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Subscribe to RSSCOLUMBIA, SC -- Back on the stump for the first time since Saturday night's debate with his GOP rivals, Mitt Romney wasted little time in turning his focus back to President Obama, lashing out at the president for making "disparaging" comments about Americans.
"Sometimes, I just don't think that President Obama understands America," Romney said. "I say that because this week -- Or was it last week? -- he said that Americans are lazy. I don't think that describes America. Before that I think it was in October, he was saying we have lost our inventiveness, and our ambition. Before that he was saying other disparaging things about Americans. I just don't think he understands -- he was saying we just weren't working hard enough. I don't think he gets what's happening in this country."
Romney was referencing remarks made by the president at Saturday's APEC summit in Hawaii, where he was asked about government policies that serve as impediments to foreign investment in the United States, not about Americans generally.
"I think it’s important to remember that the United States is still the largest recipient of foreign investment in the world. And there are a lot of things that make foreign investors see the U.S. as a great opportunity -- our stability, our openness, our innovative free market culture," Obama said. "But we’ve been a little bit lazy, I think, over the last couple of decades. We’ve kind of taken for granted -- well, people will want to come here and we aren’t out there hungry, selling America and trying to attract new business into America."
Later in his remarks, Romney hit the president again, perhaps a bit more gently, for his broader economic policies.
"Now I don't want to be too critical, the president came in, and I think never having worked in the private sector, he went to work trying to make things better. And remember that old Ronald Reagan line - he says the most frightening thing you could possibly hear are, 'I'm here from the government and I'm here to help,'" Rommey said. "And so he did almost everything, in my view, wrong."
The balance of Romney's speech, which followed an introduction by his wife, Ann, was focused on his own economic and fiscal policy. He touched on his plans to shut down various government programs, and send Medicaid back to the states, but spent the most time on labor policy.
Speaking on the floor of Colite, a non-union sign factory, Romney tailored his speech to reflect the anti-union sentiment among Republican voters here, fueled by a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) lawsuit charging that Boeing built a factory in South Carolina to punish striking workers in Washington State.
Romney said that President Obama paid unions back for helping him get elected by appointing “stooges to the NLRB.”
“You know something about that in South Carolina,” he said, alluding to the NLRB/Boeing case.
Romney said that American workers were entitled to protections including the right to a secret ballot, the right to 30 days notice before a union election, the right to resist mandatory unionization and the right to work in a non-union state.
*** UPDATE *** Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt responds: “Only Mitt Romney would criticize the president for encouraging CEOs to promote the United States abroad in order to create American jobs and attract investment at home. Maybe that’s because when Mitt Romney was a finance executive, he was more focused on outsourcing American jobs and creating profits for investors without any regard for the impact of his decisions on middle class families.”
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What do you mean Mitt? We are really not a communist nation?...oops, my bad.
And Romney is one of the 99%, whatever, Mitt. He is a fine one to say that he can relate to the working class of this country. He has a 5 million dollar home. He tears apart companies and puts people out of work as easy as he changes his socks. If that is what the Republicans want in this country. More power to you. Can't wait to see all of them in line up for food handouts or living in a park under a tarp.
This administration has put more people out of work than any since carter.....the last liberal whacko to run under the "hope and change" banner (ironically enough). It has also spent more money in three years than any previous administration did in eight. Bad for the economy?...obviously. Be a good media brainwashed lackey and re-elect your obamabot leader...I will save you a spot under the tarp.
Go ahead, hide this comment, the truth, and blame Republicans for your mess. The Democratic party relies on stupidity and ignorance. The CRA passed under Carter and it's strengthening under the Clinton administration are why the global economy is in it's current state. Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac and their Democratic campaign contributions are responsible for this crisis. If you want to continue seeing the United States crumble, vote for Democrats.
"The Democratic party relies on stupidity and ignorance."
It looks like you are working on a pretty strong dose of stupidity and ignorance yourself, Bill. Here Gingrich is caught red-handed taking vast amounts of money for nothing except influence and you want to blame Carter?
How stupid and ignorant is that?
"youtube.com/watch?v=yruw_WhNzNA"
"youtube.com/watch?v=LPSDnGMzIdo&feature=related
It may be that, in some areas of the law, it is useful to proceed on the premise that the corporation is a person. But it is sheer stupidity to do a "search and replace," substituting the word "person" everywhere the word "corporation" occurs. It is simply not logical or valid. I find it absolutely mind-boggling to think that our Supreme Court acts as if it is a universal rule.
Laker: How is it that Obama is getting blamed for Solyndra? Don't quite understand the reasoning. If you check history, your find that in 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy invited Solyndra to apply for a new loan guarantee program, a program created with the support of a majority of Republicans, who controlled Congress at the time. This was before Obama was elected president, possibly not even campaigning yet... Loan was approved early Jan 2009 and scheduled to be completed by March 2009. The administration pushed to finish the $535 million loan for Solyndra so it could tout the company as a poster child of the stimulus — construction jobs plus a boost to American green energy. Solyndra got the loan Sept. 3, 2009.
