Obama goads Republicans as he talks up his economic policies

WASHINGTON (AP) — Taunting Republicans, President Barack Obama today said it's "not an accident" that the economy is improving under his watch and chided GOP critics for "doom-and-gloom" predictions that haven't come true.

Obama said he welcomed the attention Republicans have been giving to the middle class, "but so far at least the rhetoric has not matched the reality."

In a speech to the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting, Obama gave a rousing defense of his economic policies and promoted his agenda as the right policy and political prescriptions for Democrats heading into the 2016 elections. He said the party's belief in "middle class economics," including his health care law, has spurred economic growth and job creation.

"I just want everybody to remember that at every step as we made these policies, made this progress, we were told by our good friends the Republicans that our actions would crush jobs, explode deficits and destroy the country," he told the partisan crowd. But the evidence shows the policies are working, he said, and "We know their ideas don't work."