CANDIDATES ROMNEY AND OBAMA CAST JULY JOBS REPORT IN DIFFERENT LIGHTS............

163, 000 new jobs were created during the month of July, according to the statistics released this morning by the U.S. Department of Labor.  Yet the current UnEmployment Rate went up from 8.217 % in June - reported as 8.2%; last month to 8.254% in July - reported as 8.3% today.  The number of jobs created was the greatest since February of this year, but still 96,000 fewer than it was then.  Both presidential candidates wasted no time responding to today's report and attempted to define its meaning.  Candidate Romney, who becomes the Republican nominee for President later this month, tweeted his preliminary responded to today's jobs numbers saying, "Today's increase in the unemployment rate is a blow to struggling middle class families...Americans deserve better and we can do better".  Defending the Incumbent Obama, who will be nominated for re-election early next month, his National Press Secretary Ben LaBolt responded, "There have been 29 months of consecutive jobs growth".  LaBolt went on to attack Congressional Republicans for failing to support President Obama's Jobs Plan, and the Romney Tax Plan, that he alledges would cause severe cuts and could create an economic slowdown.   The Romney campaign magnified their response by rolling out criticism from  surrogates Representative Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin; and former Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota; with Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul tweeted a press release highly critical of President Obama's Economic Stimulus - that declares, "Under Barack Obama the unemployment rate has been above 8% for 42 straight months, 98% of his tenure".  From the White House, Alan B. Krueger, Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisors responded in a statement to today's report, "More work remains to be done...today's employment report provides further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to recover from the worst downturn since the Great Depression".  With Members of Congress leaving Washington on their August Recess, the response to the July Jobs/UnEmployment Report, was predictable and partisan in nature.  Speaker of the House John Boehner, Republican from Ohio, said, "The private sector still is not 'doing fine', and President Obama's economic plan did not work".  Boehner opposing the President and Democrats Plan, went on to state raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans is, "insane".  Whereas, House Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, from California, responded with, "Last month, 163,000 jobs were created despite Republicans refusal to work with President Obama and Democrats to create jobs, grow our economy, and ensure the economic security of our middle class".  Pelosi went on to acknowledge that with so many Americans out of work, "we must do more".  The 112th Congrees persists in being unable to reach accord on a tax policy before the end of this year when the Bush Tax Cuts will expire.  Before recessing the House passed a Tax Bill to keep incomes lower on all Americans, while the Senate passed President Obama's proposal that will raise income taxes on the top 2% of Americans, households making $250,000.00 a year or higher.  With just over three months to Election Day, the politics as well as the progress of the American Economy will most surely proceed to loom large in updating and furthering the unfolding of the Presidential campaign and determing who occupies the White House the next four years and whether Republicans, Democrats, or both; will continue to control the chambers of Congress, and if  bipartisan cooperation or extended stand-off will shape our American future............Fr.  Troy