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Voters and reporters looking to Mitt Romney for new jobs proposals or additional details about his existing plans shouldn't expect many, the presumptive Republican nominee's aides said Thursday.
Most of Romney's fall campaign will involve "re-introducing a lot of the policy that came out a year ago," Romney senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom said on a conference call with reporters. The reason for that, he explained, was to remind them "of the governor's very detailed policy" now that voters are playing closer attention to the campaign.
The conference call was organized to outline the jobs policies about which Romney will speak today in Colorado. But the five priorities mentioned on the conference call -- energy, trade, education, cutting the deficit, and freeing up businesses from regulation -- have generally been staples of the former Massachusetts governor's campaign for much of the past year.
Kacper Pempel / REUTERS
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers foreign policy remarks at the University of Warsaw Library in Warsaw July 31, 2012.
The question of specifics, though, has been one that has plagued the Romney campaign -- and it's not only Democrats who have voiced this criticism.
"The Romney campaign thinks it can play it safe and coast to the White House by saying the economy stinks and it's Mr. Obama's fault," the Wall Street Journal's right-leaning editorial board wrote in early July. "Thanks, guys, but Americans already know that. What they want to hear from the challenger is some understanding of why the President's policies aren't working and how Mr. Romney's policies will do better."
But the Romney campaign has generally brushed off these complaints as imprudent politics. Boston has clearly broadcast that they are satisfied with the plans they have offered. ("He doesn’t need to lay out new policies," Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, a surrogate of Romney's and potential running mate, told National Review Online earlier this week.)
The Romney campaign has been generally opaque in its approach to several issues that could conceivably expose their candidate to scrutiny, which could distract from their central narrative about Obama and the economy. For instance, the campaign's refusal to detail which tax deductions Romney would favor eliminating – to show how he’d prefer to balance the budget – mirrors his refusal to release more than two years of tax returns, to detail his exit from Bain Capital, or to lay out how his administration would be more transparent than Obama’s.
On each question, though, the Romney campaign has left open a void of detail, and the Obama campaign and Democrats have gladly stepped in to fill it.
The president himself trumpeted a report from the nonpartisan, independent Tax Policy Center about Romney's tax plan.
The study concluded that, based on the available details about Romney's plan, that it would threaten a higher tax burden on the middle class, because it disproportionately takes advantage of exemptions that would be eliminated to finance tax reform.
But the enduring story of the Romney campaign is its conclusion early in the campaign that little else will matter on election day aside from voters' conclusion about Obama's handling of the economy. They've bet that the broad contours of Romney's policy contours will be enough to sway voters, and that they can weather criticism about the specifics without any of that becoming fatal.
"That report you referenced is a joke," Fehrnstrom said of the center’s report on the call. "There are serious problems with the authorship of that study, and the methodology."
One of the authors was an economic adviser member of Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers. But the other was the senior staff economist on President George H.W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers.
"The governor's plan essentially lays out the parameters that he wants to achieve," Jonathan Burks, the Romney campaign's deputy policy director, said on the call. "And within that, he would write a tax bill that achieves those goals. And so it's not a question of today, you know, we've got a 2,000-page tax plan that could be scored and demonstrated ... The details of how that would be accomplished would have to be worked out with Congress."
Republicans are quick to note that President Obama has offered few detailed proposals for his second term, and argue that the "American Jobs Act" first introduced by the White House last fall is only a re-hash of old policies.
But the Romney campaign's bet that it doesn't need to offer more detail opens the door to the Obama campaign and Democrats' efforts to turn the election into a choice between the president and Romney, even if it involves mischaracterizing elements of Romney's background – or inserting policy details that don’t exist -- that the GOP candidate won't define for himself.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) made an especially specious claim in that vein when he told the Huffington Post this week that a Bain investor -- who he did not name -- told him that Romney had paid no effective tax rate for a decade.
