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Subscribe to RSSRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney focused on the economy during his New Hampshire campaign swing. NBC's Garrett Haake reports.
HOPKINTON, NH — On a day that began with jokes before a friendly audience about dodging tough questions, Mitt Romney was forced to answer a host of them, not from reporters, but from students and children at this evening's town hall.
Romney faced a series of questions about whether he would continue to fund Bush-era anti-AIDS programs (he would consider it, but not commit), and why he was against same-sex marriage (the optimal way to raise a child, he said, was in a family with one male and one female parent).
The questions about same sex marriage, each coming from a college-aged student, seemed especially to frustrate Romney, who told the third questioner, who began by mentioning her two dads, that he'd already given his view on that issue.
Romney held firm that while he opposed same-sex marriage, he would support "partnership agreements" to allow for hospital visitations and "similar things of that nature."
Perhaps looking for relief, at one point, Romney called on a child who had his hand up to ask a question. The boy -- no older than ten -- promptly asked Romney to explain his views on abortion.
"That's a question I did not expect from you," Romney said, clearly taken aback, before explaining that he was "firmly pro-life."
It was earlier in the day when the tough questions began for Romney.
At a mid-afternoon stop to meet supporters at a general store, Romney scolded a reporter who repeatedly shouted questions at him about the controversy surrounding Attorney General Eric Holder, while Romney was shaking hands and signing autographs. Romney, who last held a press conference or availability on September 28, eventually turned around and asked who had been asking the question.
"I do press avails and then I answer questions. They're important questions -- in the length that I want to do," Romney said. "But what I don't do in a group like this is stop and rattle off questions to people just as we walk along because that way you don't get the chance to hear the full answer that I'd like to give. So those are important questions and I'd be happy to address them at a press avail or at the town meeting, but at events like this I don't take press conference questions because it doesn't give you or me a chance to have a full discussion of the topic when it's, particularly, an important one."
The day began on considerably friendlier territory for Romney, with another town hall, at the VFW in Milford, NH. There, after joking about answering or dodging tough questions as best he could, he was able to focus his attack on President Obama, debuting a new line, in which he accused the president of creating a "Where's Waldo economy" in which finding a good paying job was like trying to find the character in the famous puzzle books.
Accompanied in Milford by his wife Ann, and former NH Senator and Governor Judd Gregg, Romney was in an ebullient mood. When Ann said she would show the world another side of Mitt, he turned his back to the cameras and audience, inducing groans and laughter from the room. He defended his Massachusetts health care reform bill -- alluding to a new ad by Texas Governor Rick Perry, which he later said he had not yet seen -- and said his critics would rely on "obfuscation and bewilderment" to confuse voters about what he believed, and what statements he had made in the past.
In both Milford and Hopkinton, Romney addressed the burgeoning Occupy Wall Street movement. At first, he seemed solidly against the movement, saying in Milford:
"One of the things in my view that has made America's economy the most powerful in the world is that we have a very capable financial service sector that makes loans and allows biz to start and thrive. Are there bad actors on Wall Street? Absolutely. Are there bad actors on main street? Absolutely. And they have to be found and picked out and plucked out, but to say that some how that we should point and attack other Americans or other regions of America or industries in America I think would be a mistake. I think the idea of dividing our nation in a time of crisis is the wrong way to go. All the streets are connected. Wall Streets connected to Main Street. So finding a scapegoat, finding someone to blame is the wrong way to go."
In Hopkinton he seemed to soften that view when asked about the growing wealth disparities in the United States, co-opting some of the language of the protesters to say that while the fate of the top one percent of the US doesn't keep him up at night, "I worry about the 99% in America" and "I know how these people feel."
Also in Hopkinton, Romney was asked for his opinion about the surging Herman Cain. Romney said his fellow former CEO deserved a good look, but that he would not contrast their business records.
"I'm not going to try to convince you that my private sector experience is better than his," Romney said, later adding, "Vote for either one of us and you'll be happy."
And in the final exchange of the night, Romney was presented with a Red Sox cap, by a voter who said the hat should sit in congress as a reminder for legislators about the perils of spending too much.
"It's perfect evidence you can't solve problems by throwing money at them," the man said, referring to the September collapse of the team with one of the highest payrolls in baseball.
