Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) accused the Bush administration of "callous disregard" for America's unemployed after a cabinet member reportedly dismissed the net loss of jobs as "myths."
"Claims like the one that Bush will be the first president to end a term with fewer jobs than when he started are nothing more than 'myths,' Snow claimed," wrote the 24,000-circulation Findlay Courier.
Snow said he was misquoted.
But as Kerry prepared for his third and final debate with Bush later Wednesday, with the focus on domestic issues, the Democrats went into overdrive with a flurry of reactions to Snow's reported statement and a planned television advertisement.
"These comments reflect the callous disregard this administration has shown for the millions of people who are out of work and seen their quality of life suffer over the last four years," Kerry said.
"It reflects the degree to which the White House tries to spin its way out of the problems facing working America when it should be focusing on solutions," the Massachusetts senator said in a statement.
"President Bush will have to answer directly tonight for this outrageous slap in the face to America's middle class. He'll also have to answer for the worst jobs record since Herbert Hoover" more than 70 years ago
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