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Former Gov. Bill Richardson, (D-NM), offers his take on how the Obama administration should switch the focus from the debt crisis to reviving the U.S....
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Our Richardson thanks good to see you again and there's let let's start with this business about leadership -- a lot of people are are asking the question with.
The market's going all over the place mostly down in a big way you've got the S&P downgrade.
You're looking at the economy word two and a half years into this administration and a lot of people are saying.
Where's the leadership and it's coming not just from the right where you would expect you've got marine doubted Chris Matthews.
And everybody else out there and leadership is one of those things where may be hard to define but you know when you see it do you see leadership in Washington.
Well I seen the president.
Leading.
I don't think he's gotten the credit He deserves there's no question we've got an economic crisis.
There's just functionality in the congress and their relationship.
With the executive branch.
But you know the president shouldn't panic He should come up with a good.
Jobs plan He should shift the focus away from debt towards job creation and towards manufacturing.
Towards trade towards economic development.
Connecting with the American people so I'm not one of those Democrats it's out there whining I think.
We gotta be calm we gotta come up with a good plan.
We ought to be.
Dramatic and our new plan and I think that's what the president's doing so Tom I'm not one of those that says you should cancel -- vacation.
He should call the congress right back first getting good plan connect with the American people go out to the midwest here what ordinary people are talking about.
All right but a lot of people are getting impatient.
It's been -- he's been in they're not I know before the program you told -- -- you know you're an Obama Democrat but if I remember right.
Governor you were Hillary Clinton Democrat you supported Hillary and a lot of people are now saying I told you so.
Well know Tom I supported Obama.
And they -- fact it was quite dramatic.
I did support President Obama in the primaries but my point here is that.
Look.
I think it's important that we recognize that.
The relationship between the congress and the president it's reached a very high -- of this functionality.
So what do you do about it.
I think the key way to reinvigorate the economy.
Is some new initiatives.
Help the private sector find ways to hire people -- give them incentives to do that given funds to do that.
Hire the unemployed and give a company incentives to do that give tax incentives to companies that.
Our hiring right now period I think d.s is that kinda new ideas along with -- manufacturing with trade.
Trade promotion find ways for the big companies that are putting jobs overseas.
To stay here don't force them to do that but.
Give them incentives so that their workers stay in America these are the kind of new ideas that I think are gonna be needed for job creation well.
That that and a lot of people are -- -- you just rattled off 456 different ideas.
So why aren't they being implemented -- I mean these are not.
Difficult to think up.
Well Tom I think the president and the congress were so literally obsessed with the whole.
Dad -- debt ceiling negotiations.
That took up all of Washington's time.
Now that they've -- resolve that I don't think they totally have and we have a ten year plan.
That cuts budgets ten year plan that's what they agreed on.
The emphasis should now be on job creation so I think the president and this August period.
Will turn to initiatives that it to help create jobs and help those that have been unemployed unemployment benefits boost.
Payroll tax cut all those are good initiatives find ways to help.
Refinance homes for ordinary Americans.
And then come up with a vigorous.
Turn around jobs plan and then maybe call the congress back.
But you've got to give the administration a little time to put this plan together to listen to people to bring some new economic advisors that.
Have been created jobs I'm saying there may be a jobs summit I think he's got good people in there.
But but this is the time to not panic not get out there and put out some proposals that are gonna go anywhere.
All right there are there was a proposal -- there was a lot of thought given to a bipartisan commission that the president's own deficit commission.
They came out what the report I believe it was in December.
It was four trillion dollars worth all of us of cuts and that is what Standard and -- said they wanted.
So there was there was the blue -- and everybody has -- the president walked away from.
Can they go back and dust that often is and say why go through this whole process again this standard report did not impressed -- what they've come up with so far.
Well I think Standard and Poor's has their own judgment site I thought they were little too political and there are arguments Asia stuck to the economy.
The economics now granted I think the president's gonna have to.
Play in this new bipartisan.
Budget commissioned it there's just been appointed.
Because he's one he's gonna wanna have a say in the budget but my point Tom is that.
The shift of his message should be towards reinvigorating.
The American economy towards jobs jobs jobs I'll say it again.
Jobs and and and and and shifted away from where we're gonna cut.
But commission's gonna do -- the president should have an implied.
That Bowles Simpson commission did a good job they put out a blueprint that now well everybody's kind of following not entirely.
But but again Tom I think the key is gonna be.
Finding ways to.
To create.
Employment in this country to.
Give young people in the factory workers in the private sector.
Persuade the private sector to get out there and higher.
Why isn't the private sector hiring well yeah there's uncertainty but if they get a little push a little inspiration for the president.
A few little economic indicators get better.
We're all in this together you can't just blame the president.
You can't just blame the congress it's all of us.
Well I privately in the approval ratings Fox News poll.
-- to president's job performance 42%.
Approve 48% disapproved -- -- for that it's worse for the congress.
They are all Big Ten percent of the people in this country think that that that the congress is doing a good job 81%.
Disapprove in that same Paul I mean this is.
Governor I mean people are looking at Washington in just shaking their heads and say is this the best that we can do.
Well there's no question there's frustration out there and understandable frustration.
I'm not trying to diminish that.
All I'm trying to say is where we go from here you can keep complaining about the congress and approval ratings.
And I think the president he's bounced back before.
You know 42 is about.
The same level other presidents have had when -- been economic downturns.
I think what the president does now.
-- A new series of economic initiatives.
Is gonna determine where his poll numbers will be later -- look this is a resilient guy.
This is a tough guy He is not somebody that's gonna sit back and let events overtake you.
Do you do you see a primary challenge.
-- from the Democrats.
Now and I think that would be foolish I don't believe so.
You know the the the president has this strong organizational abilities inspired a lot of people think the president needs to.
Take the lead on the economic issue I see him doing that once He does that I think those poll numbers shall.
