Obama's 'save my job' bill versus real jobs bills

By now, most of us have digested or discounted President Obama’s jobs speech before a joint session of Congress three weeks ago: “You give me $447 billion more in taxpayer funds to spend on government subsidies and I’ll give you a $240 billion payroll tax cut for employers and employees.” Even on that symbolic night, Obama’s applause line, “Pass this bill,” had degenerated by the 15th repetition into near-mania. It sounded more like, “Pass this Save My Job bill.”

It still does. Obama’s bumper sticker slogan has lived on in constant White House nagging at Congress, from speeches in Raleigh, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; and Cincinnati’s decaying Brent Spence Bridge — all in swing states he wants to win to get re-elected in 2012.