Two debates are in the books, and the candidates for president and vice president have yet to put forward any significant details on how they would accelerate job creation and lasting economic strength across the country.
We understand that the men elected in November to lead our government have to be able to focus on myriad issues and demonstrate their knowledge and approach to a wide spectrum of ideas. However, the single issue that is at the top of voters’ minds is the economy. What are we going to do to break the malaise that has hold of the recovery? What steps can we take to spark new investments in our businesses and put people to work in good-paying, long-lasting jobs? What will the federal government do to help encourage an innovative economy that will set the pace for the rest of the world? These are central questions that, so far, have gone unanswered in the debates.
So yesterday, we asked the moderators for the final two debates, Candy Crowley and Bob Schieffer, and the co-chairmen of the Commission on Presidential Debates to focus the discussions more keenly on these kitchen-table issues. Job creation doesn’t need to be a topic limited to a two-minute discussion by each candidate. Let them talk in detail about their priorities. Let them explain how they would get America working again.
As we said Thursday night, America needs an “all-of-the-above” economic strategy that focuses on building lasting economic growth. Job creation isn’t a partisan issue; it’s an American urgency. A national jobs and innovation strategy needs to be at the top of our policy priority list in 2013, and we look to the next president to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to enact policies that will drive lasting economic growth.
We look forward to hearing more from the President and Governor Romney at next week’s debate.