Solyndra was turned down for the financing they wanted during Bush, not a viable corp. candidate! obama and his elitist (if anyone on earth can call Biden and elitist) were snookered, that's because they do not possess sound business practices. It was all for show, he's not a good leader because he was never a good follower first. Now he and Biden have tried to cover this bad deal up! I want to hear the missing 18.5 minutes of tape from obama's office on this deal. Don't expect this to end anytime soon. Maybe like Nov. 2012.
By early January 2009, Solyndra's file had been reviewed by the department's credit committee and returned with a request for further analysis. On Jan. 15, 2009 the loan program office said the Solyndra loan was scheduled to be complete by March 2009. Obama took office Jan. 20, 2009...
Solyndra was a major obama campaign contributor and the loans were expidited by his green nazi cabinet czars. he even visited the solyndra factory. Catch a clue....money buys influence in DC.
The market was flooded with solar (PV) panels, Solyndra was not ahead of the curve with their products, this industry is changing very rapidly and a business mind could easily identify the downside of this particular business. Do to the business location (CA voters) and the political surge obama expected from the "dog & pony show" he went "all in" with my tax dollars. He's a puppet of soros (the American hater) that fits right in with obama, like twins.....hugo chavez, jeremiah wright, bill ayers....long list of American haters.....like many here posting tonight.
What about the check we received from the treasury dept. back in 2006 for $1425 with a letter 2 days prior to go out and spend it on "consummables". A Republican telling me to go out and spend a govt. check on "items"?? Do you think George knew back then the economy was tanking quickly and had no damn answer for it like they don't have an answer for it now? and the Dow was sinking quickly early 2008 as a reaction to 8 years of absolutely no domestic policy. Nothing, go ahead bring up Solyndra and I will bring up particle research with the star wars program that cost billions with nothing to show for it under Ronald Reagan, except big blue prints for a cyclotron around Texas A&M. Also my investments started the surge back after the initial stimulus and it seemed after 8 years of Hoover, I mean Bush, that we would be in a prolonged deep recession not a once in a life time depression.
Actually I believe Barack Hussein Obama does understand what America stands for. And that is exactly why BHO is determined to destroy America. Ever hear of Saul Alinsky? Look him up - in short his life was dedicated to destroying America. FYI - Alinsky is one of BHO's heroes. Going so far as to quote Alinsky many times during his run for president and after he was elected. Yeah! Yeah! Here comes another conspiracy ... But, look up Hillary Clinton's Senior Thesis; it was on Alinsky. If you want to accurately categorize BHO, he would be closer to being a "nihilist". (To take power form the "haves" and give it to the "have nots").
Time4aPurge
All this calling Liberals and Progressives commies is utterly ridiculous. Everyone knows, including you unless your are delusional, that we are not commies. We are liberal and believe in good education for all, affordable health care and protecting the environment, safety and filling in pot holes and repairing bridges. It is insulting that you keep calling liberals commies and it is not true. So, unless you are just mean and like to be nasty, why don't just stop saying what is not true. You are not a have btw and we are not the have nots. You and I are just people living in America, trying to take care of our families, educate and protect them, live in peace and try to do what is right for all of us. Obama is not a commie either..you may not like him but he is who the country elected and he is the President.
For Romney to make a comment like, "And there are a lot of things that make foreign investors see the U.S. as a great opportunity -- our stability, our openness, our innovative free market culture," just shows how out of touch Romney is with American Forneign Policy and economic growth of America. I truely believe that these people simple are not in touch with reality and the American people and how to progress in a world market. Romney ONLY serves the LOBBY GROUPS that support his political agenda.
Romney does not understand America...The days of raping and pillaging the 99% by the 1% are over...
Get an honest job flipping burgers somewhere Romney, you WallStreet 1% puke
"You gotta love this lying fool ...a constant source of amusement !"
You shouldn't talk about your president that way...
Obama is the only US politician to understand America properly.
His comment in April 2008 that Americans "cling to guns and religion" was spot on and a remarkably concise and accurate diagnosis of the main problems besetting the USA.
NICE SPIN MIT
Mr. silver spoon is criticizing the President for not understanding America. That's a double knee slapper! So a person who won the presidency with a grass roots campaign knows less about America than a PAC money funded, gated community rich boy. I'm sure candidate Romney could tell us more how the wealthy live but I'll bet President Obama can tell us more about the rest of America. ZEEK
Obama doesn't get it. He recently tanked on the U.S education system to folks in Australia. Obviously not to be reported here, you can read it here: http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2011/11/17/obama-tells-aussie-students-kids/
Not to mention he sends his kids to a 30 grand a year private school. The Jackass Express just keeps rolling along.
Obanma doesn't understand America because he doesn't care about America. He has serious daddy issues from his Kenyan father and abadonment issues from his mother that left him for an Indonesian and sent him to a private school instead of loving him.
NObama in 2012! This country can't afford four more years of Barry!
