Obama opens campaign swing in NH, where voters know Romney well

Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

President Barack Obama wipes perspiration from his face as he speaks Saturday in a sweltering gym during a campaign stop at Windham High School in Windham, N.H.

 

WINDHAM, N.H. – Speaking in a hot, crowded gymnasium here, President Barack Obama kicked off a day of campaigning in this key battleground state where he is running neck-and-neck with his challenger, Mitt Romney.

Obama’s appearance in the Granite State on Saturday comes just two days before Romney, the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts, campaigns here with his new running mate Paul Ryan – and the president seemed intent on pre-butting his opponents’ trip.

“They’re coming here on Monday,” Obama said as he wiped his brow to deal with the low air conditioning, as the 2,300 in the packed gym booed at the mention of Romney and Ryan.

“Ask them how they’re going to strengthen the middle class,” he said after accusing Romney of wanting to “wants to give another tax cut to folks like him,” i.e., wealthy Americans.

He also accused Romney's running mate Paul Ryan of putting forward "a plan that would let Governor Romney pay less than 1 percent in taxes each year. And here's the kicker - he expects you to pick up the tab." 

Romney campaign spokesman Ryan Williams pushed back on that claim, saying in a statement that "it's not surprising the president is launching yet another false attack. The fact is President Obama wants to raise taxes on private investment and job creators, which will lead to higher unemployment and fewer jobs." 

While Obama won New Hampshire in 2008, polls here reveal a contentious race between Romney and him, with an August University of New Hampshire/WMUR poll showing 49 percent of likely voters would pick Obama while 46 percent would go for Romney. 

One of the reasons Romney is playing to win in New Hampshire is because so many people were familiar with his term as Massachusetts governor; Boston is only 45 minutes away from the southeastern town of Windham.

That familiarity with Romney was evident Saturday morning at the Chatterbox Café, around the corner from where the president spoke, where late-morning brunchers shared a variety of views on the 2012 race.

Robert Scaccia, 41, who owns a physical therapy business with branches in Windham and Boston, said he’s supported Romney since he ran against Ted Kennedy for Senate in 1994.

Unlike many conservative voters elsewhere in the country, Scaccia said he favored the idea of Mass-Care, the statewide healthcare mandate Romney instituted as governor.

Noting that he treats Boston patients who are on Mass-Care, Scaccia said Romney should treat his healthcare plan as “a crowning achievement,” not only for getting so many people on health care but also as an example of bipartisanship.

“He did it with a Democratic [legislature] in a fully Democratic state; they worked together to get it done. So I think he should be championing that,” Scaccia said.

Ray Ennis, a Romney supporter who recently retired from the printing business, shared that view. While he said he was voting for Romney because “the economy’s the most important thing in the country,” he added that the former governor’s healthcare plan had some positive features.

“I think Romneycare, he’s got some great ideas,” Ennis said. “I think he learned a lot from what he didn’t like in Massachusetts. I think he tweaked it.” 

But demonstrating the diversity of views in this town, whose county, Rockingham, handed Obama a slim 1,571-vote victory, Saccia’s, wife Stacey, a homemaker and former teacher, said she would vote for Obama as she did in 2008.

But, she said she had hoped Obama would focus more on some of the issues she said are most important to her. 

“He did promise a lot for education and for ending the war and for environmentally friendly practices. And you don’t hear any of that once [politicians are] in office. They’re moving on to bigger and better things,” she said.

Later Saturday, Obama moved on to Rochester, N.H., where he was slated to make remarks outside at the Rochester Commons.

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Let's use the Obama car analogy today. " If your car is about to go over a cliff, do you put it in D and play Thelma and Louise? Or do you put it in R and back up and get it back on the road again"

  • 2 votes
Reply#56 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 6:48 PM EDT

D = Democrat.

    #56.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 6:49 PM EDT

    D=Dumba$$.

      #56.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:19 PM EDT
      Reply

      I was lucky enough to not only see Presiden Obama in Rochester, NH, today, but he also shook my hand! How any thinking person could vote for Romney/Ryan is beyond me. They are so anti-regular people. Mr. Obama is a man of the people and cares about the entire nation, not just the elite. Obama/Biden 2012!

        Reply#57 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 6:50 PM EDT

        And you got all that from a hand shake? Wow. Where have you been the last 4 years?

        • 1 vote
        #57.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 6:55 PM EDT

        He must have fed 4000 people with only five fish too huh?

        • 1 vote
        #57.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:03 PM EDT

        Wow, so right newshound. I mean, Obama doesn't hobnob with rich celebrities like George Clooney, Sarah Jessica Parker, etc.? Oh, but wait, he does. Obama doesn't go to the ultra-rich places to vacation like Martha's Vineyard. Oh, but wait, he does. Michelle Obama doesn't spend $9000 on a dress, oh, but wait she does. Obama doesn't play golf all the time like the like the rich folks do, oh, but wait, he does. Get your head out of the sand and PAY attention like a good little sheeple!!!

        • 4 votes
        #57.3 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:33 PM EDT

        I'd wash my hands

          #57.4 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:50 PM EDT

          When he laid hands on you, were you cured?