Romney laughed at the suggestion as he accepted the hat, and told the man that for now at least, he would focus on the Patriots instead.
Leave a Comment:
To quote the great George Costanza - YADA - YADA -YADA!
NO soup for you! lol
Sorry,
I missed the point of this post. What does Costanza and Soup have to do with the topic? Or is this the best you could whip out in order to be the first poster?
And you have followers voting this post up? Maybe you should run as BHO's new running mate. But then again, he already has Biden to make nonsensical comments, so he probably does not need you..
Love to hear your rants and you usual delusional position that BHO has a chance, but this one is just an obvious effort to post first, which I will never understand.
ABO 2012
Another metaphor you'll probably "never understand" could be the line from Pretty Woman: "What is your name honey?" "What would you like it to be." It was the "yada yada" in Fiesty's post that was referring to Romney's penchant for giving whatever answer he thinks the questioner is hoping for.
Don't you just love how metaphor's get under the RWNJ's skin?
I DO! lol
this is what bugs me..
Occupy Wall Street Protesters Refuse To Let Black Congressman Speak
Rob Port • October 9, 2011
Congressman John Lewis decided to stop by the Atlanta version of the “Occupy Wall Street” protests and asked if he could address the crowd to express some solidarity. The organizers put it to a vote of the crowd, and he wasn’t allowed to. Something that didn’t sit well with all attendees.
“I am angry because this is not what democracy is all about,” said one attendee. “This is Marxist more Stalin like.”
Gee, ya think?The irony here is that Congressman Lewis was one of the Democrats who have maintained that the tea party protests are racist, and even claimed that tea party protesters in Washington yelled racial epithets at him. Lewis’ claims on that last are bogus, I think, but I’m fairly certain that if he’d bothered to actually show up at a tea party rally and asked to address the crowd the local organizers probably would have let him. And the attendees probably would have listened, for the most part, even if they disagreed.
Where is the outrage from all you progressives about these Racist Occupiers not allowing a black man to speak..
Here is the link since it didnt post
OWS is not interested in being co-opted.
If Mr. Lewis wants to join in, he can then apply to the 'stack' to speak.
As for Romney, I don't think he would even know how to proceed in Democratic dialogue.
What does the fact that Lewis is black have to do with anything?
Newsflash from Atlanta: congressman Lewis AGREED with the decision and stated that he should have consulted the organizers.
Typical Faux News spin.
Something conservatives do not seem to understand is that OWS wants to avoid what happened to the Tea Party. The TP was almost immediately swallowed up by the GOP, big business like Koch Brothers (Americans for Prosperity), FOX News who jumped on the bandwagon. Dick Armey, Koch Brothers, Karl Rove's group all co-opted the movement.
I love Lewis Black!
Has President Obama faced truly tough questions in the 3 years since he was elected?
Maybe one interview with Fox news was tough....other than that, he talks to liberal journalists asking softball questions, who bow literally or figuratively like Brian Williams.
What alternate reality are you living in?
He took questions from the Republican caucus for over an hour last year...single handed...no notes.
He has conducted MULTIPLE press conferences with wide ranging questions...Gulf Oil Spill, Afghanistan...for the past 2 1/2 years.
Don't try to rewrite history with your partisanship views.
Being called a LIAR in the state of the union speech? Being called a Marxist, Socialist, Muslim, Anti-christ?
I'd say he has had more disrespect thrown at him in public than any President I've ever seen.
In the context of the statement President Obama had just made, that no money from Obamacare would go to illegal aliens, that was a lie.
IMHO, President Obama is a Marxist, but his concept of governance and the economy is more Fascist than Socialist. He doesn't care who owns a business, as long as the government can control it. He has also been much less of a civil libertarian than even President George W. Bush. Authorizing the non-judicial killing of an American citizen isn't exactly bean-ball and waging war against a country without Congressional authorization is also in violation of the Constitution.
Lions play their best football in the 2nd half Feisty.
Congrats on the win GOP!
The Lions are on fire! ;o)
You don't have your facts straight.
U.S. Rep. John Lewis, in an impromptu news conference at Galloway School after a talk Monday, said he didn't feel disrespected by not being allowed to speak last week by the Occupy Wall Street group in Woodruff Park.