Fehrnstrom angrily condemned that suggestion during an appearance Thursday on Fox News, but there are no indications that the evidence Romney could offer to rebuff those charges will be publicly available anytime soon.
NBC's Jay Rankin and Garrett Haake contributed.
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headline: Romney will 'RE-INTRODUCE' policy plans to voters this fall
clarification: Right after he 'RE-DEFINES' himself to said voters and before he 'RETRACTS' and clarifies more gaffes and misstatements!
Nothing like a self-retreading candidate!!
Retread-Romney!!
maybe he should self deport
I think it would be better if he (Romney) self combusts.
like yours better
FUD-romney is forever in BETA Test Mode and the American voter is the unwitting Beta Tester getting FUD-romney 1.0/2.0/3.0...
"If at first you don't define, refine, refine again"!!
The guy is a nightmare. He is hiding so much from the American people and he expects to earn our vote? The only people benefitting from Romney will be the ultra wealthy, everyone else will be left to pick up the pieces.
TAX RETURNS,Mitt, where are they??? Hiding something? Like not paying any tax for years. Show US the tax trail, 5-8 yrs. Tax Returns!!!!!! Did mitt lie,cheat,steal,swindle,besides using Baine to destroy countless jobs and lives??
Mitt was born in Mexico,, he should self deport!!!!!! Show the returns(tax)
I am beginning to think that Romney may be "all bubbles but no champagne ." Would anyone please list a URL that gives any usable information or specifics about his policies that would affect our economy, security, defense, international relations, education, health, or social services.
Willard will continue his strategy of lie, distort, vague, evade and avoid.
This evasion strategy is tried and failed. Sharron Engel, Christine O'Donnell and my personal favorite Sarah Palin and other extreme conservative candidates tried this strategy in 2010 and it failed miserably. The arrogance to believe we'll just hand over the keys to the White House and our future to a candidate who lies, distorts, evades and avoids is stunning. Where are those tax returns? What is Willard hiding?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/02/michael-tomasky-on-mitt-romney-s-na-ve-evasion-strategy.html
Totally agree! Sarah Palin, besides being a nut bag is also a huge b!tch. Romney feels he is entitled to be in the WH. He doesn't feel that he needs to show anything or have any solid platform. He is riding with the devil, more commonly known as the tea party, and if elected he will be bending over more than a street corner whore on a Saturday night.
Well he IS L.D.S. - Lie, Distort & Sidestep.
The President's policies aren't working all due to the Republicans not wanting to help our President get the economy going. Their preference for power and greed, as well as the whores they are to Wall Street, the Large Banks, the Large Corporations, and the most wealthy, override what's good for the country.
Mr. Romney's policies being described as opaque is a poor definition. It's more like "no policies". Mr. Romney and his campaign have offered nothing of real substance other than the same talking points and diatribe of the far right.
He reminds me of one of those stage magicians who brings out a dazzling pretty assistant dressed in golden spangles, asks her to step inside a booth, tells the audience, "Now watch THIS!". And he opens the booth and it's empty.
That's the last we see of the beautiful assistant with the alluring smile.
All we know is that he will follow Ryan's budget, which will return 0.1% to those making between $10K and $20K, and 12.5% to those making a million or more. according to the Urban Brookings Tax Policy Center report, Table T 12-0078.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates $3.3 trillion cut from programs for the poor, including food stamps, Pell grants, Medicaid, and job training.
He will also privatize Medicare, retaining only the name. You will get a voucher to cover some medical expenses. When that runs out, you sink or swim on your own.
And good-bye Department of Education and several other agencies he refuses to name. I doubt Veterans Affairs will remain unscathed. We already know that Ryan's budget will slash the funding for the IRS too, which is already so lacking in resources it can't cope with the monumental fraud going on in higher echelons.
That assistant in the golden tights is starting to look a little ugly.
Not to mention that he will probably double the military budget, with all the cuts to everything else. That is what the Republicans really want. Get ready America. With a Romney in the WH the only choice your children will have is to go into the military because nobody will be able to afford going to college especially since education will be cut to the bare bones and our kids will turn out to be dumb as a bag of rocks.