          That's what he's been claiming everywhere else.

            #57.5 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:03 PM EDT

            Ugh. He's for America and proper values because he shook your hand?

            If I shake your hand, can I have your vote instead?

              #57.6 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:13 PM EDT

              Liar.

                #57.7 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:21 PM EDT

                I likes Michelles dress..I think she got it at Target

                  #57.8 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:07 PM EDT

                  I didn't know that Target carried $8,000 dresses.

                    #57.9 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:26 PM EDT
                    Reply

                    I live in NH and do know Romney well...well enough never to vote for him.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#58 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 6:51 PM EDT

                    I am sure Obama has the Atheists vote and the homosexuals.

                    • 1 vote
                    #58.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:18 PM EDT
                    Reply

                    Some of the people who voted for Romney and like his healthplan, don't they realize it is about the same as Obamacare? Don't they understand that Romney has discounted his own plan, and has taken the rhetoric of the GOP of now. Mass. may be entirely safe for their health, but the rest of the U.S. isn't, and they want Obamacare. You have yours and now they want theirs.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#59 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:09 PM EDT

                    Voters in Massachusetts and the adjacent states like NH, CT, RI, VT, ME and NY will
                    know Romney best. We’ll see which way that knowledge leads them to vote in
                    the Fall.

                      Reply#60 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:20 PM EDT

                      P.Obama should be campaining in Kenya where he was born.

                      Send Obama back to Kenya in 2012.

                      Obama has no right to be POTUS or run for re-election.

                      Impeach Obama now before he destroys the rest of America.

                      Obama is turning the American Dream into the American Nightmare.

                      Obama is the worst president in the history of America.

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#62 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:33 PM EDT

                      Enough Slamming the right and boosting the left for you Mrs. Weinberg?

                        Reply#63 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:36 PM EDT

                        Obama dosen't stand a chance getting reelected again or he shouldn't he hasn't helped the economy and no jobs at all but to the illegals.

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#64 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:39 PM EDT

                        Question: Which Presidential candidate refused to release the documentation required to prove his eligibility to run for office, all while lying about what that documentation stated?

                        If you guessed Obama, go back to start.

                        It was Romney. He lied about filing his tax returns as a Massachusetts resident to prove he was eligible to run for Governor. He claimed for 2 years that he filed as a MA resident, but when he finally released his returns, it turns out he had filed as a Utah resident.

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#65 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:39 PM EDT

                        so ?

                        obama lied about where he was from on his college applications .....and has used more than one social security number.

                        obama can look up romneys tax returns because he controls the IRS.

                        romeny can not look up obamas college applications because obama paid millions to seal them.

                        • 1 vote
                        #65.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:01 PM EDT

                        He'd a-be hidin his tithin and also his extra booty overseas my friends..

                          #65.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:25 PM EDT

                          If he is "hidin his tithin and also his extra booty overseas" HOW DO YOU THEY EXISTS??

                            #65.3 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:28 PM EDT

                            Sooo.... This shows Romney has a track record of outright lying about his tax returns.

                            He "claimed" he filed as a MA resident. He was lying through his teeth.

                            He now "claims" he paid taxes. How can we believe a proven liar?

                            • 1 vote
                            #65.4 - Sun Aug 19, 2012 6:27 PM EDT
                            Reply

                            Voters may know Romney in NH, but all American voters know Barack Hussein Obama. We know him as the worst president in US history, an incompetent, unqualified and failed president who is taking America off the map of the world. Obama supporters are comprised mainly of people who either pay no income taxes whatsoever or else they are totally on the government dole. Other supporters outside these categories seem to be intellectually challenged, incapable of comprehending the damage this failure has done to our country. They are all entitlement oriented, people who want the government to support them while they sit at home and do nothing like the lazy, worthless citizens they have become.

                              Reply#66 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:55 PM EDT

                              You can't actually believe that nonsense.

                              OBL is Dead. DOW is up 6500 (it doubled). UE is down from 10.2% to 8.3% which is lower than it was in Feb 2009 (Obama's first month in office). GDP has been positive for about 26 months, as has been job creation.

                              Meanwhile, the GOP thinks that giving the super rich huge tax cits, so they can put it in off shore accounts, creates jobs. And how will the GOP pay for those tax cuts. Take the money we've paid into Medicare and Social Security, and steal it.

                              Great plan that the GOP has there. Thanks, but no thanks.

                                #66.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:10 PM EDT

                                Haven't met too many middle class folk who started companies, hired employees, paid for benefits and on and on and on...

                                  #66.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:25 PM EDT

                                  Joe

                                  Unemployment for Feb. 2009 was 8.3% SAME AS IT WAS IN JULY 2012. If job reation has been steady for 26 months. Why do we have LESS people working today then in Dec. 2008? Hate to brake this to you but the GDP was been DROPPING for 2 quarters. It is now 1.5%. We need a 2.5-3% just to stay on an even keel.

                                  Duck you have just met a LOWER MIDDLE CLASS JOB CREATOR!! I started my business in 1981 with 2 weeks of wages,about $275,in my pocket. I retired 2 years ago and sold the business to my employees. Their doing OK considering the Economy. It ain't easy but it can be done!! You should give it a try. It you aint' workin' what have you got to lose??