A tape of the incident that has received thousands of hits on YouTube shows that the group voted to allow Lewis to speak after it has completed its "agenda."
#youtube_video-8059088
I watched the coverage of the protests in downtown Chicago tonight. I saw people waving signs that said: "the 1% take from the 99% and we want it back." (or something to that effect). My question is: how do the rich take from the middle class? Isn't it more of the rich don't share their wealth with the non-wealthy?
This is what President Obama wants. He's been complaining about the evil rich for three years. He's encouraged people to speak out but he's convinced the people that placing blame is the right thing to do. The class warfare rhetoric is taking hold. Americans are in the streets. Americans are pitted against Americans.
The messages of the protesters are disjointed but all of they are unified in their unhappiness.
I hoped President Obama would truly bring hope and inspiration and messages to lift up us all. I wonder if he notices our amazing country is spiraling down, spiraling down in doom.
I wouldn't say the rich TAKE from the middle class, but for decades, We the people have bought their goods and we are the people who helped make them rich.
It would be nice if they would at least pay more taxes for a few years to help us get back on track.
My grandparents bought many brand name products from the same companies who we buy from now.
In many cases,...we are subsidizing companies that don't NEED any incentives,...Look at Big Oil, for instance,...
Those subsidies are Middle Class funded. Koch brothers pledge $200 million for the 2012 elections,...ironically - significantly MORE than a 3% increase in their taxes for 1 year,...
Why is that exactly? Cuz' they've gotten quite used to feeding at the trough of public subsidies,...see also Halliburton, Blackwater
Candice;
As Batman used to say: "You poor deluded girl".
What you are witnessing is a transformational movement in this country.
The "Occupy" movement is a Progressive Tea Party!! Long overdue.
What do you think the right wing fears of this disjointed, ad hoc collection of right wing waste matter?
That's right, I wrote it, but don't misunderstand me. Not to be crass, but these people are not Republicans. THEY ARE WHAT REPUBLICANS CRAP OUT!! These people are Republican droppings. They are the waste product that results when Republicanism has stripped humans of whatever money, jobs, promise, retirement, health care, or voting voice they once had. These jobless, hopeless people are what are left after 30 years of "trickle on" economics embraced by the party of the wealthy. They are the by-product of this nation's orgiastic intercourse with laissez-faire economics. They're there because they have nothing to lose. They are a Progressive kamikaze run.
These disaffected people are the by-product of outsourcing, offshoring, cut Pell grants, exhausted unemployment and a changing economy that does not include them.
They may not be purely aligned with the Democratic Party, but the reflexive reaction of the GOP to these rag tag rebels is telling. The speed with which the right wing propaganda networks worked to neutralize them was impressive. First they ignored them. Then when ignoring them did not work, the denial of coverage turned to showcase the less-than-articulate among them. When this failed, they turned to show their hygiene and bodily functions. Pulitzer material that. Now they are busily showcasing the one anti-Semite among millions of rational occupiers.
Will this movement translate to the voting booth? These 21st-Century Hoovervilles lay bare the inequities in this country in an uncomfortable manner. So did Wisconsin.
Now that the Republican handiwork is exhibited on the radar; the Republicans have every right to fear what they have wrought, and their "collateral damage", like a stenching corpse, will not allow them, or next year's voters, to forget it.
Candice,
The only ones threatened by class warfare are the mega wealthy (1%) because they know we are finally fed up with them! I think it is wonderful when people work hard and achieve wealth, I think it is absolutely disgusting and sinful when they do not do what they are supposed to do with their so called tax break - they are supposed to be creating jobs yet they will not, instead they hold on to the money which is one of the problems in our great nation, that and the fact that people need to retire by the time they are 65 at the oldest - sure would open up a lot of jobs for people right out of high school or college. Keep protesting, I'll join you guys when I have a day off - glad to see they finally made it to Nashville although I doubt it will influence our mega wealthy governor and his merry band of rich theives that control our state at this time - Occupy, Occupy, Occupy! Keep up the good work, what an interesting election year it will be, maybe the Occupier's will out number the baggers and the working class will once again be represented.
By the way - that hope and change thing? it is working out just fine for me and my family, thanks for asking, sorry you missed the train when it pulled out of the station! wink, wink.
