(CNN) – A weak jobs report Friday was followed quickly by finger pointing from Republicans, who blamed President Barack Obama for enacting policies that have prevented growth and dissuaded employers from hiring.
U.S. employers created 80,000 jobs in June, the Labor Department said Friday. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.2%.
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Presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney's made remarks in New Hampshire, saying the jobs report was a "kick in the gut" and that Obama's policies were costing the country jobs.
READ MORE: Romney reacts to 'kick in the gut' jobs report
House Speaker John Boehner slammed Obama for policies he said weren't working.
"Today's report shows the private sector clearly isn't 'doing fine' and that President Obama's policies have failed," Boehner wrote, making reference to a remark Obama made at a press conference in June.
In his statement, Boehner also criticized Senate Democrats for stalling on Republican-passed jobs bills. The House Speaker also pointed to an upcoming vote on continuing the Bush-era tax cuts, which he said needed to be extended to help small businesses grow.
"Republicans are listening to the American people and continuing to put economic growth and job creation front and center. We need the president and Senate Democrats to do the same," Boehner said.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus wrote in a statement the jobs report amounted to "devastating news for the millions of Americans looking for work."
"The Obama economy is defined by chronically high unemployment," Priebus wrote. "Our country is coming out of the worst quarter of job creation in two years. ObamaCare and President Obama's other policies simply are not working and disappointed Americans are ready for a new direction."
Priebus also used Friday's report to tout the ideas put forth by presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney, saying Romney's business background would help him improve America's economy.
"Gov. Mitt Romney is uniquely qualified to provide the leadership our economy needs," Priebus wrote. "With his successful record in business, at the Olympics, and in Massachusetts, he has a proven track record. It's time to accept President Obama's offer of a 'one-term proposition,' send Mitt Romney to the White House, and finally get America working again."
Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Georgia, called the report "pretty pitiful" Friday morning on CNN.
'This is bad news for the president. But more importantly, it's really bad news for the American people," Gingrey said on "Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien."
But Alan Krueger, the chairman of Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, wrote in a statement that Obama's policies, while not a "quick fix," were helping the economy turn around.
"It is critical that we continue the policies that build an economy that works for the middle class and makes us stronger and more secure as we dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession," Krueger said. "There are no quick fixes to the problems we face that were more than a decade in the making. President Obama has proposals to create jobs by ending tax breaks for companies to ship jobs overseas and supporting State and local governments to prevent layoffs and rehire hundreds of thousands of teachers."
Krueger also cautioned against putting too much weight on any single monthly jobs report, saying the figures could change.
"As the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and unemployment figures can be volatile, and employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision," Krueger wrote. "Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report and it is informative to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available."
CNN's Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
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and this kind of information is EXACTLY what the GOP wants. They want bad news and americans to be suffering so they can claim the high ground and grab power. It's all they care about.
The GOP way: Block anything Obama tries to pass to help grow the economy and create jobs, then blame him when nothing happens....
And .. the general public will ignore the Republicans, because they have said the same thing for three years now, even when there was tremendous growth in jobs. Not to mention that most people see a gain as ... well ... a gain, actually. Getting all huffy and turning your nose up at jobs being created only makes the Republicans look out of touch. It's a lose-lose situation for Republicans, although they are so blind in their hatred of Obama that they don't realize they're cutting their own throats.
The GOP is blaming Obama? Big surprise there. By the way, where is that jobs bill Boehner promised us in 2010? It seems that our do-nothing Congress should be just as much to blame. Of course, that would be the case if there was one Republican in the entire country who could take responsibility for anything.
Maybe I'm wrong, but 80k seems like a lot of new jobs in one month. No?
TEA/GOP legislators continue their on the job strike, and their puppet masters on Wall St continue their national lock out.
Clearly, this is Reagan's fault. I mean Bush the elder's fault. I mean GWB's fault. I mean Bain's fault.
At least jobs were added. I left the Republican Party because they want to see America fail.
The divisive partisans still complain even as our country added American jobs.
Godspeed President Obama 2012
PLEASE some one tell me 1-thing repuks have done to create JOBs in America since 2010?
Was it not the republican party who screamed "Elect us jobs are our number one priority"? Then three days into office that went away and it has been repeal health care knowing it was a waste of time and tax payer money. Now they are screaming it's Obama's fault that the jobs aren't happening. They got elected what happened to their promise of results?
Republicans should be asshamed of themselves by running on JOBS JOBS JOBS and have done nothing whatsover to create JOBS JOBS JOBS.
If republicans would actually help to be part of the solution instead of hanging the president out to dry, we'd be better off. No one person can change things in this country. The congress and the president have to work together.
Of course, what's new... It's not that they just stonewalled anything the President has proposed or asked them to do... Where is the job bill? still languishing on Mr. Bohener's desk? Weren't they elected in 2010 on the "jobs, jobs, jobs" mantra? Bunch of obstructionist. GOP= Great Obstructionist Party!
hey reince, you noted it was the worst quarter in 2 years...not in 4 years though, since 4 years ago under Bush we were losing over 700,000 jobs. Yea, we should prob. go back to the bush policies since they worked so well.
Same old same old from the Republicans. Complain, but don't offer any SPECIFIC, CONCRETE solutions. They are using the same tactic with healthcare as well. Hopefully, the majority of Americans have enough common-sense to see through this game and re-elect Obama in 2012!!!
Saying "Republicans attack" is the same as saying "humans breathe air."
Maybe it's just me but I don't think these are bad numbers compared to the GOP's record under the previous administration where they were losing 750k jobs a month. They must think we have forgotten.
This after the GOP has blocked every jobs bill. Hey GOP the voters are not stupid. In november we will send the GOP a message
OBAMA 2012
Regardless off the results the Republicans would find something to slam Obama with.There are some Republican Party Members will slam any Democrat ,even if it was their Mother
Where is the jobs bill that this country needs in order to kick start job growth? Oh yeah that is right you are waiting on the election so your guy can get into power. All about you the self serving politician. Republicans had their jobs announcement speeches written two weeks ago. Talk is cheap and we are all sick of it. God bless politics.
more lies from the republicans. They have not passed any jobs bills in the House and they have no evidence to support the notion that "obamacare" is killing jobs. If it is why has the healthcare industry added 100,000 new private sector jjobs since its passage. If the republicans were serious about jobs they would end the rhetoric and do some real work. So far they have shown me nothing since we elected them in 201. Boehner is such a weak leader. He needs to go.
of course all the party of No can do is attack. And they don't want you talking about what happened during the bush years either. rediculous people.
This is a good time to remind people of the implications of Barack Obama’s immigration policy change this month. The pledge to issue work permits means that we may potentially add 1.2 million workers to the workforce over the next two years. That means we will have to add jobs at a rate closer to 200,000 per month just to keep up with population growth and the policy change.
the GOPers are true comedians