                                    #66.3 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:38 PM EDT

                                    Slodon, in Feb 2009, it was 8.4%. And then 8.7% in March, and then 10.2% by OCt 2009, surely you know that?

                                    And the reason we have less people workign today than 2 months BEFORE Obama took office is because in December 2008 and Jan of 2009, we lost about 1.5 MILLION jobs.

                                    And you claim GDP is "dropping" ... is it POSITIVE or negative? Get back to me when for 2 quarters it is negative.

                                    And why do you right wingers assume that people who disagree with you politically, don't work? Is it some sort of dementia? My wife and I have great careers and make over 300k a year before taxes. And we saw how GOP policies nearly destroyed the entire US economy.

                                    You say you are now retired, good for you ... I hear that Romney and Ryan plan to not give the "improvements" to medicare to YOU unless you are under 55 years old ... does that upset you? Are you wishing that you could take advantage of the new program they are proposing?

                                    Or are you like me. I've paid in for 30 years, I'll be paying in for about 15 more. And I guess I should be happy that when I'm 65, Romney and Ryan will have taken the money I paid in and given it to the super rich.

                                    But I'll get a voucher. And then if I'm 70 and need a pace maker, I'll get to shop around for the cheapest one. Awesome!!!

                                    • 1 vote
                                    #66.4 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:02 PM EDT

                                    Joe the BLS begs to differ with you.

                                    http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000

                                    The GDP is DROPPING.

                                    http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/gdp-growth

                                    Look at the 2012 side of the graph. IT IS DROPPING!!

                                    Hey I LOST MY MEDICARE ADVANTAGE! Romney and Ryan DIDN'T CAUSE THAT!

                                    BTW. Do you want the Ryan Plan or NO MEDICARE?? Do you know that YOU would have the CHOICE for the Voucher or to go on the traditional Medicare?? Maybe you should do some reseah on sites other than Huffington Post amd NBCNEWS and stop watching MSNBC ALL TOGETHER!

                                      #66.5 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:36 PM EDT

                                      Hey Duck I resent that...thats exactly what my Dad+my family did,he was a designer/builder for 55 years and most of those years we were dirt poor..we got better off in the late 80's and 90s,but when we were poor it did not turn around overnight..all of us worked our *&ses off(not just ONE person but ALL of us did)to make the business work..it was not 'given' to us word got around and people called because of our good name..but yes he was middle class folk..well educated,did'nt want much and yes he hired people and yes we had to go without to make payroll,so I do not know what you are smokin buddd,in order for more people to have jobs you have to have demand to support the jobs,if there is no demand there are no jobs

                                      • 1 vote
                                      #66.6 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:39 PM EDT

                                      The problem with Joe Philly is that he believes the nonsense fed to him by Obama's campaign committee, and he can't or won't see any other point of view. He has deceived himself beyond belief and like most Obama supporters, he will not admit on Newsvine that he is likely to either pay no income taxes whatsoever or else he is totally on the government dole. He would vote for Hitler rather than any Republican because he has swallowed this carpetbagger crap all his life. This country is totally divided and nothing can repair it, especially when our president makes meager entitlements more desirable than hard work. For me, Obama is a total abysmal failure and not deserving of another day in office. Only lies and damned lies can defend this miserable excuse for a president.

                                        #66.7 - Sun Aug 19, 2012 8:22 AM EDT

                                        slodon

                                        You did not loose your Medicare Advantage, you opted out. Or are you that uninformed? Medicare Advantage is called Medicare Part C. It is private medical insurance, funded in part by the Medicare fund. That keeps the premiums low, in fact lower than Medicare supplements, but has limited coverage. So if you "lost" your Advantage, it was because you had a pre-existing condition that would raise the premiums. Please don't tell stories or half truths.

                                        • 1 vote
                                        #66.8 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:55 PM EDT
                                        Reply

                                        The Capitalist Manifesto (the Romney/Ryan Plan)

                                        The goal of every successful Capitalist is to concentrate the wealth among the most deserving and entitled: the privileged class. The two methods for accomplishing these goals are diametrically opposed: 1) increase the number of consumers in a market and maximize their buying power by creating higher paying positions for the proletariat, providing benefits and security to maximize confidence and discretionary spending, and increase the likelihood for improved upward mobility, or 2) provide all of the advantages to the most deserving: the capitalists that are create jobs and opportunities, and maximize profits by decreasing wages, decreasing tax obligations, decreasing supply of jobs, increasing demand for jobs, and eliminate the stifling governmental regulations that prevent corporations from implementing all of their plans despite concerns for health or the environment.

                                        Although history has proven that the former is more successful for lifting all classes of workers, this does not work to the exclusive benefit of the Capitalist, so the latter must be employed. The Capitalist Class must use the system to their advantage in every way possible.

