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CHILLICOTHE, OH – Mitt Romney used the final rally on his five-state bus tour to paint President Obama as an "intellectually exhausted" leader, forced to resort to "angry and desperate" tactics in his battle for re-election.
"This is an election in which we should be talking about the path ahead, but you don't hear any answers coming from President Obama’s re-election campaign,” Romney said. “That’s because he's intellectually exhausted, out of ideas, and out of energy. And so his campaign has resorted to diversions and distractions, to demagoguing and defaming others. It’s an old game in politics; what’s different this year is that the president is taking things to a new low."
While stumping in Ohio, the Republican presidential candidate preached to a receptive audience. President Obama focused on energy issues as well, praising wind power while campaigning in Iowa. And VP contender Paul Ryan began polishing his stump speech, laced with attacks on Obama's leadership. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
The speech, delivered before several thousand in the town square of Ohio's first capital city, was designed to contrast then-candidate Obama's soaring language of hope and change with the mud-slinging, increasingly nasty tone of this election’s TV ads and campaign trail rhetoric.
"This is what an angry and desperate presidency looks like," Romney said. "President Obama knows better, promised better and America deserves better."
"Over the last four years, this president has pushed Republicans and Democrats about as far apart as they can go,” Romney continued. “And now he and his allies are pushing us all even further apart by dividing us into groups. He demonizes some. He panders to others. His campaign strategy is to smash America apart and then try to cobble together 51 percent of the pieces."
Mitt Romney's running mate, VP contender Paul Ryan, has a voting record that – at times – conflicts with his political identity as a fiscal conservative. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
On a day that began with a battle over Medicare policy and that descended into a heated back-and-forth over charged comments made by Vice President Joe Biden in southern Virginia, Romney decried the negative tone of the campaign – even as he went on the attack.
Biden tells audience GOP banks would put them 'back in chains'
"Mr. President, take your campaign of division and anger and hate back to Chicago and let us get about rebuilding and reuniting America," Romney said.
The Obama campaign responded with a statement pointing out Romney's campaign, too, is engaged in negative attacks over the airwaves.
“Governor Romney's comments tonight seemed unhinged, and particularly strange coming at a time when he's pouring tens of millions of dollars into negative ads that are demonstrably false,” Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said.
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I always shake my head every time I hear the Republicans accusing Democrats of the very things they themselves are doing. It is a desperate tactic. It is not working with me and I would hope the electorate is a bit wiser from the 8 years of Bush and company. Their administration is the "gift" that keeps on giving.
We have still not recovered from them and this new group wants to finish the job of destroying us. They say they are going to be leaders not blamers yet the first thing they do is blame this President for this economy.
My take on it is the Republicans are still responsible for this economy because they have and still are obstructing everything Obama is trying to do. They left the country in shambles and don't want us to remember that. So they blame Obama for where we are yet accept no responsibility for any of their policies that put us here.
Their policies are still hurting this economy. They care more for the party than the country and nobody should forget that.
If tax breaks for those job creators works so well where are all those jobs they are supposed to be creating? Those tax breaks are still in effect aren't they? So where are the jobs? The 2010 House has done nothing to create jobs and spent most of their time trying to repeal healthcare (33 times), restrict women’s reproductive rights and going on vacations not to mention disenfranchising voters. Good job. They should be patting themselves on the back for a job well done.
For almost two years before Bush left office the US was losing 700,000 plus jobs a month. And when those very people needed help the Republicans made it difficult to get assistance and called those people lazy and wanting handouts. Since then the Republicans have used the food stamp program to give more money to the wealthy. They have made it onerous to apply for benefits and reduced the time you can get assistance and unfunded programs that would help retrain people.
Is this who we really want running this country or any country for that matter?
Vote for YOUR best interests and don't be swayed by clever rhetoric. Read between the lines. Ryan's Path to Prosperity or Americans for Prosperity sounds nice until you realize it is not YOUR prosperity they are talking about.
Mitt Romney is trying to seize the high ground in the Medicare debate by pledging to "restore" $716 billion in spending cuts imposed by President Obama.
Nevermind that the cuts were once backed by his vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan. Romney argues that it's Obama who has already "ended Medicare as we know it" and he will be the guy to fix it.
"The president has taken action in Medicare which significantly impacts the kind of health care opportunities and benefits that will be provided to current seniors," Romney said today at an impromptu news conference in South Carolina. "Our plan [has] no change for current seniors and those 55 and older."
In staking out that position - calling for a reversal of the cuts, now directed to help pay for Obamacare - Romney is, however, making something of a gamble.
First, Romney appears willing to restore more favorable conditions for "waste, fraud and abuse" - at least in the short term.
