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Previewing Obama's Jobs Speech

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We look ahead to the president’s big speech on jobs. What he’ll say. What Republicans are saying. What it will take to get this country back to work.

President Barack Obama walks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington as he returns from a trip to Detroit where he addressed a Labor Day rally, Monday, Sept. 5, 2011. (AP)
President Barack Obama walks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington as he returns from a trip to Detroit where he addressed a Labor Day rally, Monday, Sept. 5, 2011. (AP)

There’s only so much joblessness a country can take.

We’re up against that fact.  Republicans know it, and hope to win the White House on it.  The President knows it, and goes before Congress for a speech tonight to lay out his latest game plan for job creation.

It will be partly absolutely sincere – here’s what I want to do.  It will be partly political posturing.  President Obama knows the GOP-controlled House is not going to support him.  But we need jobs.

This hour  On Point:  the President, the country, and jobs.  We’ll talk with super-investor Bill Gross and more about what we need now.
-Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Greg Ip, U.S. Economics Editor for the Economist

Jared Bernstein, senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Bill Gross, co-founder and co-chief investment officer of Pacific Investment Management, where he manages the $245 billion PIMCO Total Return Fund, the world’s biggest bond fund.

From Tom's Reading List

The Wall Street Journal "So the president's new and improved plan is likely to consist of a set of what he hopes will be seen as moderate, common-sense assists to the economy. These could amount to a significant stimulus of between $300 billion and $400 billion over the coming year, which is more than 2% of gross domestic product. But he won't use the word."

The Wall Street Journal "President Barack Obama this week will try to launch a political comeback amid the lowest approval ratings of his presidency and a growing sense of economic foreboding here and across the country among voters who are increasingly questioning their president's skills and priorities."

This program aired on September 8, 2011.

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