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Subscribe to RSSThe Obama campaign has been trying to hit Mitt Romney for outsourcing jobs at Bain and as governor of Massachusetts. The Washington Post gives it some fodder today: “Mitt Romney’s financial company, Bain Capital, invested in a series of firms that specialized in relocating jobs done by American workers to new facilities in low-wage countries like China and India. During the nearly 15 years that Romney was actively involved in running Bain, a private equity firm that he founded, it owned companies that were pioneers in the practice of shipping work from the United States to overseas call centers and factories making computer components, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.”
Romney has ads out in at least four states – Virginia, Iowa, Ohio, and North Carolina – showing what his first 100 days as president would mean in those states.
And with the context of that Washington Post story about Bain’s investments in companies that outsourced, here’s the opening line of the Ohio ad: “President Romney’s first 100 days. What will they mean for Ohio? Day 1, President Romney stands up to China, demands a level playing field for our businesses and workers.”
The Boston Globe on Romney’s immigration speech yesterday: “Mitt Romney sought to broaden his appeal among Hispanic voters Thursday afternoon, recasting some of the hard-line positions he took during the heated Republican primary race on the divisive topic of immigration.”
And: “The speech was a significant departure from the blunt rhetoric Romney adopted during the Republican primary race, when he said illegal immigrants should go through “self-deportation” and leave the United States. At the time, he also criticized rivals Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich for policies seen as friendly to immigrants, and he said he would veto the Dream Act, which would create a path to citizenship for young illegal immigrants.”
The Washington Post: “Romney NALEO speech gets mixed reaction from attendees.”
GOP 12: Romney “didn't endorse Barack Obama's sweeping immigration plan or offer a specific replacement… It was another reminder that Mitt doesn't seem inclined to dip too deeply into immigration-related issues and is making the calculation that Hispanic voters will be much more moved by unemployment and the economy.”
The New York Times: “Mr. Romney dropped the confrontational tone he took on immigration during the Republican primary. Instead, he promised to work in a series of areas to help immigrants and their families while discouraging people from coming to the country illegally."
Dario Moreno, a professor at Florida International University, was at the speech and told NBC’s Andrew Rafferty, “I thought he showed some movement in immigration. I was pleasantly surprised how far he went with family unification and green cards and path to citizenship.”
But he said Romney was “vague” when talking about elements of the DREAM Act and that the speech wasn’t about winning over Latinos but about making him “more acceptable,” not “scare Latinos” and drive up turnout for Democrats. “I don't think he changed many minds,” Moreno said, “but at least he came here and addressed audience and presented his policies in best way.”
USA Today’s Kucinich: Such proposals lacked detail and failed to address the real problems with immigration, said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which backs stronger immigration laws. ‘On legal immigration he mentioned the obvious: that the system is broken, but his vision seems to be more add-ons and not going back and fixing the underlying problems,’ Mehlman said. Romney's comments on Obama's executive order were ‘cryptic,’ Mehlman said, particularly since Romney said during the Republican primaries that he would veto the DREAM Act.”
More: “Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, an immigrant advocacy group, was more blunt in his assessment. ‘Today's speech did nothing to boost his credibility — or his chances — in November,’ Sharry said in a statement Thursday.”
The Tampa Bay Times’ Smith: “Hispanic leaders gathered at a national conference in Orlando may have given Mitt Romney a lukewarm reception Thursday, but they rose to their feet and cheered former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.”
Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s team says it’s not true that Romney told them to tone down anything.
As First Read has noted, the New York Times writes, “Mitt Romney is on a collision course — not just with President Obama, but also with Republican governors in several important swing states. Mr. Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, repeatedly highlights the grim economic situation in places like Virginia, Ohio and Iowa. … But the political imperative is very different for the governors in those states, whose improving economies are a source of pride and offer valuable talking points to help build lasting legacies.”
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"During the nearly 15 years that Romney was actively involved in running Bain, a private equity firm that he founded, it owned companies that were pioneers in the practice of shipping work from the United States to overseas call centers and factories making computer components, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.”