                                        Reduce wages, Maximize profits

                                        • Union busting: The greatest threat to the concentration of wealth is the ability for the workers to gather their collective powers and leverage a lack of productivity to the benefit of the proletariat class. Instead, the Capitalist must use their vast resources to consolidate their political power against the majority, pit the workers against themselves, and prevent them from being able to overthrow the upper class.
                                        • Low education: The second greatest threat to the successful concentration of wealth is an educated electorate and working class. An educated or skilled working class will demand greater benefits, amenities, and will be able to leverage their skills to obtain employment elsewhere if needed. Instead, the Capitalists must ensure that the working class does not have the option for upward mobility. Paramount to this is preventing education.
                                          • Make College unaffordable – Reduce the number of highly skilled and qualified employees by eliminating Pell Grants and Federally Subsidized loans, and ensure that only the privileged and the absolute brightest will have the ability to obtain college educations. For those diligent enough to secure the loans make the crushing debt so cumbersome that they will be forced to accept any position and conditions in order to have the ability to pay off their loans. Extract human workforce and maximize profits.
                                          • Larger class sizes, fewer opportunities - By reducing the ability for teachers to properly educate their students, you increase the likelihood that the students will fail to develop cognitive reasoning and other skills that could unseat the Capitalists. In addition, an uneducated workforce will not be accepted to college, and will result in menial jobs with unbearable conditions. By maintaining a desperate need for work, and by reducing the worker’s options, they have no choice but to accept whatever fate the Capitalists offer.
                                          • Privatize Education – There will forever be a constant demand for education, and the working class will always seek opportunities to advance their progeny’s fortunes. The Capitalist Class must exploit these sensibilities and use all means necessary, including government funding, to create “charter schools” that offer the specter of better opportunities, but do not have any standardized methods of measuring success.
                                          • Eliminate migrant workers: Illegal immigrants are an excellent source of cheap labor and are typically very easy to manipulate through Capitalist services such as: High Cost Check Cashing Services, Pay Day Loan operations, and High-Fee Wire Transfer services. However they tend to vote against the Capitalist’s best interests so these workers must be marginalized. Instead, these workers should be outlawed. The Capitalist Class must take the existing population of legal citizens and convert them into desperate workers.
                                        • Increase family sizes, decrease options: A family without the ability to regulate the number of children that they have, will become beholden to whatever vocations they can arrange, and will be less likely to make demands of their employers or complain when wages or hours are reduced. An expanding family with more mouths to feed results in a more desperate class of workers that is easier to manipulate. The natural urge for sexual activity cannot be repressed, instead family planning tools such as birth control and abortions must be outlawed. Although it is not the Government’s role to regulate such activities, Religious beliefs can be exploited to implement this social engineering.

                                        Privatize entitlements, Maximize profits

                                        • Insurance Companies: The Government has coddled the working class. Social programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, and Workers Compensation are too expensive and provide workers with too many options. More importantly, the money that is being deducted from the worker’s pay to help fund these programs is money that is not being concentrated among the Capitalist class. The old and infirm should be treated as what they are: liabilities to society. If they cannot produce for society, then it should not be society’s responsibility to provide for them. However, since all people will ultimately need medical treatment at some point, we must maximize profits by giving all of the power to the private corporations in charge. Allow them to determine rates for procedures, give them unfettered ability to raise premiums, all under the guise of market forces.
                                        • Privatize Social Security: Provide Hedge Fund operators with more money to gamble on Wall St, resulting in higher commissions that are taxed a lower percentage. Regular cycles in the market will result in large losses of wealth by the working class that can be concentrated to the Capitalist class. The resulting losses and impending financial struggles will result in a working class that is desperate and easier to manipulate.

                                        Deregulation, Maximize profits

                                        • Banking Regulation: Bankers must have the ability to determine their comfort of risk, and the Government should not stand in the way of the Capitalist Class employing their expertise in managing the investment funds of their clients.
                                        • Environmental Regulation: Much of the most important natural resources cannot be accessed do to the overbearing and unnecessary laws and cumbersome regulations of the Government. The Capitalists must take full control of these resources, and use any means necessary to extract, produce, and deliver as needed.
                                        • Eliminate taxes: A government’s only service should be to protect the sovereign nation and best interests of the Capitalists; tax money is best spent for the expansion of the Military Industrial Complex, which relies heavily on Research and Development, and Production of weapons and equipment, by the Private Sector. Taxes that are collected for unnecessary luxuries such as: Social Security, Medicaid/Medicare, Unemployment Compensation, Roads/Bridges, etc…only coddle the working class and reduce the opportunities for the Capitalists to take full advantage. Most importantly, the Capitalist Class should not be held responsible for subsidizing these efforts; instead that burden should fall on the Proletariat, further creating a desperate class of workers that are easier to manipulate.
                                        • 2 votes
                                        Reply#67 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:06 PM EDT

                                        Yes..Vinnie I believe the old term for this is 'corporate fascism'

                                        • 1 vote
                                        #67.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:12 PM EDT
                                        Reply

                                        "Tax cuts for the wealthy"

                                        Obama is running out of material. The deals(proven) he made with the pharmaceutical companies in exchange for support of Obamacare is way more hurtful to America as a whole than tax breaks for the rich (unproven).

                                        In case you're wondering. Obama agreed to keep out foreign competition of prescription drugs, thus keeping costs high.

                                        ObamaCARE, what a joke. Yeah, he REALLY cares.