I have looked at Romney's 59-point plan. It's nothing but pontification - reminded of the saying from the past, "Where is the beef Romney??"
Looking at, and reading are two different things.
I have read most of it and was bored by the pontification and whitewash crap. Have you read it?
Show us the tax returns, Mitt! We also want to see your birth certificate!
My prediction is that your blood lust for his tax returns will be slaked in about a month. Your suspicion that Romney is a rich guy will probably be uncovered then. Oh no!!! What to do?
The fact that "you people" don't want to see his tax returns speaks volumes about the morals and ethics of today's Republican Tea Party. And, no, we won't let this go. The longer he evades, the stronger we will be. That is a guarantee. Everyone knows he is very rich, we don't care about that, what we want to know is what kind of a person he is, definitively, and the tax returns will show that. Can you honestly say that it doesn't bother you or anyone else in your club that he may not have even paid any taxes at all in the last ten or more years? And, please don't give me the crap about the tax codes that need to be changed because if you believe that would happen under a Romney watch, you and your party are clearly delusional.
Obama/Biden 2012
4more4 44!
cogito- as with so much, you dont understand our concerns. Its not that he is rich- heck obama is rich, bush was rich, kennedy was rich.
it is somewhat how he made his money- understanding finances which utilizes tax benefits and loopholes to reduce costs and receiving as many govt subsidies as possible.
Its hiring lobbyists to get legislation passed with the only benefit being more loopholes and subsidies created.All for the 1% paid for by campaign contributions. Now both parties are guilty but the republicons favor tax reductions more then dems and their base is more corporate centered then the dems. So the majority of the blame goes to the R's.
get it- we dont envy the rich
Is that really all you have got Fister & fiends come on now you are becoming very disappointing we need more fervent rederickkkk and vitriolic sentiments bring in the gladiators and the wild beasts to devour those pesky neocons lol roll my eyes at you lefties 2 th ---->rt
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL "aka" bloody fister & feinds petro t/s harlot
This, STenchAUNCH regressive Demoncrap claims to be partially responsible for helping emperor obama gain control over the people of the United States. Good for fister, u go ma G.
Maybe Big O, (as he'll be Known on the show) will have a bit part for a tk stop lizard on his new sitcom produced by Bill Maher & "ole" Mother Harpo One and done in Chicago, Pilot episode will be Fork you very much.
Starts out with big O in mikie D's trying to get a big mac an a spork full of choc shake 4ward
and Michelle pulling him out by the ear sayin; don't you know that two all beef patties will kill ya big O? an since you aint presbo no more I can't afford fer you to die till i get some assurance on ya.
big O says:
a a a shelie i i i ah a h got sa hungry, i a ah can't live on that tofu stuff and a a rice flavored milk an brockley with no cheese sauce or nuthin
Michelle says;
sides I'll get you your choc shake & special sauce in the car come on Big O.........
you get the idea come on now surely that would be Hilarious. I'd watch it. lol roll my eyes, ha ha----->rt
Vote hell no, mo, Big O
P.s. i just kan't help it, fister & fiends you give me so much to work with. Thanxxxxxxxxxxxx 4ward ho!
Man without a plan!!!
Obama continues to fool the fools...
now here you go name calling but you can NEVER support your positions with any facts. Its all name calling.
we are not in the third grade any longer cogito. If you think you are then THINK for a change
And out-strategize a rank amateur...
Romney's not ready. Too ignorant and dangerous...
come on my little poltergeist don't fade away
12&3 ?s 4 you chief clara
Is Missouri,. even close to the swing-set
<eft---or-igh--+-->?
&--> How is that, Claire Conner McCaskill (born July 24, 1953)? You know the Senior United States Senator
doing in the polls?