Repealing the entirety of the ACA would mean the elimination of new protections already recouping record-high sums of wasted Medicare cash.
Of the estimated $70 billion of Medicare waste in 2010, for example, regulators have recovered an unprecedented $4 billion thanks to the new measures, according to the nonpartisan Center for Medicare Advocacy.
A Romney campaign official explains that the former governor would address the issue of "waste, fraud and abuse" separately, but did not offer specific details. (which seems to be the standard Romney reply...we will get back to you on that.)
I will not vote for Romney. I voted for Obama.
However, if Biden remains on the ticket, I will NOT be voting for Obama.
The man has gone from a laughing stock to a pandering white fool. Mr. President, pick someone with intelligence and some dignity. Not this running lackey.
So you would prefer the pandering white fool who insulted Great Britain, Australia, Japan, the Arab States, Russia (he called it the Soviet Union) as President?
A NO vote is not the answer. Biden is FAR less of a risk than Romney. Republicans lead to war, not strength... I know, I buried 2 grandsons thanks to the unnecessary war in Iraq.
Ryan is being well taught by Mitt. Notice how many times he either moves away from the question, or stalls by repeating the question, and after all is said and done, has avoided it entirely.
Washington (CNN) -- When Paul Ryan struggled to explain a budget-balancing timeline under Mitt Romney, he highlighted the difficulty of trying to run a substantive campaign without being too specific.
While Ryan's interview Tuesday with Fox News' Brit Hume was no Sarah Palin-Katie Couric moment, the Republican vice presidential candidate's discomfort in answering when Romney's proposal would balance the budget was evident.
Ryan, a seven-term congressman from Wisconsin and chairman of the House Budget Committee, said he was unsure when Romney's proposals would balance the federal budget. Romney's plans say he would "put the federal government on a course toward a balanced budget" but does not say when.
Hume repeatedly pressed Ryan on the question of "when" Romney's budget would balance.
Hume: "The budget plan you're now supporting would get to balance when?"
Ryan: "Well, there are different -- the budget plan that Mitt Romney is supporting gets us down to 20% of GDP (gross domestic product) government spending by 2016. That means get the size of government back to where it historically has been. What President Obama has done is he brought the size of government to as high as it hasn't been since World War II. We want to reduce the size of government to have more economic freedom."
Hume: "I get that. What about balance?"
Ryan: "I don't know exactly what the balance is. I don't want to get wonky on you, but we haven't run the numbers on that specific plan. The plan we offer in the House balances the budget. I'd put a contrast. President Obama, never once, ever, has offered a plan to ever balance the budget. The United States Senate, they haven't even balanced, they haven't passed a budget in three years."
Hume: "I understand that. But your own budget, that you --
Ryan: "You are talking about the House budget?"
Hume: "I'm talking about the House budget. Your budget will be a political issue in this campaign."
Ryan: "The House budget doesn't balance until the 2030s under the current measurement of the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) baseline."
Paul Ryan on Social Security as a Teenager?
Did you know that Paul Ryan received Social Security benefits after his 55-year-old father passed away from a heart attack?
Yes, it's true. At the age of 16, Ryan began receiving Social Security benefits and saved them to help him pay for college. He stopped receiving benefits when he was 18 years old.
Undernews reported this story a year ago, and stated:
Representative Paul Ryan is one example of the millions of people whose lives have depended on our social contract with the American people. Without this benefit, his mother would have had to make even tougher decisions and Representative Paul Ryan may not have been able to pay for his college education. This social contract lifted him and his entire family out of a tough situation.
Many people do not know that 30 percent of the social security fund goes directly to widows, orphans and the disabled. It is not solely for the benefit of retirees. Unfortunately this social contract is under a regressive attack by the Republicans, including Paul Ryan.
Show your taxes Mitt!!!!!
Show your taxes Mitt!!!!!
Show your taxes Mitt!!!!!
There is no legitimate reason for Romney to refuse to do what every single candidate from both parties has done since 1976, which was, ironically, the year his father started the practice by releasing, I believe, 12 years worth.
There is a good reason why they've done that. Vice President Spiro Agnew had to resign the vice presidency because of, and was found guilty of, tax evasion for failing to report income he received as Governor of Maryland.
A man who refuses to release his income tax forms to prove that he is being lied about, won't be believed. The longer he resists and the more he protests, the more people will mistrust him. The fewer facts people know, the more they will speculate. He is not demonstrating the kind of integrity, honesty, and transparency that should be expected from a president. If you have nothing to hide, don't hide. It's as simple as that.