                                          Reply#68 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:13 PM EDT

                                          Be back in a bit.

                                            Reply#69 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:14 PM EDT

                                            Vinnie-

                                            Union busting!!!!

                                            Damn right! Where were the labor unions when Obama unleashed his immigration plan for illegals?? Aren't the labor unions supposed to fight for american jobs!! They were invisible!!

                                            First Clinton gives us NAFTA, and Obutthead gives us this.

                                            • 1 vote
                                            Reply#70 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:17 PM EDT

                                            From what I saw of Romney's backdrop during his speech in coal country, that union could kick some serious rear. That's at least one union voting 100% for Mitt.

                                              #70.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:19 PM EDT

                                              toughluv

                                              I wonder how it can be called Union Busting when 34,000 of the 62,000 member AFSCME LEFT the Union when they were given the choice. Aren't liberals always hollerin' about CHOICE? But they don't want Union Members to have a CHOICE. Looks like they know that if UNION MEMBERS have a choice the UNIONS LOSE MEMBERS!! When Unions lose members they lose MONEY. And that is ALL the Unions care about.

                                                #70.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:23 PM EDT
                                                Reply

                                                Ok, all you liberals, who the hell do you think pays almost all the taxes in the US? It isn't the middle class. Who the hell do you think get's most of the services for all those taxes in the US? It isn't the wealthy. Think about it.

                                                  Reply#71 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:22 PM EDT

                                                  And my friend that is what is called,in our terms 'managed wealth redistribution'[see vinnie above]When the wealthy get too weathly,in order to reign in capital and redistribute wealth to the middle class sometimes it is necessary to place more of the burden on the wealthy 5%.See the wealthy get that back in many ways one being the government is one of the biggest customers of American companies,so yea what comes around goes around.The govts main repsonsibility is to keep money fluid,to keep it flowing and its the only way sometimes to make it fair for all in the system to that there is not anarchy(as Vinnie describes eloquently above).Hitler went by the Capitalist Manifesto for awhile but found that it is easier just to kill the ones he did'nt like,he had millions of followers in the mid 30's who were dirt poor such as we are today.What Vinnie describes up above is a term you may have never heard before so Google it..it's called FASCISM

                                                  • 1 vote
                                                  #71.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:55 PM EDT
                                                  Reply

                                                  @DownTownJulieBrown: Your brain must aborted you before you born.

                                                    Reply#72 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:24 PM EDT

                                                    Look at the facts punkin!!

                                                      #72.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:26 PM EDT
                                                      Reply

                                                      This $716 Billion dollars Romney is talking about concerning the President's affordable care plan is ridiculous. If that were the case, the bill would not have passed by the senate and congress. The act is not Obama Care but the President's recommendation of affordable health care. Also, the President should not be addressed as Obama, but Mr. President or President Obama.

                                                      Secondly, taxes for millionaires should be raised and taxes lowered for the lower and middle class. Last year, I earned about $40,000 because I retired in November, and I still paid 25% taxes as a single adult. For the past 15 years since my children grew up I have always paid 25% taxes. I wish I could only pay 13% taxes. Mr. President I totally support you and am working on telephone class from the listing given to me on line.

                                                      • 2 votes
                                                      Reply#73 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:32 PM EDT

                                                      Obama is a Muslim terrorist.

                                                        #73.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:36 PM EDT

                                                        Only a President deserves those titles, the current occupant deserves only "obama" or president.

                                                        • 1 vote
                                                        #73.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:38 PM EDT

                                                        Katheryn, it's unfortunate that you've pledged your loyalty to someone who does not have your best interests at heart. President Obama is concerned about one person at the end of the day: President Obama. He's lied to you on dozens of issues, including lobbyists in the White House, halfing the deficit, slashing earmarks, eliminating the capital gains tax for small businesses, voting for the infanticide bill, etc.

                                                        (As a side note, if you insist that "President Obama" is the only proper way to address him, is it not hypocritical that you call "Governor Romney" by his last name alone? And do you call Bush "Bush" or "former President Bush"? I personally think the nomenclature issue is a bit over the top. I mean, who really wants to type out "Undersecretary of the Secondary Assistant to the Secretary pro tempore of the Secretary of the Treasurer of the FBI Smith"?)

                                                          #73.3 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:46 PM EDT

                                                          Kathryn

                                                          I just figured you taxes. 40,000 - 5800 single,standard deduction = 34,200 Taxable Income. Tax on 34200 4709. That means you paid 11.77%. If you paid 25% you should file an amended Tax return and get your money back!! I would also FIRE your Tax Preparer!! Now you know why Romney likes to fire people!!

                                                            #73.4 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:53 PM EDT

                                                            And Dawn I am most sure that for you it really is exclusively because he is as black as night aint it?It is nt because he had Osama killed,or that he saved GM and Chrysler from the brink or that the rate is only 8.4% and not 22% like it was in the Great Depression or that when emergencies happened out West with the fires and the tornadoes that hot the MIdwest that he was right there touring it ON THE GROUND AND MEETING WITH PEOPLE not flying over them while they're drowning as GW did in Katrina,no you just base your decision on the color of his skin and to you that is compltely ok..Do you by any chance see anything wrong with that..for heavens sake I hope you do..

