On August 15, President Obama will hit the road on a three-day bus tour throughout the Midwest "listening" to the public's concerns about jobs and the economy. Also starting a bus tour this past weekend are Princeton professor Cornel West and his radio-show co-host, Tavis Smiley, both noted Obama critics who seem to be drawing as much notice for their past, present and (at times) petty criticisms of the President as they are for their stated desire to "dramatize the poverty and humanize our perception of poor people in America."
The impact of tours like these can be debated. While that debate ensues, the Congressional Black Caucus is starting their own tour today -- a job fair tour called the "For the People" Jobs Initiative. As reported by our colleagues at theGrio.com, the tour is being paired with legislation:
"Recently, the CBC Members unanimously introduced the Congressional Black Caucus 'For the People' Jobs Initiative Resolution (H. Res. 348) to encourage the House of Representatives to immediately consider and pass critical jobs legislation to address the growing jobs crisis throughout America," CBC Chairman Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II said on Friday, in response to the release of July jobs numbers. "We want to get 10,000 people hired. There is no time to waste. The time to act is now, and we are on the move."
The first job fair is hosted today by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH); it's taking place as we speak in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio and reportedly features over 200 employers. (Today's fair will close at 8:00pm Eastern.) Four more are planned through the rest of August, in the following cities:
Detroit, MI August 16 Atlanta, GA August 18 Miami, FL August 22-23 Los Angeles, CA August 30-31
You can find more information here, including what to bring if you're a job seeker. Also from theGrio.com, starting at 6:00pm ET and continuing right now, there is a live town hall moderated from Cleveland by msnbc contributor Jeff Johnson. Live video is available both at theGrio.com and right here. See below:
This live event is finished. We hope to post the recorded video as soon as it's processed.