GOP,
I am so glad the Dems are taking ownership of this group and taking them into the fold. The anti-semetic rants, the hippie style public displays and lack of organization and lack of a unified point all will make for a good mix in your group. They are factually vacant and when asked why they are protesting, half cannot come up with a valid cause and sound idiotic.
I will stay with my party and their peacefull organized thoughts and true desire for America to be great again. You can have your pot smoking, ranting and seemingly clueless group that sees a protest as a party and cant even get their message together to have a unified front. Calling for anarchy and socialism, getting arrested for unlawfull acts, deficating on police cars, ect etc etc. This will help America how? Want to protest corporations? Dont buy their goods. The ongoing protests just display a group who likes a good protest, and every day makes more normal Americans digusted with these potests and the protesters. I am glad the Dems are embracing them, as I expect more of these protests to turn unlawfull and become even more of a public nuisance then they already are.
Not to mention, the Teaparty crowd smells better.
Good luck with your new face of the Democrat party. Somehow, it is fitting and a perfect compliment to the failed leader you already have. He wants to destroy the country and this group wants to destroy capitalism....
It is way to funny for words.
ABO 2012
Union Baby,
What tax break do you refer to? Can you elaborate on the exact tax break, what the percentage was and what the qualifications for getting it are?
I may not be rich, but I do file taxes. I do not recall a tax break that I can file for that does not carry some sort of qualifying factor that I must prove in order to be able to claim it. I do not think I could claim a tax break for the energy credit for insulating my home without actually having proof that I did it.
So enlighten me. What breaks are they getting for something they are expected to do, but have no proof of actually having done?
Sounds like a talking point BS to me. And businesses are hoarding cash due to the policies this adminsitration has in place and the pending Obamacare fiasco. That is plain and simple. They are not doing it for greed, as what is the purpose of that? They feel they need a cash reserve to handle the future regulations and taxes headed their way. Businesses do not hoard cash for no reason as cash makes no future profits. They will invest it in hope that the right business moves will bring in more and more cash in the future. That is, if they have confidence that the business environment is right and they can expect to see the multiplication of this investment.
This administration has made it clear that this activity is not prudent, and hoarding cash, which is against every business pricipal, is the way to go for now.
If you were trying to make a point, you missed wildly. I await your response on what breaks they are getting and not living up to the requirements of the tax break. Please advise
On the more factual side of Tennessee....And glad it is still a RED state.
ABO 2012
Union,
You are fed up with the top 1% of wage earners? You do realize that group of people pay 38% of the Federal income tax receipts dont you? What portion of this are you fed up with? Seems you should be greatfull they are paying a portion that YOU should be paying.
I would more suspect this group of people are more fed up with you. And they should be.
ABO 2012
Who gives a flying (whatever) that they pay 38%? I would just want them to pay for the wars of the '00's instead of demanding that jobs, services and benefits be cut for the rest of us. The Tea Party has a single message, but the problem is that it is nonetheless, nonsense. Deficits didn't cause the recession or unemployment. Fixing in the deficit in the short term won't create jobs. Find one economist who says so! Monarchies were not toppled by popular election. When the system is broken, there can be many causes and much mis-information. Just because some attack the wrong, misinformed cause, or allow their prejudices to surface (sounds a lot like the Tea Party), shouldn't diminish the initial that the system is broken. You can argue that Lenin-Trotsky was a bad outcome, but was Czarist Russia better and was it going to lead to something better?
Wm,
We agree the system is broken. But you seem to be missing a few facts. You like all these services and benefits. The people paying for them obviously dont like them all. You want to kepp them? YOU pay some of the cost and see how you like them. The people paying the bill for all your services and benefits care. You may not care that they are paying 38% of the federal receipts, but I am sure they do.
Our deficits are the cause of our credit downgrade. And we continue even after this to put 40 cents on every dollar spent into the deficit column. If you run your household putting 40 cents of every dollar you spend on your credit card month after month and only pay the interest on that credit bill when the bills come in each month, how long can you survive? How long till you are no longer credit worthy and people refuse to give you credit limit increases? They can tax the rich all they want (which is already too much as it is) and it will not dent the amount we borrow month to month for these services and benefits you so dearly love.
What part of this do you find so hard to understand? It is unsustainable and if it is not addressed very quickly, we will not be able to get out of it.