And you would be qualified to make this diagnosis how exactly? Oh, right, because you just FEEL it's so.
What Romney is referring to is the mentality that Obama exhibited before he was ever elected when he said:
"I don't care what the polls say, I going to do what I know is best for America."
But Romney is essential wrong, Obama knows what America wants, he just says that his plan is more important that what the American people want because we are too stupid to know what is good for us. Unfortunately, that is not the way a democracy works, that is the way a dictatorship works.
McRob,
Psst. This isn't a democracy. It is a Representative Republic.
Just thought you should know...
Put down the Glenn Beck Kool Aide, Vow. Everyone knows we don't have a Direct Democracy. We have a Representative Democracy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varieties_of_democracy You're arguing a point that's intended to do nothing other than deflect from real issues and confuse voters.
I want to be a Conserative Republican when I growing up...!!!
sadly, conservative Republicans NEVER grow up,...it's pretty much a fountain of 'youth' of sorts.
Selfish and immature? How could anyone say that about far right wing Republicans?
...oh.
Mitt is full of himself and his Republican dorks have been bent on bankrupting this country of its spirit... by sowing hate and fear.
Romney is right. The Campaigner in Chief travels the world and bashes our great country. Remember, he said he would "fundamentally change" this country, into his socialist view of the world.
Isnt this the same idiot that when asked what he would do if America was attacked, he replied that he would consult with his lawyers?
I guess since Romney's is worth a much as an estimated 250 million dollars to 264 million dollars he considers that he, himself, has all the understanding one could possibly need about America. Including being able to judge others understanding of the United States.
who are you for,the republicans or the greedy ? ''you know there's not a difference'' i say let's stay far away from the BUSH traditional fray. let's put a large picture of joe smith in the oval office. and a towering statute of the angel MORONI atop the white house. let's legalize polygamy, and eliminate unemployment in america by opening child care centers everywhere. or let's put a real 100% african slave's great grandson in the white house. it will legally be deemed as the BLACK HOUSE, and restitution will then be forced to the bargaining table. i mean, '' you know they will track his family roots. all the way to the vicious beatings of his ancestors. ''RESTITUTION WILL THEN BE MADE LAW'' but really, i like the idea of having plenty wives. SEX AND MORE SEX IN THE CITY ''SON''. or we can put someone in there with a bad memory, i'm sure much more will get done '' TO THIS ECONOMY. '' or maybe a deviant pretender, who knows that it's imposible for the world to know about his swaggering background. that's what i like about the ''OBAMA HATERS'' they can do the job better. 2012 is in their bag of cash
Forgetting parties... I think Romney is correct. Obama does NOT understand America or Americans in general. There have been numerous times when he could have used executive orders to halt some of the worst rises in prices of consumer products to help stablize the economy. Instead, he took off on holidays and golfing trips. And while I don't agree with everything Bush did. At least he WAS a leader. Obama is NOT a leader. Right now, IF he really wanted to help get the unemployed working. Why doesn't he just do what Roosevelt did with his work fare program??? That not only got people back to work, it pulled us out of the depression. But then, That makes to much sense. Why do something like that when he and others can sit back and blame everyone else for our current situation. Again... forgetting parties, Obama has had one failed policy after another and yet he will NOT take the responsibility for their failures. How can anyone follow someone that won't even take advice from the very advisors that HE picked out and appointed??? They ALL told him that ALL these policies would fail yet Obama went ahead and did them anyway. And NOW he is using exective orders to bypass Congress??? NOT good...... He promised Hope and Change, well... he certainly gave us change, a change for the worse, now we're ALL Hoping that we will get someone in there that actually knows what their doing....
Virtually the only upward pressure on consumer prices has come from speculative spikes in the oil market. When will Republicans stop blocking Barack Obama's efforts to apply reasonable regulation to the commodities market?
Because Republicans won't allow additional spending on the public works projects that would be necessary to do so.
Knowing these things makes it harder to reflexively blame President Obama, doesn't it?
Not at all...... He would rather pay the unemployed to sit on their collective buts than do anything to earn the money that they are getting........ At lest if they were working for their checks, this country would have something to show for the money they are giving out...!!!!!!!
Ummmm, Richard? 14M Americans competing for 4M jobs...do the math.
Speaking of which, where are the jobs Republicans promised?
Romney - who owns 4 houses. Romeny - who wants to tear down his $12 million dollar home in La Jolla and build a bigger home because the current one "doesn't suit his needs". And Romney says President Obama doesn't undertand America...LOL!
Richard
We the voters will fix everything we need come Nov 1012. If the voter have eliminated all the Ney Sayer's, we will have the jobs we have been waiting for since the Kock Kongress took office and Obama will not have to by-pass Congress to get things done. That is the fix that needs to be done. Blaming Obama for what Koch's minions have caused and what Bush-Cheney brought the country is ludicrous. You give your money to the top 1% if you like, the rest of us want the country (all of us) to grow, prosper and compete in the world without destroying the qualify of life for the 98% out here.