Got that? PIONEERS.
Pat,
I keep seeing post here that keep bragging about Bain's success which we all know it has been. That's not the point. The point is that if Romney is going to take credit for the success of Bain, he also has to take the responsibility for how it got there.
Bain's main objective was always short-term decisions to maximize the return on investment. ALWAYS. That is the bread and butter of Bain. Bain was never about creating jobs, and if jobs were created, that was just a by-product. if jobs were lost, that was just the cost for turning profit.
People keep missing the point why Romney is being criticized; it's not because we are jealous of his wealth; it's because he has a selective memory, and he wants to talk about what he wants to talk about. Plus he wants to take credit for the entire 28 year history of Bain.
BTW, I'm from the Auburn, MA area, and I have not met a person yet who is sMITTen by Romney - not even those who vote Republican. I guess people of Mass view Romney as a "little" less qualified because they got to experience him first hand.
Romney knows the "specialized in relocating jobs" will be exposed, so what is with him running for office non-stop, and worse repeating the same talking points each time? I wonder if he thinks he can just keep throwing sh!t at the wall and eventually something will stick. Opportunism is an important part of Private Inequity and Vulture Capitalism. He's praying for a bad economy. Disgusting.
BTW, Bill Bain "founded" Bain Capital -- Romney was hired on with no personal risk.
Just another nail in the Romney campaign coffin.
Gosh, Maine has a Republican governor Romney could get along with: he's cut 23,000 low income people from Medicaid, AND legalized the sale of fireworks! Oh boy, the poor can blow their fingers off now, but the state doesn't have to pay a doctor to treat the injury. It's a Republican dream come true up here.
"cut 23,000 people from medicaid"...
Amy , you will only be happy if everyone was on the government dole...
From Gov Lepage's website:
Welfare should be a temporary helping hand to get Mainers back on their feet – not a lifestyle and ticket to permanent dependence on government. Governor LePage’s Welfare reforms value productivity and the need to get Maine working. Governor LePage’s plan will make sure Mainers who need help most will be taken care of, while creating a series of benchmarks and incentives so a job becomes a better choice than welfare...
More of your hogwash bobby...
You don't like "the government dole" thingy?
Fine and dandy - DO NOT USE ANYTHING THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES
If you DO drive on our highways or want your food inspected by the USDA or your medications tested for safety by the FDA or want to keep from getting robbed by our law enforcement or want to visit one of our national parks....
...then shut up and pay up.
Taxes MUST increase to maintain our government, so Grover Norquist should be hanged along with all of his pledgers for attempting to do away with our government.
Like ir or lump it!
The poor will get emergency treatment at hospitals, because the law requires providers to treat the sick and injured people who come to them, they just won't get paid. Cutting people from Medicaid is not any kind of "solution."
I have health insurance through my job. My brother, who is self-employed and works alot harder than me, gets his care through Medicaid. (At least, for the moment.) Why is he less deserving of healthcare than me?
Amy -- The Nuns on the Bus, with the support of the Bishops, are on a mission against Paul Ryan's claims that his budget is based on the principles of his Catholic faith. If only there were Mormons on a mission against Romney's belief that inequality is not just natural, but a good thing.
The problem with Mormons is that their charitable contributions (tithing) goes to enrich the Mormon church only, and their "service" projects are primarily for their own members as well. They have a belief in the Law of Consecration, which is kind of communist with exception to private property. But once again, it is exclusive really only to themselves.
You would never see Nuns on the Bus from the LDS church because descent, independent thought, questioning authority, etc. is discouraged. Cookie cutter zombies are what many are, especially in Utah. So while there is not a "Catholic block" there is a Mormon block, and hopefully women, Hispanics, etc. can counter this in states like Arizona, Nevada -- Probably not Idaho, and certainly not Utah.
The bottom line -- to be President, Commander in Chief, and leader of the free world, one must represent the entire nation and with a global view. Romney's mindset is toward his investors, the Sheldon Adelsons, Koch brothers, etc. But even in terms of charity he is not accustomed to viewing it at a macro level -- Let alone feigning interest in "chocolate goodies" to appear in touch with the common man.
