Obama Spends Labor Day Tackling Jobs and Education

President Obama joins labor leaders today to welcome the new head of the AFL-CIO, and name a new advisor for manufacturing.

This Labor Day, the nation’s jobless rate is 9.7 percent, and Republicans argue the health reform plan Mr. Obama outlines Wednesday, requiring everyone to buy insurance, could cost millions more jobs:

“It’s complicated, it’s convoluted and it’s quite simply not going to work. It’s time to press the ‘reset’ button,“ said Minnesota Rep. John Kline.

On Meet The Press, a top White House Advisor was asked if Mr. Obama will compromise on the controversial ‘public option’ - government insurance.

“He believes the public option is a, is a good tool. Now, it shouldn’t define the whole healthcare debate, however said, said White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod.

But before that, the President’s set to address the nation’s schoolchildren Tuesday… A speech that rattled some parents who say they’ll keep their kids home, fearing the 18-minute speech will be partisan.

The Secretary Of Education says the President will simply encourage students to stay in school.

“The real question I have is why has it been 18 years since a president has addressed our nation’s youth?“ said Arne Duncan, Education Secretary.

More controversy: White House Advisor Van Jones quit in the middle of the night Saturday after being linked to comments questioning whether the government played a role in 9-11.

“Van Jones, as he says in his statement, understood that he was going to get in the way of the president and ultimately this country,“ said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Jones says he’s the victim of a “vicious smear campaign.“ He advised the president on green jobs.