"just curious"
p.s. good to see ya kcmo, looking 4ward to your retort, on the vine <^>
with all do respect, 4ward-- “ ...........................................................QQ“"'\
vote no BHO .....................................................................................(-)-~
It's time to shake the etch-o-sketch.
I bet Willard is eager to find out what his opinions and positions are now.
That is why I call him Ramenie. He's a wet limp noodle that you can place in any position.
Fehrnstrom : The reason for that, he explained, was to remind them "of the governor's very detailed policy" now that voters are playing closer attention to the campaign.
Has he read it? Who is he kidding? The plan contains high-flow pontification. There are no staments like what do we expect when his plan is implementd, will the jobless rate be 5% anytime during his first term? will the deficit be reduced by x% during his tenor? How does he plan to pay for the 1 trillion dollars in tax cuts to the richest 5% of the population? How does he plan to assure that the seniors will not get reduced social security benefits, lose medicare/medicaid? Is he going to change the social security system and medicare as per Ryan plan? and on and on - Just saying he will create jobs, reduce deficit, reduce taxes for the middle class at the same time as giving gravy-train tax cuts to rich, thorow away the financial and EPA regulations etc. etc. is an old story we have heard before and we know where that took us!!
Hello, Friends!
I'm Mitt Romney, and if you vote for me, I promise to... get back to you real soon on my plans.
Exactly -
His campaign is inept. They are just hoping that the avalanche of ads coming post-convention will do all the work for them. They still think they are running against an amateur.
So stupid...
This is America and not Germany during the Hitler years. We have something in our favor this coming election that the German voters didn't have. That's our internet on seeking the facts. We can find out about the offshore banking of the elite rich. We can find out that our U.S. Government is missing out on $100 billions of taxes from the elite rich because of these secret offshore accounts. We can learn avoiding taxes for these elite rich, that it's a game to them, a game they have mastered. They are playing a different ball game than you and I. It's no wonder the elite rich are pouring money in for Romney. Their money talks and the one vote they have, means little to them. It would mean nothing to them to change their citizenship. It's all on our internet without a political word of democrat or republican. It's been their since the start of the internet. Cayman Island haves 1.4 trillon dollars in off-shore banking. How did this loop hole come about?Your elite rich bought out the Congress on creating this loop hole while we slept and didn't notice. Folks, it's time to wake up and learn from your internet on facts and not lies.
YOU WILL HAVE SOME TEA too believe IN On November 7th
My poor Leftie likes to whine all the time, whine all the time, whiiiiiine all the tiiiiiiime
Until then just;
Whine(we did not know how bad it was), discount (any one who really cares), lie (about everything), demagogue (your opposition),cry (when you don't get your way), whimper (about atms), sulk (over so called do nothing congress), be dishonest (about your record), blame others(FOR THE INABILITY TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER), ostrich syndrome (Hide from the Issues), pass the buck (trillions more debt for future generations), go bankrupt (borrowing .40+ of every dollar spent), snivel (about Europe economy), stomp your feet, throw yourself, on the ground, bang your head on the floor (When you don't get your way), scream (foul when others bring up your record), piss & moan (constantly about previous Administration), pull your hair, bite your nails, throw a general tantrum (about fast & furious accountability) , frown (when asked to lead), be sad , be mad(on way back to Chicago), believe your own lies (About Gov't expansion), get in bed & pull the covers up over your head, have no accountability( For the economic destruction of America), Bitch about others (pointing out your failure), complain constantly(about congress), misrepresent the truth ( in every way), spin (lies), wear your panties in a wad (About missing a putt), suck your thumb (while on AF 1) , sweat (The small stuff rainbow guy & galls), crap your pants (When rats run down the anchor rope) , Envy( Mitt Romney), be dishonest ( National Security Leaks), hide behind falsehood ( When ever politically expedient), be corrupt (in thought), Steal someone Else's cheese (to give to others redistribute wealth), boo hoo (about tea party people in congress), deceitful (all the time), be Hateful of any one who disagrees with your point of view( say that they are racist). Be liberal............be 4WARD.................Be the Obama.........