                                                              #73.5 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:15 PM EDT
                                                              Reply

                                                              mr. obama, Please put my neighbors back to work. They would like to afford my computer services. You know, something shovel-ready. They have their own shovels, but all they are using them for is to shovel the horse-hockey you've been passing out off of their doorsteps.

                                                                Reply#74 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:36 PM EDT

                                                                Mitt will put them back to work. Once he gives huge tax breaks to the super rich, and they put those in off-shore accounts, there will be jobs as far as the eye can see, right?

                                                                  #74.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:44 PM EDT

                                                                  Joe, tax breaks for the rich result in their paying more taxes. The Bush tax cuts applied to the rich as well, but the top 1% ended up paying 33% MORE taxes in 2006 compared to 2001.

                                                                  Oh, and offshore accounts? Why can Pelosi, Wasserman-Shultz, and Carney all have them but Mitt can't?

                                                                  Evening, Dawn.

                                                                    #74.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:47 PM EDT

                                                                    All you helped prove was that the tax breaks to the super rich don't turn into jobs. They've been in place for more than 10 years. The bank accounts of the super rich have grown by leaps and bounds, the jobs, not so much.

                                                                    btw ... the Dems who have them are will to have them taxed more ... again, not so much for Romney and the GOP.

                                                                    • 1 vote
                                                                    #74.3 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:05 PM EDT

                                                                    On the contrary, Joe. Why do you think they ended up paying more in the long run? Because the lower rate encouraged them to invest more money in our economy which, in turn, creates jobs. You're clearly no economic genius, Joe, but this is rather simple. If you charge people less for a certain item, service, or other entity, they'll tend to purchase or utilize that item more than they would if you raise the price. If you lower the price of investing in our country (by lowering taxes), people will be more prone to do it.

                                                                    Capiche?

                                                                      #74.4 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:22 PM EDT

                                                                      Yea Joe,problem is you'd have to work overseas

                                                                        #74.5 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:00 PM EDT

                                                                        Hey Cubs Fan here's a hint for you..the government is a ,if not the biggest comsumer of American goods,I do think that just may be the 'Job Creator' we've all been looking for,unfortuneatly ya \have to raise taxes in order to put people to work..just the way it is

                                                                          #74.6 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:21 PM EDT
                                                                          Reply

                                                                          NH voters who vote for Romney because they are "familiar" with him from MA aren't realizing that they aren't familiar enough with the details of what he did to our state (47th in job creation) when he was here. Thank goodness Patrick has turned our situation around EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DURING A SEVERE RECESSION (that should tell us something!)

                                                                          Being a fiscal conservative/libertarian but socially moderate, as most Reps are in NH...they vague flavor they got of Romney from over the boarder seems to match what they believe....they don't know that Romney's fiscal policies....as much as he mitigated them to make them pallatable to our more liberal state, and as much as things he wanted passed...hurt us in the end.

                                                                          ANd they dont' seem to have paid attention to the fact that ROmney has sold his soul. Perhaps being in NH and without safety nets of any kind, they are so busy struggling to survive they were not able to pay enough attention to the political process so MISSED how Romney changed, how he caters to the VERY FAR RIGHT, how he ran in the Rep Primaries.

                                                                          How he, for example, supports policies that results in forcing women who are raped to carry the baby to term.

                                                                          for many women and for some men, even Republicans, in NH, that ONE FACT should be a deal breaker if they faced facts and weren't in denial or uninformed.

                                                                            Reply#75 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:37 PM EDT

                                                                            If the Ryan plan is so great why doesn't he and Congress volunteer to be the first to adopt it and eliminate their gold plated benefits?? If Ryan is so sure of being elected VP, why is he still running for his Congressional seat??

                                                                              Reply#76 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:39 PM EDT

                                                                              sharky.

                                                                              The same reason government, union, and specific company employees are exempt from Obamacare; the rules makers always get the best stuff. The ACA is so far from "everybody playing be the same rules" it's an insult to all Americans.

                                                                              Can't Mr. Ryan still win his seat? Then when accepts the VP job, his seat has a special election?

                                                                                #76.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:48 PM EDT
                                                                                Reply

                                                                                Is this MSNBC throwing us the subliminal propoganda? Romneycare is a good thing, ergo Obamacare is a good thing.

                                                                                Stay on point. The ACA is de-funding Medicare Advantage in an attempt to lower costs to the same level as Medicare per capita. The sticking point, Medicare Advantage is a more generous plan and often offers choices in plans. The phased in de-funding increases as the ACA kicks in.

                                                                                The Democrats have ALREADY changed Medicare with their time-release legislation in the ACA.

                                                                                  Reply#77 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:42 PM EDT

                                                                                  Mitt Romney's own spoke person said Romney care was a god thing.

                                                                                  And Ryan's budget adopted Obama's change in Medicare because it actually saved Medicare money while also closing the donut hole. Now Romney and Ryan are running from those facts.

                                                                                  • 1 vote
                                                                                  #77.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:46 PM EDT

                                                                                  Joe, Romney's spokesperson said that RomneyCare was a "god thing"? No, the "god thing" is how we refer to Obama's view of himself.

