Obama Notes Initial Success Of Static Kill

Addressing members of one of the nation’s most powerful unions, President Barack Obama briefly went off topic to say he was pleased that efforts to kill a well that has been leaking oil into the Gulf of Mexico for months have so far been successful.

“It’s very welcome news,” said Obama, who then moved on to his prepared remarks about the economy and jobs.

The President told the audience, gathered for a three-day training session hosted by the AFL-CIO, that despite a “perfect storm” of events that derailed the nation’s economy, his administration has taken action to spur recovery. He added that investing in “green jobs” will not only create jobs, but jobs that will stay in the U.S.

Obama thanked the union members for their support, and pledged to return the favor.

“We will continue to keep fighting to pass the Employee Free Choice Act,” he said. The EFCA, which is being considered by both Houses of Congress, would make it easier for workers to unionize.

“Companies are stronger when workers are being paid well,” said Obama. “If I was a coal miner I would want a union representing me… If I were a teacher I’d want a union representing me,” he added.

Obama later shifted to campaign-mode, attacking Republicans over their desire to run against his policies in the lead-up to the November elections.

“[Republicans] wanna go backwards, we wanna move the country forward,” he said.