President Obama’s Jobs Speech Draws Mixed Reviews

President Barack Obama’s jobs speech detailing his American Jobs Act proposal drew mixed reaction in southern Colorado.

One self-proclaimed Obama backer said he believed it drew a good balance between the interests of Republicans and Democrats.

“I think he attempted very hard to find the middle ground to find points on which Republicans and Democrats could both agree,” said Phil McDonald. “I thought it was feisty, which was good to see.”

Obama’s speech focused on creating new jobs through incentives. He believes offering tax breaks to businesses that shire unemployed and wounded veterans as well as Americans who’ve been without work for more than six months will encourage businesses to add to their payrolls.

Obama also promised new jobs for construction workers, teachers, first responders and young people.

It will also cost the country $447 billion that the president said will be paid for through spending cuts.

Many of those who shared their thoughts on the speech through the KRDO NEWSCHANNEL 13 Facebook page weren’t fans of the speech or plan.

“As a small business owner, I heard nothing that will help me grow my business,” said Christine Kirkland. “I can get a tax break if I hire someone out of work for more than six months or a veteran? How do they expect me to meet that payroll to begin with?”

Others believe they’ve heard promising talk from Obama before without results.

“As usual, he can make a good, believable speech,” said Sharon Helton. “But so far, that has been all it is: words on a piece of paper.”

Rep. Doug Lamborn said he was encouraged by some of the President’s speech, but other parts of it felt familiar.

“I was troubled by the fact that a lot of this sounded like the failed stimulus from two years ago, when he talks about high-speed transportation projects or bailing out states so they can pay teachers’ salaries or extending unemployment insurance yet again for another year,” Lamborn said.