!!! OR Grow the Hell UP !!!
VOTE, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE = NO BHO MMM mmm MMM 2012
wow a self descrition of the teaparty. If it wasnt for breitbart style journalism they wouldnt have anything tio say
Thanks for the Fox News report. Seem I touch a nerve. When I know you were just another die-heart republican at the start of the GOP race, hollering out. (WE HATE ROMNEY-ANYONE BUT ROMNEY!!!) What happened, no one listened? Did the elite rich buy you out?
I thought you are witing tea-party resume - oh no, it's Romney's!!
Don't feed the trolls Paxil. This guy obviously skipped his meds today. Maybe he should look at how awful Romney is doing in the swing states for a dose of reality. What an imbecile.
...
Umm...I thought the word "re-introduce" would imply...umm...missed the memo, I guess...
I've been paying very close attention and apparently missed the original introduction. Apparently a few million others have as well. I wait with bated breath and child-like excitement for the Romney plan. "This fall" may be a little too late, Mitt ~ people are making up their minds now. I'm fairly sure they can handle and process the entire Romney proposal ~ ~ ~ ~ reduce spending; cut taxes. That's it; everything else is mere idle rhetoric.
No, Romney is being smart. Obama is spending tons of money attempting to demonize Romney; it's only working with liberals who are mesmerized by the liberal press. Obama will peak too early. The polls are somehow close, despite Obama's obvious incompetence, but at this time during Reagan vs. Carter, Carter was up by 17%. This does not bode well for Obama. When Romney lets loose, the show is over, Obama will be relegated to a footnote in history. Romney is feeding Obama enough rope; Obama will do the rest.
Merridian,
I recommend that you cut, paste, print, and place on your refrigerator your prognostication regarding Romney feeding Obama enough rope. If on election eve Romney wins, you'll be proven a soothsayer. If Romney loses, you will look very, very stupid. Which will it be come November?
lukewarmandyellow you are hilarious dog fecal
...
you cant buy comedy like this anywhere and it is free for the taking liquid Valium is what you really need paxxxxxxxxxxxxxs ill
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL "aka" bloody fister & feinds petro t/s harlot
This, STenchAUNCH regressive Demoncrap claims to be partially responsible for helping emperor obama gain control over the people of the United States. Good for fister, u go ma G.
Maybe Big O, (as he'll be Known on the show) will have a bit part for a tk stop lizard on his new sitcom produced by Bill Maher & "ole" Mother Harpo One and done in Chicago, Pilot episode will be Fork you very much.
Starts out with big O in mikie D's trying to get a big mac an a spork full of choc shake 4ward
and Michelle pulling him out by the ear sayin; don't you know that two all beef patties will kill ya big O? an since you aint presbo no more I can't afford fer you to die till i get some assurance on ya.
big O says:
a a a shelie i i i ah a h got sa hungry, i a ah can't live on that tofu stuff and a a rice flavored milk an brockley with no cheese sauce or nuthin
Michelle says;
sides I'll get you your choc shake & special sauce in the car come on Big O.........
you get the idea come on now surely that would be Hilarious. I'd watch it. lol roll my eyes, ha ha----->rt
Vote hell no, mo, Big O
P.s. i just kan't help it, fister & fiends you give me so much to work with. Thanxxxxxxxxxxxx 4ward ho!
Is that really all you have got Fister & fiends come on now you are becoming very disappointing we need more fervent rederickkkk and vitriolic sentiments bring in the gladiators and the wild beasts to devour those pesky neocons lol roll my eyes at you lefties 2 th ---->rt
so tell me have you banged fisty the redheaded lizard no, stop, thats ok don't need the detales
vote no bho
CONVENIENT- ever notice you mock but never have an answer to any of the critiques? Seems very typical of your side of the political spectrum. What does that tell us? Your an ideologue
Bottom line, America is much worse off since Obama took office. He's been the President for three and a half years, two years with full control of the Congress: there are fewer people working than when he took office, his deficits have been five times higher than any of his predecessors, his deficits have resulted in an additional six trillion dollars of debt, his foreign policies have been atrocious, there are more poor in the country than at any time since the great depression, there are more people on food stamps than ever before, our credit rating was downgraded for the first time ever. A vote for Obama is a vote against the future of America. He had his chance, and the result has been disgraceful.