                                                                                  RomneyCare is not ObamaCare. The most important difference is that one is state legislation while the other is federal. Individual states can handle many jobs better than the Federal government, and healthcare is definitely one of them. A second difference is length. RomneyCare is 70 pages. ObamaCare is so long that no one's read it. Estimates vary from 1700 pages to 2900 pages depending on margins, font sizes, etc. A third and vital difference is the fact that RomneyCare was POPULAR in Massachusetts, and ObamaCare has been REJECTED by 60% of the American people. You don't run your campaign on the future repeal of a piece of legislation if that legislation is wildly popular, ya know.

                                                                                    #77.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:55 PM EDT

                                                                                    Joe

                                                                                    Just because it seems to be good for Mass. That doesn't mean that it would work for Ca. or NY or Ga. Or any other State.

                                                                                      #77.3 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:58 PM EDT

                                                                                      Did I miss something? What does Mr. Ryan's budget have to do with anything? That is not in Mr. Romney's plan. President Obama's change to Medicare Advantage was an attempt to slow the claims of a more generous plan. By squeezing Medicare Advantage premiums will rise and/or benefits will decrease, and in turn pushing more Americans back to Medicare; deductible, less choices, and less generous benefits.

                                                                                      And only by paying out less benefits can the "savings" extend the life of Medicare for 12 years.

                                                                                      I don't believe Mr. Romney is running from those facts. The Democrats may want to make that the issue to distract voters, but the fact remains, the ACA changes and will furthur change Medicare as we know it.

                                                                                        #77.4 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:07 PM EDT

                                                                                        slodon ... but the GOP says the States are the testing grounds for new ideas. The Federal government should look to the states for the best plans.

                                                                                        Romney's aid said a woman from a different state would not have lost her insurance (and died) if only she had been living in Mass and had RomneyCare. How is that not an arguement for expanding ROmneyCare. Romney, prior to this election said his MAss plan was an "example" for the country.

                                                                                        Other than screaming "ObamaCare is bad", the right has never been able to explain why its bad. Other than that Obama proposed it.

                                                                                        • 1 vote
                                                                                        #77.5 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:09 PM EDT

                                                                                        M.J.

                                                                                        Since you brought up Medicare Advantage. I WANT MY HEALTH INSURANCE BACK!! I had Medicare Advantage now it's GONE!! What happened to "If you like your Policy you can keep your Policy"??

                                                                                        Now my Premiums have gone UP. My Deductible has gone UP. My My cost of medicine has gone UP. MY COVERAGE HAS GONE DOWN!!

                                                                                        THANKS OBAMA!! I'm voting for R&R!! REMOVE AND REPLACE OBAMA!!!

                                                                                        • 1 vote
                                                                                        #77.6 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:10 PM EDT
                                                                                        Reply

                                                                                        HOw Crazy have we become as a Nation?

                                                                                        Subject: Only in America


                                                                                        1. Only in America could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $40,000-a-plate campaign fund raising event.

                                                                                        2. Only in America could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when we have a black President, a black Attorney General, and a federal workforce that is roughly 18% black when the black population is only 12%.

                                                                                        3. Only in America could we have had the two people most responsible for our tax code — Timothy Geithner, the head of the Treasury Departmennt and Charles Rangel who once ran the Ways and Means Committee — tuurn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes.

                                                                                        4. Only in America can we have terrorists kill people in the name of Allah and have the media primarily react by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash.

                                                                                        5. Only in America would we make people who want to legally become American citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege while we discuss letting anyone who sneaks into the country illegally just become American citizens.

                                                                                        6. Only in America could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking by the country's Constitution be thought of as "extremists."

                                                                                        7. Only in America could you need to present a driver's license to cash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote.

                                                                                        8. Only in America could people demand the government investigate whether oil companies are gouging the public because the price of gas went up when the return on equity invested in a major U.S. oil company (Marathon Oil) is less than half of what a company that manufactures sports shoes and apparel (Nike) makes.

                                                                                        9. Only in America could the government collect more tax dollars from the people than any nation in recorded history, still spend a trillion dollars more than it has per year for total spending ($7 million PER MINUTE), and complain that it doesn't have nearly enough money.

                                                                                        10. Only in America could the rich people who pay 86% of all income taxes be accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who don't pay any income taxes at all.

                                                                                        • 5 votes
                                                                                        Reply#78 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:43 PM EDT

                                                                                        Very nicely done.

                                                                                          #78.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:49 PM EDT

                                                                                          good post, hot daddy

                                                                                            #78.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:24 PM EDT

                                                                                            Listen,they PAY 86% of all income taxes because they HAVE nearly 100% of ALL THE CASH IN THIS COUNTRY. And hence the reason WHY WE COMPLAIN THAT THEY DO NOT PAY ENOUGH

                                                                                            • 1 vote
                                                                                            #78.3 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:09 PM EDT
                                                                                            Reply

                                                                                            Were supposed to believe Obama and the Democrats would be better for our economy?

                                                                                            The Democrats haven't passed a budget in four years. Obama's own budget proposals for the last two years didn't receive a single yes vote, not even from his own party.

