Research Briefing

Obama Still Pushing His Health Care Experiment In The “Show-Me” State, But He Can’t Show Americans The Jobs That He Promised

AMERICANS WANT OBAMA TO SHOW THEM THE JOBS

56: Percentage Of Americans Who “Say Joblessness Is The Most Pressing Economic Issue Right Now.” (Paul Steinhauser, “CNN Poll: Jobs Number One Issue With Most Americans,” CNN’s “Political Ticker“ Blog, 2/21/10)

52: Percentage Of Americans Who Say Obama Has Spent “Too Little Time On The Economy.” (Stephanie Condon, “Poll: Economy Brings Down Obama’s Job Approval Rating, CBS News” “Political Hotsheet“ Blog, 2/11/10)

51: Percentage Of Americans Who Disapprove Of Obama’s Handing Of Creating Jobs. (“In 2010 Election Politics, Republicans Are In The Hunt,” ABC News, 2/10/10)

BUT OBAMA HASN’T GIVEN UP HIS AMBITIONS FOR GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE

Obama Began Push For Government Takeover Of Health Care One Year Ago Today, March 5. “He began this process by inviting Republican and Democratic leaders to the White House on March 5 of last year, and he's continued to work with both parties in crafting the best possible bill.” (Jesse Lee, “Gibbs Responds To Boehner, Cantor,” The White House Blog, 2/8/10)

Even Though Obama Pledged “To Make A Very Hard Pivot To Jobs In The Run-Up To The State Of The Union … Intense Focus On The Economy And Jobs From This White House In The Beginning Of 2010.” (Mike Allen, Politico’s “Playbook,” 12/23/09)

Now Obama's “Plan to Talk About Jobs Elbowed Aside by Health Care.” “By the time March arrived, President Obama was supposed to be entering his third month of the year talking about three things: jobs, jobs, jobs. That was the plan of the White House -- and the plea from many Democrats -- as the unemployment rate remained frozen near 10 percent and the economy showed only hints of brightening ...Democrats on midterm election ballots feel a growing sense of worry that the year is quickly ticking away.” (Jeff Zeleny, “A Plan To Talk About Jobs, Elbowed Aside By Health Care,” The New York Times, 3/2/10)

AND LATEST STATE JOBLESS NUMBERS SHOW OBAMA’S REFUSAL TO “PIVOT” HAS COME AT A HIGH COST

Today, The Bureau Of Labor Statistics Released State-By-State Unemployment Numbers For January 2010. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 3/10/10)

7,617:  Number Of Jobs Lost Per Day In The U.S. Since The Health Care Debate Began. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 3/10/10)

48: Number Of States That Have Lost Jobs Since The Health Care Debate Began.  (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 3/10/10)

• 18: Number Of States That Lost Jobs From December To January. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 3/10/10)

43: Number Of States That Have Seen Their Unemployment Rate Increase Since The Health Care Debate Began. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 3/10/10)

• 30: Number of States That Saw Their Unemployment Rate Increase From December To January.  (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 3/10/10)

6: Number Of States That Went From A Single Digit To A Double Digit Unemployment Rate Since The Health Care Debate Began. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 3/10/10)

8: Number Of States That During The Health Care Debate Saw Their Highest Unemployment Rate In 34 Years. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 3/10/10)

14.3: Michigan’s Unemployment Rate In January, Highest In The Nation.  (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 3/10/10)