And our credit rating will continue to go down as these debt level increase. This causes us to pay more interest on the credit bill, which takes more out of the coffers each and every month just to cover the interest.
All the Tea Party wants is to get to where we spend what we have, not continue to go further in the hole with every dollar spent.
The Governement does not create jobs, unless they are government jobs, which further add to the problem, as we borrow money to pay the employees. And we have the 2nd highest corporate tax structure in the world now, which is why more jobs go overseas, as they have favorable tax rates and less regulation of the day to day business. Incentive has to be created to keep businesses here. Instead we add policy to continue to chase them away and keep them from expanding here. Even Government motors is building more factories in other contries than here. And we bailed them out...
So while you dont give a flying whatever, you obviously dont fully comprehend the situation. We spend too much. And all the tax increases on the overtaxed rich now will not bring this spending to a level to where we are not borrowing to spend and continuing to add to the deficit. Taxing corporations more will push more jobs overseas, as it is a proven fact we have a tax rate on business that is already too high. Continuing to spend blindly will bankrupt us. So the only choice is to cut spending severely. Yes, that means some of the precious services and benefits you dont want to be cut.
I dont care about Monachies, Russia, Czars etc. And you and I agree the system is broken. I am just willing to make the tough choices on programs and services we cannot afford, and you wish to continue down the spending rabbit hole and pretend the debt will not kill us. The solution wont be painless, but is necessary.
I am the Tea Party and have a single purpose. CUT SPENDING. Otherwise it is all a mute point and no other action can save us from disaster.
ABO 2012
The majority of our current deficit is the result of the wars - pay for those, bring us to even, then let's talk about "essential" services. Those current service, benefit deficits were paid for until Bush broke the bank. Don't confuse long term entitlement issues with current deficits. There has been a shift in income and wealth in the country which has left us with more poor and a stagnant middle class. If anything, in the short term, more services are needed, but those who hold the pocket book, not only have more, but are holding onto it tighter. You voted for your fool - pay his bills first, then let's debate my fool's bills.
Wm,
I personally do not agree with the wars we are in, but BHO did no favors by increasing involvement in Afganistan and jumping into Libya. He did not end any as he promised in his campaign and owns a good portion of the cost of Afganistan and Libya himself. And regardless of the outcomes, none of these countries will be our friends in the long run so we have no interest in being there. As a Conservative, I break ranks with the idea that these wars are good for anything. And I was not a GWB fan, so dont mind admitting his free spending ways certainly did not agree with me. And I blame him for Obama, as without his failures, BHO would not have been elected.
And I am not about getting rid of or even addressing the "essential" services until the low hanging fruit are picked first. All the added federal employees for miscellaneous jobs "created" under the original stimulus and needless programs have the largest federal government workforce in history. It needs cut way back and these non-essential jobs eliminated. There are multiple "Department Of" items in the federal budget that should not be there. Dept of Education, Dept of Energy, etc etc. Most of this should be the individual state's responsibility, not the feds.
We should not have funding for the arts, should not be paying earned income credits, shouldl not be subsidizing museums, and all Federal parts should be closed unless they are cash positive and can support themselves on the fees they charge for entry. We should not be giving credits for home insulation, or energy star improvements. We should not be subsidizing car purchases. We should not be repairing schools (as again, this is a state or local issue).
I would suspect my fool and your fool combined have us burried. But all the fools up until now have created programs that go on forever and they need to be re-evaluated one by one to see if they are absolutely neccessary for our survival and cut if they are not. Not that all these things are bad, and many are nice to have if we could afford to keep them. But it is obvious we cannot have all the same things we currently have as we are drowning in debt to pay for them. All federal programs need to be evaluated and departments turned back to the state level to deal with.
Once all that is complete we can assess where we are in relation to our income to expenditures.
I think we may be more in agreement than we even know. We may disagree on who the biggest disappointment is (Bush or Obama) but both agree we have problems that need addressed. I am sure the method of addressing them is what makes us different.
I believe the Fedral government is the problem, you more view it as the solution.
At least the country is free enough for us to disagree.
ABO 2012
dsdsherm - you are refreshingly decisive about all things democratic, but when it comes to Republicans, just ABO? Really? All candidates are equal? Really? C'mon, share your preference among the declared GOP candidates. You like them all the same, Perry, Paul, Romney, Bachman?
