U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R–Wisconsin) has advice about job creation — something Johnson knows about but Obama does not:

People who enjoy their work perform far better than those who view their job as drudgery. A salesman that fully believes in the product or service he is selling, will sell more, and at a higher price.

These positive attitudes make a big difference to the individual “economy” of a business organization.

Positive attitudes are crucial in successfully driving a nation’s economy forward as well. Unfortunately, President Obama does not seem to understand that his hostile attitude toward business is undermining America’s entrepreneurial spirit, and as a result, economic growth and job creation.

Consumers and business owners/managers need to have confidence in what lies ahead before their economic activity becomes robust.  Even in the best of circumstances, planning for the future is inherently fraught with risk and uncertainty. …

Are taxes going to dramatically increase in 2013? Will we ever get our debt and deficits under control? What is the cost and burden of new rules and regulations on job creators? How expensive will energy be in the future?

Until we have leadership in Washington that begins to answer these questions and brings more certainty to our economy, it will continue to stall.

In Wisconsin, our governor and legislature acknowledged our budget problem. They provided real leadership by making hard decisions, taking tough votes and bringing greater certainty to our state economy.

In addition, Gov. Walker announced very publicly, that “Wisconsin is open for business.” The result? State and local budgets are being balanced, property taxes have declined, and Wisconsin climbed significantly in a recent survey comparing states’ business climate.

That is a dramatically different approach than the one taken by President Obama and members of his administration.

Instead of providing leadership, they are attacking business, punishing success, greatly increasing regulatory burdens, limiting the use of America’s energy resources, and growing government and our nation’s debt and deficits. How can anyone believe rhetoric and policies like this will work?

We need to lift the spirits of America’s entrepreneurs, business managers and consumers — not dispirit them. High marginal tax rates discourage risk-taking, investment and job creation at a time when the need to encourage these activities has never been higher. Increasing layers of regulation are a disincentive to business expansion when we need to incentivize every business to realize its full economic potential.

Demonizing businesses and individuals will have the exact opposite effect. Yet that appears to be the favorite political tool employed by this administration. …

[Obama’s] campaign will try to convince Americans that somehow Gov. Romney’s success in the private sector is a disqualifying factor in becoming president. That is absurd. We need more successful people from the private sector in Washington, not less. Knowledge of, and respect for, our free enterprise system should be a table stakes qualification for president of the United States.