Carney Doesn't See Job Growth In GOP Jobs Plan

By Mike Hothi

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney criticized Republicans today for not putting forward a plan that would help create jobs.

“It is unfortunate but true that though the Republicans have put forward economic plans, they have not put forward a plan that would in any way have a measurably positive impact on economic growth or job creation over the next 12 to 18 months,” Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One.

The Senate Republican plan Carney was referring to includes a combination of tax cuts, a moratorium on new regulations, an end to restrictions on off-shore oil exploration, a repeal of President Obama’s healthcare law and a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

But Carney remains optimistic that the Senate will take up the President’s jobs bill. “We are confident that Senator Reid will be able to say something about the scheduling of a vote in the relatively near future.”

Last week, Senate Democrats failed to get enough votes to move Obama’s jobs bill to a final vote. Now, it looks as though the Senate will break up the bill and vote on it piece by piece. The first component that could see action would involve keeping public educators on the job.

“That is our expectation, that the first measure will be teachers,” Carney said.

That measure, valued at roughly $35 billion, would also help states keep first responders on the job.

Obama Sends U.S. Troops To Uganda

President Obama announced Friday that he has deployed American “combat-equipped” troops to Uganda to remove Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony from the battlefield.

In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), the president said that the mission to take out Kony serves the national security interests of the United States. An initial team of American forces deployed on Wednesday, and Obama said that more would arrive in the next month.

According to a senior Defense official, 100 military personel, the bulk of which come from U.S. Special Operation Forces, will be sent to regional capitals to assist and advise local militaries and civilian governments. However, they are not tasked with directly combatting LRA forces.

The decision serves as a continuation of ongoing U.S. efforts to help regional governments fight the LRA. Since 2008, the U.S. has contributed $33 million in assistance to the Uganda People’s Defence Force.

White House: Jobs Push Just Beginning

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters Friday that despite setbacks in Congress, the White House’s push for jobs legislation is just beginning.

“The Senate vote was the beginning of the plan, not the end,” Carney said aboard Air Force One en route to Detroit, Michigan. “We aren’t going to stop talking about jobs and the economy until we have the kind of economic growth and jobs creation that this country deserves.”

Added Carney, “You can expect to hear the president making the case that we need to take action until Congress takes action, until it makes a decision on every item in the America Jobs Act.”

The jobs bill failed to clear a procedural hurdle in the Senate earlier this week, coming in with a final tally of 50-49.

Obama Salutes Troops On 10th Anniversary Of Afghan War

President Barack Obama praised American troops Friday in a statement acknowledging the 10 year anniversary of the war in Afghanistan.

“Thanks to the extraordinary service of these Americans, our citizens are safer and our nation is more secure,” the statement reads. “In delivering justice to Osama bin Laden and many other al Qaeda leaders, we are closer than ever to defeating al Qaeda and its murderous network.”

The President added that the U.S. is now “responsibly ending today’s wars from a position of strength,” pointing to the ongoing transition of security responsibilities to Afghan forces and the heavy withdrawal from Iraq.

Obama Remembers Steve Jobs

President Obama released the following statement in response to Apple’s announcement earlier this evening that co-founder Steve Jobs has died.

“Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.

By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity.  By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun.  And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last.  Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.

The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.”