You got to be kidding Candace, You think they are in the streets because of what Obama said, Obama did not lay them off, he did not make them unhappy, being broke and seeing no way out made them unhappy. Losing their homes and pensions made them unhappy, watching republicans protect the tax rates of the wealthy and corporations at the expense of everything else made them unhappy. Watching elected officials sign pledges to Norquest made them unhappy. You can't get hope and inspiration through Congress, because that costs money, and the only thing republicans will agree to are tax cuts. I guess you think if Obama said to eat more pasta people would hit the streets and demand more pasta. These people spell big trouble for republicans, and it is not because of anything Obama said. You think democrats are the only ones affected, you don't think there are plenty of former republicans out there in the crowds, virtually every government employee laid off or cut by republican governors is joining in, for every protestor you see in the flesh there are many more in spirit. Congress would like to welcome you to Waterloo.
Forrest,
you don't think there are plenty of former republicans out there in the crowds
I do doubt this as Republicans typically have a sense of self reliance and responsibility bred into them. That is what makes them Republican to begin with. If they are in the crowds, I am sure it is just to amuse themselves, not participate with the rabble.
The idea of gathering in protest to whine about what others have that they dont would be counter to their beliefs.
If they are out there, then they were not ever REALLY Republican to begin with.
ABO 2012
You can kid yourself all you want dsdsherm, but republicans collect welfare, and food stamps as soon as they are laid off, until then you are right they are rather wimpy and have a hard time standing up for themselves, they even had to put a bunch of old ladies up front with tea bags hanging from their straw hats for their tea party protests. They are included the 15 million people that have lost their employment, and nothing republican keeps them from needing money like everyone else. We will see at election time how many were never really republican to begin with as you say.
Forrest,
Can only speak for myself, but no we dont. I was laid off January this year from a job of 16 years. While I did collect unemployment, I also immediately sought further certifications and job seeking items to help me find my next job. I could have applied fro free lunches for my kids at school but didnt. I could have applied for food stamps but didnt. I studied avery day and got my certifications to pad my resume as fast as possible as I did not wish to participate in unemployment extensions.
I found the idea of being on unemployment embarrasing. But I also had a cash reserve to fall back on as I live a conservative life which means I do not live paycheck to paycheck and always ensure funds are there for a bad stretch. And, unlike our government, I immediately cut all non-essential items out of our family budget to stretch this moeny as far as it would go.
I got another job based on my skill before the orignal unemployment ran out and and back to rebuilding my emergency fund, as it comes first.
So you are wrong. I am Republican and have pride. I also have a sense of responsibility and self worth. And while I probably would have qualified for the programs you mentioned, my pride told me to stand on my own feet and get moving and own my destiny. My success or failure depends solely on me. And I only had myself to blame if I failed. That is Republican.
But the Republican pricipals are what kept me alive as I was living below my means, had a cash reserve, didnt feel sorry for myself and instead improved myself and have not turned Democrat in the process. Because that would be embarassing too and turning Democrat would have been the worst of the embarassment.
ABO 2012
Be looking over your shoulder, Romney - your party knows you won't be elected. The Third Party rhetoric has begun, and true to form, look for how much the RNC is going to pour into a 3rd party candidate (as they do in every election they can't win).
Could be your backing, Romne, if you weren't so fake. They'll let you spend and spend to try to catch that brass ring - you might even get some nickles tossed your way, but the party bankroll will be elsewhere - just watch.
Lions: 5 - 0
Sorry, Fiesty. Good game.
xo
I don't trust Romney because like other powerful Mormon legislatures he ignores tens of thousands of fundamentalist Mormon polygamists who abuse women and children and live off taxpayers. How can we trust our country to a man who turns a bind eye on the "lost boys" who get expelled from Mormon cults so older polygamists can marry underage girls? There are over 300 polygamous cults in Utah and powerful Mormon legislatures allow them tax-exempt status. Watch the documentary film "Banking On Heaven" before you vote for Romney. Mormons are a scary bunch!
Romney looks like a made for TV movie version of a President - all fake smiles and a plastic veneer of dignity.
He looks cheap...thought he is supposed to be rich?
God help the New England Patriots! There goes their season....