president’s first statements marked at least the second time he has turned the focus on Congress since a Labor Department report released a week ago showed the U.S. jobless rate increased in May from 8.1 percent to 8.2 percent, amid a string of recent downbeat economic reports.

“The president must be on another planet,” Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told Fox News. “You saw job figures last Friday, completely disconnected from reality.”

In the morning press conference, Obama also thanked Congress for passing the payroll tax cuts in his proposal but urged them to reconsider tax breaks to small businesses that hire and his plan to help homeowners take advantage or historically low mortgage rates.

“If you don’t pass (legislation) during an election year, you should explain to the American people,” Obama said.

He also said his administration is not responsible for recent national security leaks and has “zero tolerance” for such actions.

“The notion that my White House would purposely release national security information is offensive,” he said. “It’s wrong. … We don’t play with that.”

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Obama's bad message day.

[Pepper]

 

Closeup below, @WVR