Romney -- He's not in it for you.
Romney was not a founder of Bain capital, Bain was founded in 1972 by William Bain and he later hired Romney to be CEO. If Romney had been a founder his name would have been included in the company title or they would have found some other clever way to name it. As in EMC was founded by Egan, Marino and Curly.
The media has to keep telling the lie that Romney founded Bain, that way they can keep the citizens united money flowing in. If they tell the truth about Romney the money will stop and they know it. The only way Romney has a snowballs chance in being elected is if the media and the tea people Koch republicans can convince enough voters that Romney is something he isn't.
Mo-681343 You are like the half moron who was being shown an elephant in its majesty in front of him but he kept looking down and pointing at its mighty foot prints and quipping it must be a hugh beast.
Unac Boston - and your post is relevant, why? Seems to me you're the moron!
Willard can NOT run away from his past.
Just as the RWNJ's insist that the President must run on his record, so then must Mittens run on HIS record of what he has done to people while at Bain.
Can't hide it like he hides his Swiss and Cayman bank accounts and other money.
hypocrit!
Garbage ! If Mitt Romney pays interest on his out-of-country accounts, then please explain how they are HIDDEN. It makes for nice, flame-throwing verbage by you, but it clearly does not make sense !
Oh, and Bain Capital invested in firms that made money ! Duh !! Do you think Bain Capital should have invested in GM which is worth less today than the bailout price ? How about that wonderful investment in Solyndra ? Why, "shucks 'maam", losing $535 million+ on that rotten-ass investment would have made lots and lots of investors happy now wouldn't it ??
Buy a little stock in GE while they are outsourcing jobs at an accelerated pace .... and still not doing well. But Obama has put Jeffrey Immelt as one of his top advisors !
Wow, if you libbies think investing is supposed to represent political ideology and not make money, then I want to make you a really good deal on a bridge or two !
Talk about RNC-tea spin GARBAGE!!!!
To whom do you allege he "pays interest" to exactly????
See, the major problem with RWNJ garbage, lies, and talking points is that YOU MAKE NO SENSE!
Totally assinine and illogical.....
We have just stumbled on how Mitt the barber can cut taxes and balance the budget. He is going to offshore the IRS, the Social Security Administration and various other Federal agencies. After all, showing up for a root canal appointment is preferable to calling the IRS. The idea makes sense and will save serious money. He has the expertise in house with Bain and it will meet his promise of shrinking the Federal Government
@JesusWasALiberalJew: There are actually two Bains - one is one of the world's premier management consulting firms (Bain & Compay) and one is one of the world's premier private equity firms (Bain Capital). Romney started working in the consulting industry at BCG and later joined Bain & Company as a Partner and, as you pointed out, eventually became CEO (before the firm was a partnership). He did, in fact, also found Bain Capital. Today, the two firms are completely separate entities and only share the same name.
When Romney uses his Bain experience as the basis for his election, this outsourcing issue is a big deal. Romney's job at Bain was to make money; job creation was merely a by-product of that effort. Sending jobs to India and China where labor is cheap just puts more on Romney's bottom line. So it's clear Romney knows how to make a lot of money - it's just NOT CLEAR that he has any idea of how to create American jobs.
Ursula nice post but after reading it I just realized that mine sounds almost like yours and since I posted mine after you, I made myself look like I plagiarised!
I guess we both think alike.
Now there's a scary thought.
bayllie, I think it's a good idea to repeat the truth as often as possible. What really gets me is the distortion of Bain and Romney in the discourse. It's not that we're against profitable businesses - whether they make widgets or just cold, hard cash. The issue is that Romney's private sector experience taught him NOTHING about creating American jobs, yet he uses this 'talking point' to convince voters that he's the man that can turn the economy around and create jobs.