The democratic group that made idiotic statements about the Navy Seals being gutless are brainless cowards. These are the morons who continue to use their disgusting ads and statements and the American people will let them know how they feel in Nov.
They can continue to lie and distract from the real issues but this will backfire on these imbeciles and the people will toss these morons out. Any idiot who denounces are brave warriors who fight and die to protect these morons deserve to be taken out and shot between the eyes. They are disgusting cowards who let others do their fighting because they run and hide or go to Canada. After the fighting is over, they want to run for Congress of some high paying job so they can continue to steal, cheat and lie to the American people.
Rick...just out of curiosity...what are you talking about?
I think "Say What's" real name is Debbie Wasserman Schultz ... he certainly sounds as clueless as her. I understand that the prospects of losing your handout puts you into a panic, but at the price of your dignity?
Rather than cutting and pasting the Move-On talking points, how about having a cogent thought?
Mr Boz....
My name is Paul Price...you have a problem...tell me, you gutless coward.
What is your name? Lily White?
This is for Mr Hose:
Ladies and gentlemen, Republicans of all ages! A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!
House Speaker John Bonehead, announced the 34th Consecutive Vote to Repeal
the Affordable Care Act! Trailing by an 0-33 score in attempts to repeal the law,
Bonehead announced THIS IS OUR TIME. Joining Bonehead was Senator Mitch
McConnell, who looked out through bloodshot bleary eyes and asked HOW SOON
CAN I GO BACK TO THE HOME? Bonehead then encouraged the crowd to keep the
words of Ronald Reagan close to their hearts. He reminded them that Reagan always
said WELL.....
The presumtive nominee for President , Willard Mitt Romney, was present during
Bonehead's announcement, and said I SUPPORT IT, WHAT EVER IT IS.
But to the surprise and joy of the cheering throng of 16 people, 5 of which were his
sons, plus his wife, and 10 bag ladies, Romney told the crowd that his lovely wife
was pregnant with his 6th child. An obviously thrilled Romney says THIS ROUNDS OUT
OUR FAMILY....6 CHILDREN -- 2 OF EACH!!!! And at Romney's home, his $77,000 horse
was excitedly riding up and down on the car elevator. As a commerative of the
occasion, vaginal probes were distrubuted to all present.
Romney made a surprise announcement to a private group of reporters from a local
day-care center that 2 of his sons have learned to tie their own shoes, and one has
mastered waving bye-bye.
Immediately after the announcements, Romney was led away in handcuffs pending his
trial for lying to the SEC. He did state how shocked he was as today was the 12th
anniversary of his 3-year paid Leave of Absense from Bain Capital. Taking his place on
the ticket was Herman Cain who stated proudly....BACK TO REPUBLICAN FAMILY
VALUES! as he introduced his Vice Presidential candidate, Jerry Sandusky. Who
better to fill the position of VICE president, than Sandusky? Cain then asked,
WHERE DE WHITE WOMEN AT?
Sheriff Joe Apaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, recently sentenced to 10 years for
profiling, looked dapper in his new pink suit.
Former Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin exclaimed I CAN SEE PUTIN'S
UNDERPANTS DRYING ON HIS CLOTHES LINE FROM MY HOUSE!
Former Presidential candidate, John McCain, said today THE US NEEDS TO LEAD
A COALITON ARMY INTO SYRIA AND TAKE OUT ASSAD! WE NEED ANOTHER WAR! IF
WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER WAR, HOW CAN WE KILL OFF OUR MILITARY, OR AT
LEAST GET SOME FRESHLY MAIMED SOLDIERS? McCain was later taken to a local
drunk tank to sober up.
The new Republican campaign slogan I AM NOT AS BIG A CROOK AS NIXON was
applauded by all in attendance, with Nixon/Agnew posters decorating the walls
of the Hall of Shame.
In a video made in Romney's cell, with Romney looking natty in his new black and
white striped outfit, the governor demanded an apology frrom THAT MARXIST,
SOCIALIST, COMMUNIST, NON-AMERICAN, ANTI-AMERICAN, ILLEGAL PRESIDENT
OBOZO AND HIS WIFE MOOSHELL, FOR MAKING DEMEANING STATEMENTS ABOUT
ROMNEY, something he claimed his supporters WOULD NEVER DO.
It was truly a memorable day, one which will live in the tushys of Republican's
everywhere, Sandusky said he cannot wait for Erection Day!
CAIN / SANDUSKY 2012 For real Republican Family Values
Sandusky: "I cannot wait for Erection Day!"
RememberSeamus.com tells the whole story about poor Seamus, strapped to the roof of Romney's car for 12 hours. Not okay, Mitt.