Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (CNN) - A jobs report showing lukewarm hiring in June is a "kick in the gut" to American workers, presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney said in New Hampshire Friday.
"It's consistent with what I've heard as I've gone across the country and met with families in their homes, in cafes and restaurants and in break rooms," Romney said. "American families are struggling. There's a lot of misery in America today, and these numbers understate what people are feeling and the amount of pain which is occurring in middle class America."
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Romney made remarks and took some reporter questions at Bradley's Hardware in downtown Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, about a mile and a half from the Romney family's lakefront home. The candidate, along with his large extended family, has spent the last week there on vacation.
READ MORE: Republicans pin blame for flat jobs report on Obama
In his comments, Romney slammed President Barack Obama, his opponent for the White House, as not doing enough to foster growth and encourage employers to hire workers.
"The highest corporate tax rates in the world do not create jobs," Romney said. "Highest regulatory burdens in our nation's history - those do not create jobs. Trade policies that have not opened up new markets for American goods, particularly in Latin America, those don't create new jobs. Failing to effectively crack down on China for cheating and stealing American jobs, that has not helped."
"The president's policies have not gotten America working again, and the president's going to have to stand up and take responsibility for it," Romney continued.
Obama, who is traveling on a bus tour through the Rust Belt, was expected to react to Friday's jobs numbers at his first stop in Ohio. Romney mentioned the tour, asking, "How do you go across Pennsylvania and Ohio and not talk about being serious about creating jobs through manufacturing policies that make America more attractive for investment and growth?"
Romney said as president, he would use different strategies to help remedy the dire economic straits many Americans face.
"It doesn't have to be this way," Romney said. "The president doesn't have a plan. He hasn't proposed any new ideas to get the economy going. Just the same old ideas of the past that have failed. I have a plan. My plan calls for action that will get America working again and create good jobs, both near term and long term."
Romney emerged from his campaign break on July 4th to march in an Independence Day parade, but has otherwise held no public events. Romney's son Tagg accompanied his father to the hardware store for his statement.
Bradley's Hardware, which has stood on Railroad Avenue in Wolfeboro since 1950, is a family owned business that employs twelve people.
Answering a question from a reporter about taking a vacation during the heat of the campaign, Romney responded that he wanted more Americans to be able to take breaks.
"I'm delighted to be able to take a vacation with my family," Romney said. "I think all Americans appreciate the memories that they have with their children and their grandchildren. I hope that more Americans are able to take vacations, and if I'm president of the United States, I'm going to work very hard to make sure we have good jobs for all Americans who want good jobs, and as part of a good job the capacity to take a vacation now and then with their loved ones."
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Romney even having an ounce of support from anyone in this country is a kick in the gut of rational thinking individuals.
................LET ME GUESS............ROMNEY, RIGHT?................................................tax cuts for the poor.....NO WAY.......................................jobs program for the unemployed....Get the F out.................................................Tax cuts for consumers....Aint happening..................................................................oh, I remember..............TAX CUTS FOR THE 1% AND CORPORATIONS.......................SURE BET................................
Where can we see Mitt's jobs plan please?
Same dog barking. I wish he would say what he would do instead of throwing out what the president hasn't done. Lots of noise no substance.
The economy is growing and jobs are being added every month. The Republicns are complaining that it's not growing fast enough. That's like complaining that your team keeps winning by only one point.
Well this is a strange reaction from Mitt.
Since the GOP ran on job creation in 2010 and hasn't lifted a finger to do so in the last two years....you would think Mitt wouldn't want to draw attention to that fact.
Are you kidding me? The man who created more jobs OVERSEAS
Mitt's podium signage is incomplete......................it's supposed to say...................."PUTTING REPUBLICANS FIRST"................................there, that's got it...............
Back in December the Annual Financial Report which was posted here on CNN Money, listed Just the Top 200 companies in America had $8.6 Trillion in Revenue and $576.2 Billion in Profits. That was only the top 200 companies. Why wont these companies use just a portion of that to put people back to work? Oh yeah, wouldn't be "prudent" not with a democrat in office. They want to wait to see if a republican gets in office then use some of that profit to hire people, then they can say, see what a good job republicans do.
LOL at the outsource king talking smack about jobs. Now he feels that kick in the gut people feel when his slash and burn company acquires the one they work for.
I love hearing that Romney has a near and long-term plan to get America back to work. Romney 2012!
Yeah... see Romney would have created tons of jobs... Overseas.
In a related story, the labor participation rate is at the lowest point since Jimmy Carter. It must be a coincidence that poor labor markets exist under liberal socialist Presidents.
At least Romney knows what is happening......
And that plan is?......More of Mr. Rhetoric. The debates are going to be awful.....unless we get a third voice in the conversation.
Obama's rhetoric and policies make strong economic growth a near impossibility. He creates fear and uncertainty, which makes businesses reluctant to invest. This investment is necessary to create job growth. The truth is until the U.S. elects a new president, the nation will be stuck in economic malaise.
Gee, "Myth" Romney has a plan. Of course he has a plan; he's got anything anybody with enough money to ask ever wanted!
"The highest corporate tax rates in the world do not create jobs," Romney said.
Apparently low tax rates won't either.
Romney talks about bringing jobs back from China.......but isn't he the guy that sent them there in the first place? Go figure.....
The Republicans stated threee and a half years ago that their most important task was to shut down the President. I have to admit, they have done a good job. They have made the rest of the citizens suffer but mission accomplished.
Personally I see it as a crime against the country. Politics for power and control only. Hope they enjoy their lifelong free helath care and fat retirement checks while the rest of us have to face reality every day.
What the h3ll does he know about the middle class?
What plan? I haven't heard one yet. Nothin' but diarrhea of the mouth...
BS politics aside this is terrible news for Americans seeking employment.
Romney is clearly a 1%er.
Kind of like the kick in the gut I got when we were told our factory was moving to Mexico.