Just think, if people were corporations, Romney might have a clue about their problems...and he might actually be able to fix them. An 80% success rate is great when you're talking about turning around failing businesses. But for people, that would mean a 20% unemployment rate. He's just the wrong man for the job.
Romney's Bain at the front line of outsourcing reveals the very thing many of us former Republicans noticed. During the 90's Republicans stopped fighting for working Americans and became the party of the wealthy and outsourcing.
- Today's Republican party disagrees with President Reagan's belief that the middle class is most important.
- Today's Republican party disagrees with President Reagan's amnesty for illegal immigrants. (Look at Romney's last 6 years on the subject. Either he's been a liar for 6 years or he will say anything to get votes).
- Today's Republican party rejected President Reagan's philosophy of gradually solving Social Security (they rejected Bowles/Simpson and President Obama's Grand Bargain plan).
- Today's Republican party disagrees with President Reagan's stimulus ($750 billion in 1981 prices = over $2 trillion today). Romney and all Republicans in Congress disagree with Reagan that a stimulus creates jobs (see Reagan's job growth and Obama's 4.3 million job gains).
- Today's Republican party disagrees with President Reagan's philosophy that earnings are earnings and regardless of where they come from they should be treated the same.
- Today's Republican party routinely says they are they party of small business, but it's been President Obama who has given more tax breaks to small businesses. We were able to take advantage of the 2010 Democratic Congress 100% tax write off in 2011 and will take advantage of the same bills 50% write off in 2012. Sadly, Republicans in Congress refuse to extend it.
- Today's House Republicans have a bill that will create millions of jobs. 74 Senators (Democrats and Republicans) passed the bill. Sadly, Boehner, Cantor, Ryan, and the rest of the House Republicans refuse to vote on it.
Notice how President Obama regularly agrees with President Reagan, but today's Republicans constantly goes against him.
So there you have it, rightwing loonies. When he wasn't raiding pensions, he was outsourcing jobs. What a buffoon this guy is.
“Mitt Romney is on a collision course — not just with President Obama, but also with Republican governors in several important swing states. Mr. Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, repeatedly highlights the grim economic situation in places like Virginia, Ohio and Iowa. … But the political imperative is very different for the governors in those states, whose improving economies are a source of pride and offer valuable talking points to help build lasting legacies.”
As usual, the liberal media shills for Obama. The truth is also, the Obama campaign is on a collision course with its own campaign ads...if a Governor is responsible for the economic condition in his or her state, why are 7 of the 10 states with the lowest unemployment run by GOP Governors?
Why are states with Obama-like massive tax and spend policies like California and Illinois economic basket cases who may soon ask for bailouts, while states run by GOP Governors like Bob McDonnell in Virginia doing so much better?? Riddle me that!
bob, you need to let go of this "liberal media" thing. Romney and the Repubs have their Fox News so stop your "poor me" bitching!
Funny how those states have "improving economies" and Republican Governors ? Kasich ??
Bob
You ask why the low unemployment states have GOP governors. Answer. Federal subsidies and energy production. Federal ethanol subsidies have driven up the price of corn and enriched the Midwest corn farmers. Domestic oil and gas production promoted by the Obama Administration has exploded in the states you identified.
So most of these fortunate states benefit from the double whammy of Federal subsidies and energy production. Governors got nothing to do with it.
If you have an alternate reason I would be happy to read it, but I don't expect a response.
Bob, just confirming that you got nothing to say about your GOP governors having nothing to do with their states' economy. Hope this helps you in your quest for critical thinking skills.
The same president who used stimulus dollars to build electric cars in Finland and sought to be Brazil's best oil customer now complains the GOP nominee built his career outsourcing jobs. At least he created some.
Mitt Romney and Bain Capital oversaw the creation of tens of thousands of jobs by companies like Staples, Sports Authority and Domino's Pizza.
Obama would maintain the highest corporate tax rate in the world, a job-outsourcing energy policy, expand job-killing regulations, impose job-killing ObamaCare and the Buffett Rule, which would penalize job-creating risk takers and entrepreneurs.
