“Our workforce drives our economy and makes us great. As we reflect today on the success of the American way of life, we know that our best days are still ahead as long as we promote America’s greatest resource: our people.
“But this Labor Day, far too many Americans are out of work and struggling to make ends meet. We must commit ourselves to helping job creators hire the rich talent forced to the sidelines in this economy. While the President champions regulations, mandates and tax hikes, Republicans across the country have stood up for American workers by supporting pro-growth initiatives.
“With the right priorities, we will get Americans back to work and restore the American Dream.” Reince Priebus
◼ On Labor Day, Jobs Debate a Convention Warm-up - AP/Long Island Press
Republicans and Democrats jockeyed for economic high ground in a Labor Day warm-up to the Democratic National Convention, with Republican Mitt Romney labeling the holiday “another day of worrying” for too many Americans anxious about finding a job. Supporters of President Barack Obama worked to put a glossy sheen on economic progress after offering a more muddled message over the weekend.
Obama addresses a United Auto Workers Labor Day rally in Toledo before getting his first look at the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac in a stricken parish outside New Orleans. He’s to meet emergency personnel who’ve been laboring since the storm hit last week to restore power and tend to thousands of evacuees from flooded areas.
Romney issued a statement marking Labor Day as “a chance to celebrate the strong American work ethic.” But he added: “For far too many Americans, today is another day of worrying when their next paycheck will come.”
Obama’s backers were up early to try a morning do-over of his supporters’ less-than-rosy answers Sunday when asked to answer the classic campaign question: Are Americans better off than they were four years ago?
“Absolutely,” said Stephanie Cutter, Obama’s deputy campaign manager, speaking on NBC’s “Today” show. “By any measure the country has moved forward over the last four years. It might not be as fast as some people would’ve hoped. The president agrees with that.”
