Obama: Jobs Report Proves We Can't Delay

Barack Obama unveiled his Paul Volcker-led economic panel today and took the opportunity to make another forceful plea for his stimulus package, CBS reports. Today’s ghastly jobs report proved “the need for wise counsel and bold and immediate action,” Obama said. “It is inexcusable and irresponsible for any of us to get bogged down in distraction or politics as usual while millions of Americans are being put out of work.”

The advisory board is designed to provide independent economic advice, enlisting voices “from beyond the Washignton echo chamber,” Obama said. It will be run by Volcker, who served as Fed chairman during the Carter and Reagan administrations, and Obama adviser Austan Goolsbee. (More Barack Obama stories.)