Obama urges Cabinet to give thanks and get some rest
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
President Obama told his top advisors today they should pause this week to give thanks – and to get a little rest.
Obama spoke in televised comments after a meeting with his Cabinet. The president praised his administration’s efforts to deal with economic issues and insisted the United States has core economic strengths. But he insisted that more had to be done to create jobs.
“Our economy is growing for the first time in more than a year, and we know that economic growth is a prerequisite for job growth,” Obama said.
“But, having said that, what I emphasize today is we cannot sit back and be satisfied, given the extraordinarily high unemployment levels that we’ve seen. We have only taken the first step in curing our economy and making sure that it is moving on the right track. And I will not rest until businesses are investing again and businesses are hiring again and people have work again,” he said.
Obama is scheduled to meet later with his national security team, but he took the time to note this week’s holiday.
“This is a week to give thanks,” Obama said.
“I advised this hardworking Cabinet to get a little bit of rest this week, particularly the people who have been traveling around the globe for day in and day out and don’t know what time zone they’re in,” Obama said looking at Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Clinton just smiled.
-- Michael Muskal
