Obama tries to reassure public on economy, jobs

[May 07, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is reassuring the public that jobs and the economy are his top priority.

At the end of a historic and emotionally charged week that began with his nationally televised announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed in Pakistan during a raid by U.S. special forces, Obama on Saturday returned to promoting his energy agenda.

U.S. forces raided a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where bin Laden had lived for several years, killing the al-Qaida leader.

The news of bin Laden's demise dominated the week's headlines.

"So although our economy hasn't been the focus of the news this week, not a day goes by that I'm not focused on your jobs, your hopes and your dreams," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address.

He recorded the address Friday while visiting an Indianapolis transmissions plant that makes systems for hybrid vehicles.

Obama has been traveling around the country to talk up his plan to reduce U.S. consumption of foreign oil -- and the price Americans pay for it -- by increasing domestic oil production, encouraging a shift to alternative energy sources and building vehicles that use less fuel.

He says shifting to jobs like those at the Indianapolis factory will create more jobs and help the economy grow.

"The clean energy jobs at this plant are the jobs of the future, jobs that pay well right here in America," Obama said. "It's clean energy companies like this one that will keep our economy growing, create new jobs and make sure America remains the most prosperous nation in the world."

Republicans devoted their weekly message to bin Laden.

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown praised years of diligent work by the military and by intelligence professionals to pinpoint bin Laden's location. The al-Qaida leader's death, Brown said, sends a clear message to others like bin Laden.

"The example will not be lost on other terrorists," Brown said. "Any escape they make will be temporary. Any sanctuary they find will be uncovered. Those who harm or threaten the American people will be dealt with, on our terms, however long it takes."

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Online:

Obama address: www.whitehouse.gov/

GOP address:
http://www.youtube.com/gopweeklyaddress

[Associated Press; By DARLENE SUPERVILLE]

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