The Federal Reserve has, as part of its historic charge from Congress, a responsibility to address and fight unemployment — via its interest policies.

Fed chair Ben Bernanke is respecting that charge and fiscal common sense by holding interest rates down in order to encourage economic growth in what remain very hard times.

Yet, Paul Ryan is attacking him for this — claiming it is inappropriate for the Fed to take steps to combat high unemployment.

This is remarkable. A House Budget Committee chair is pressuring the Fed to let interest rates rise at a time when small-business owners, mid-size manufacturers and other potential job creators are still finding it difficult — even impossible — to get the loans they need to expand and start hiring.

Lack of loans is depressing employment growth, especially in Great Lakes states that still have record- or near-record post-war unemployment.

At the same time, other House Republicans are attacking the Fed for trying to address the mortgage crisis.

All this happened at a House hearing Thursday.