It is Obama who is outsourcing American jobs and downsizing the American economy!
Hey McD Vaginal Probe
Good job of not commenting on the issue at hand....Romney outsourcing jobs while making millions.
Bob can't discuss the issue at hand. He knows Romney is an empty suit and has nothing to run on. Romney left Bain in 2001 and hasn't done much since. But, let's please harp on his accomplishments at Bain - outsourcing more jobs than ever before - all to China!
See why Bob can't stay on topic?
Seeking
Thanks! You explained it much better than I. I just think people that think like him are goofy.
Good points Debbie,
Today's Republik Party also disagrees with Pres. Reagan's reasoning that compromise is sometimes necessary
Romney started career right about when the corporate leaders decided it was time to start considering moving jobs out of here because of Unions/Worker Rights/EEO/Environmental and Safety Laws. They were using their analyitical skills and they saw they will never get as rich as they are now (just think if poor Romney was only a $25 million guy rather than a $250 million guy, and his friends all worth 10% of their current) if we keep all the industries we had in America. They closed the factory doors to avoid the fact they would not be richer if they did not use those excuses to shaft us, even though Tricky Dick Nixon created the EPA and OSHA...was he that tricky that he wanted to give more motivation to his corporate buddies to leave the USA...he did start relations with China that old Tricky Dick? I think Europe, Japan, S. Korea and all the modern countries that want to give all their people opporutunity (not like China who takes care of their upper class and their 90% are still in the rice fields and labor mines) should be concerned about a republican world crontrolling us and them, it will cause all of them to go back to being a Royalty/kingdom/emporer society they left behind and who knows, just start a cycle of violent revolutions again in a few decades - a la French Revolution, Russian Revolution, etc. I see the repubs/far right treading on that slippery slope that will get them going in the direction of the Czars and the Kings.
According to Romney's camp, it's not out-sourcing, it's off-shoring. Or is it the other way around? (Cue the collective eye rolling …)
Gotta love the spin-doctoring. Why not call it "global diversification of human resources"?
Remember, for many self-proclaimed capitalists, "patriotism" has more to do with green than red, white, and blue.
Romney is Mr. Etch-A-Sketch everywhere he speaks. He is also a Pander Bear. The reason he has articulated no clear policies is that he has none. The only thing he is sure of is the poor quality of his hosts' cookies by just looking at them. Romney knows cookies, but not what a doughnut is.
Affinity - Do you have any idea where the "Etch-a-Sketch" insult originated or are you just vomiting back left-wing slogans that some other idiot fed you? Here are the facts for those who actually care about the truth:
Romney's communications director Eric Fehrnstromon referred to the shift from a primary campaign to a presidential campaign by saying "I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It's almost like an Etch-A-Sketch" Of course, Romney's opponents immediately pretended the remark had some significance.
Contrast this with Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor and mentor for 20 years saying, “The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color.”
Intelligent people will recognize that the "etch-sketch" comment is a cute analogy by one of Romney's campaign workers; while saying that AIDS is a means of genocide against Blacks. represents a core belief that Obama has absorbed.
Twenty-eight Hispanic Congress/men or women, 4 of the 28 are in the GOP. That explains the lick lapping desire of the GOP'ers on that. Two black congressmen in the GOP period. The really don't care about the black vote at all either. Oh, there are about 40 black congress/men or woman that are Democratic.
The right wing corporate interests could care less about American workers other than a means to their ends. Any person, what ever party they are in, who is in the working class and votes for Romney is cutting their own throat and the throats of their kids. These are your jobs that will be at the mercy of someone who is in it for profit and not the welfare of the nation and the working class.
Military Members, Veterans, Military retirees; note that Romney PROMOTED THE DRAFT during the Viet Nam War, then skipped out to France for extraordinary lenth of time when church missionary tours were limited. When Romney came home, he sided with his dad that the whole Viet Nam War was a scam and that he was against the war.
Promoting the draft, while Americans were dieing, he skipped out, then says he wishes he could have participated. His whole life has been a lie.