TheRealMerridian: Some of that is true, yes; some is not the whole truth. Fewer people are working than when he took office, FALSE. When he took office the country was losing 700,000 jobs per month, within months of taking office, the country starting adding jobs, NOT losing jobs. Are we adding jobs at a great pace, NO, but positive job growth every month for the past 26 months is a lot better than losing jobs every month. There are more poor people than any other time than the depression. WRONG. Yes, wages and home ownership and wealth have decreased on average middle Americans, but, that was not Obama's policies..it was the housing bubble, bank failures, and mortgage crisis; along with outsourcing and downsizing from corporations. We were downgraded for the first time because the republicans stonewalled and refused to deal with democrats, called bipartisanship, for the betterment of America, not because of Obama. The credit agency stated that for the record.
Jackie, the fact is that there are over 500,000 fewer people working than when Obama took office. There may have been some jobs added, but more were lost, and they were lost precisely due to Obama's policies: hundreds of new laws restricting business, more taxes on business, Obamacare... The government figures don't even tell the whole story. Clinton changed the unemployment count while he was in office; rather than count the true unemployed, he passed legislation that only counted those receiving unemployment benefits, not those who had used up their benefits and are still unemployed. The actual unemployment figure due to Obama's policies is estimated at between 15% and 22%. Much of the outsourcing has been due to excessive taxation, not all Obama's fault, but the fault of the left; we have the highest corporate tax rate on the planet. The credit downgrade is completely Obama's fault. He didn't even listen to the Simpson-Bowles commission that he had put together. S&P also stated before the downgrade that raising taxes would not stop the downgrade, we had to cut spending. Of course the GOP presented Obama with multiple plans to prevent the downgrade, but Obama was intent on having his way in spite of the damage he did to the country. And yes, there are more people in the "poor" category than any time since the great depression; this is primarily due because of the damage that Obama has done to business which has resulted in huge unemployment figures.
wow, Meridian...first of all, the tax issue. Taxes are at a historical low and all americans have had their taxes lowered under Obama. Small businesses have had 8 separate tax breaks. contrary to spin, Obama has approved fewer regulations than bush did. Obamacare has not had an impact on small businesses yet, other than they get tax breaks. Are you kidding me about the debt ceiling debacle???? speaker Boehner admitted on record, " i got 97 percent of what I wanted. I am pretty happy. " The folks who did the downgrade said flat out it was due to the fact that there were political factions who were willing to actually default. ( hmmm..who might that be? ) Obama did not listen to Simpson Bowle..i agree...but on what planet do you think it would ever have been agreed to by the Pubs...it had tax increases, something they are not allowed to agree to. I think you have a point about the corporate tax rate, but look at how many companies pay zero in corporate tax rates due to all the loopholes. the unemployed problem is due to 2 things....the recession, which many, not all, believe were caused by the Bush policies, and 2 ) the refusal to do what has always been done during previous recessions...always. One of those things was increase public sector jobs. that is what happened under both Bushes and Reagan. Under George W he lost private sector jobs over his 8 yrs, but had a slight uptick in public sector jobs. The jobs act proposed by the president and had the majority approval of all americans, even Pubs, and the recommendation of most non partisan economists and would have created 1.9 to 3 million jobs and increased GDP from 1.5 to 3 percent. of course this could not be allowed to happen...it might have helped. Despite everything, we, instead of negative job growth and negative GDP, have had growth. Way too little, i agree, but it is precisely because the pubs have refused to do what has always been done before. I think almost your entire post is a right wing fantasy with little truth.