President Obama says political divide is hurting economy

[cal04]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/13/us-usa-economy-obama-idUSTRE77A6Q420110813?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Politics+News%29

President Barack Obama said on Saturday that bitter fights between Democrats and Republicans in Washington were hurting the economy and he urged lawmakers to embrace compromise in order to boost job growth.

(snip)
"Lately, the response from Washington has been partisanship and gridlock that's only undermined public confidence and hindered our efforts to grow the economy," he said in his weekly address. "So while there's nothing wrong with our country, there is something wrong with our politics, and that's what we've got to fix."

Repeating a call he has issued numerous times in recent weeks, Obama pressed for Congress to extend a payroll tax cut, put unemployed construction workers to work building U.S. infrastructure projects, finish outstanding trade pacts and cut "red tape" for entrepreneurs.

"We can no longer let partisan brinksmanship get in our way -- the idea that making it through the next election is more important than making things right," he said.

[mmonk]

1. Bad policy is hurting the economy. Bad policy (deregulation) led

to a financial collapse.

[rucky]

4. It's much easier to lay it on the touchy feely whims of the market.

We musn't do anything to disturb them.

[doc03]

2. He finally figured it out n/t

[onehandle]

3. If only you had come in swinging a flaming sword.

Saying 'elections have consequences' once, weeks into your term and totally ignoring the bully pulpit, is what got us into this.

Bipartisanship is what got us into this.

You had a mandate.

Wasted it.

[COLGATE4]

6. Yep. Totally and irrevocably pissed away the greatest popular

mandate since FDR. Pathetic.

[Old Codger]

5. A Penchant

For stating he obvious, I didn't really need to be told that for sure.

[ladjf]

7. What a toothless, gutless wimp ! nt

[wolfie001]

8. Maybe some more obsequiousness from our leader is needed....nt

[Armstead]

9. It's not bipartisan gridlock. It's the refusal of the GOP to do anything.

Can he please put the blame where it belongs?

Calling it "bi-partisan gridlock" only hurts the image of the Democratic Party, and give the GOP room to spread their Bizarro Universe tales unchallenged by the President.