In his bid for reelection, President Obama went on the defense Friday at a White House press conference, giving a statement regarding the economy after recent criticism from the Republicans that the dismal jobs outlook is evidence he has not done a good job of handling the economy.

Hiring fell in May, and unemployment ticked up to 8.2% – the biggest concern for voters in the up-coming November election.

The president blamed Congress for not passing a string of bills designed to improve the U.S. economy and create more jobs.

Obama called on Congress to pass the bipartisan, paid-for ideas that he proposed last year to put construction workers back to work upgrading our roads and bridges, teachers back in the classroom educating our kids and police and firefighters back on the job keeping our communities safe.

The President also urged European leaders to resolve the region’s financial crisis, as the threat of a looming recession there could result in a renewed U.S. recession, as a result of the sharp pullback in imports and exports to the euro zone.

Meanwhile, MSNBC’s Chris Matthew ranted about the way President Obama is handling his reelection effort.

During the channel’s coverage of the Obama press conference, Matthews said “Obama needs to stop the “puissant” tactics and set his attention on vilifying business for ‘let[ting] us down.’”

“He’s got to be aggressive, he’s got to be big time,” MSNBC’s Chris Matthews advised Obama how to handle his bid for reelection. “Stop this nickel and dime — a couple of bucks for the teachers, a couple of bucks for the firefighters, I’m going to reduce the payroll tax.”

“This is pissant,” a clearly frustrated Matthews said. “You can’t get reelected with tactics. He needs a strategy, which is, ‘We’re different than the Republicans. They’re basically free-marketers who sit around and wait for business to deliver this country from hell and business has let us down.’ He has got to say it.”