                                                                                            Obama spent $800 billion dollars on an economic stimulus package that was supposed to prevent unemployment from going above 8% and yet we have had 42 Months, a Record, of unemployment above 8%.

                                                                                            Obama has added almost $6 trillion to out national dept in just four years. Now we have a $16 trillion dollar national Dept.

                                                                                            For the Last four years, the Federal government has had record setting deficit spending. Average Federal spending has been $1.2+ trillion dollars more than the Federal government receives in Tax Revenues.

                                                                                            The Federal Government has been borrowing 40 cents of every dollar it spends.

                                                                                            I think we know who is Bankrupting our Country and its not Romney.

                                                                                            ...go ahead community, collapse this comment-that just proves the lemming lefties on FR can't face the truth.

                                                                                            • 3 votes
                                                                                            Reply#79 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:00 PM EDT

                                                                                            Amen Comrade!

                                                                                              #79.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:08 PM EDT

                                                                                              UE was above 8% before the stimulus passed, but you don't know that. Odd.

                                                                                              But I'm guessing you thought Bush's 2 wars would be free too.

                                                                                              • 1 vote
                                                                                              #79.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:34 PM EDT

                                                                                              ...nah, Joe, I'm not that gullible.

                                                                                              ...but I bet you thought ObamaCare was going to be free, didn't ya?

                                                                                                #79.3 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:41 PM EDT
                                                                                                Reply

                                                                                                And so may I ask what are the 10 planks of FASCISM????

                                                                                                  Reply#80 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:05 PM EDT

                                                                                                  STOP THE BULL CRAP!!!!!!

                                                                                                  RATHER THAN FOCUS ON "THE OTHER GUY", TELL US WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO!!!!!!

                                                                                                  WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE!!!!!!!

                                                                                                  WHAT YOUR INTENTIONS ARE!!!!!!

                                                                                                  WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO!!!!!!

                                                                                                  No one of any intelligence can possibly vote for anyone if they don't know what their intentions are.

                                                                                                    Reply#81 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:15 PM EDT

                                                                                                    Just WHO are you addressing with those questions??

                                                                                                      #81.1 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:24 PM EDT

                                                                                                      Romney and Ryan, pick one.

                                                                                                      Obama 2012

                                                                                                      • 4 votes
                                                                                                      #81.2 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:33 PM EDT

                                                                                                      Or Obama/Biden. You pick one or both.

                                                                                                        #81.3 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:45 PM EDT

                                                                                                        Obama 2012!

                                                                                                        • 2 votes
                                                                                                        #81.5 - Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:40 PM EDT

                                                                                                        Okay Wayne

                                                                                                        • YOU STOP THE BULLCRAP AND READ THIS.
                                                                                                        • ALL OF IT!

                                                                                                        Before you make your next sanctimonious slur.

                                                                                                        Obama and Romney: Where they stand on the issues

                                                                                                        By CALVIN WOODWARD | Associated Press • Published August 01, 2012

                                                                                                        Read more here: http://www.theolympian.com/2012/08/01/2195761/obama-and-romney-where-they-stand.html#storylink=cpy

                                                                                                        WASHINGTON – A look at where Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney stand on a selection of issues:

                                                                                                        ABORTION and BIRTH CONTROL:

                                                                                                        Obama: Supports abortion rights. Health care law requires contraceptives to be available for free for women enrolled in workplace health plans, including access to morning-after pill, which does not terminate a pregnancy but is considered tantamount to an abortion pill by some religious conservatives. Supported requiring girls 16 and under to get a prescription for the morning-after pill, available without a prescription for older women.

                                                                                                        Romney: Opposes abortion rights. Previously supported them. Says state law should guide abortion rights, and Roe v. Wade should be reversed by a future Supreme Court ruling. But says Roe v. Wade is law of the land until that happens, and should not be challenged by federal legislation seeking to overturn abortion rights affirmed by that court decision. "So I would live within the law, within the Constitution as I understand it, without creating a constitutional crisis. But I do believe Roe v. Wade should be reversed to allow states to make that decision." Said he would end federal aid to Planned Parenthood.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        DEBT:

                                                                                                        Obama: A fourth-straight year of trillion-dollar deficits is projected. Federal spending is estimated at 23.5 percent of gross domestic product this year, up from about 20 percent in previous administration, and is forecast to decline to 21.8 percent by 2016. Won approval to raise debt limit to avoid default. Calls for tackling the debt with a mix of spending cuts and revenue increases. Central to Obama's plan is to let Bush-era tax cuts expire for couples making more than $250,000. That would generate more than $700 billion over 10 years. Also, would set a 30 percent tax rate on taxpayers making more than $1 million, increasing taxes for some but not all millionaires and billionaires. That would generate about $47 billion over 10 years. Reached agreement with congressional Republicans to cut $487 billion in military spending over a decade.

                                                                                                        Romney: Defended 2008 bailout of financial institutions as a necessary step to avoid the system's collapse, opposed the bailout of General Motors and Chrysler and said any such aid should not single out specific companies. Would cap federal spending at 20 percent of gross domestic product by end of first term. Stayed silent on the debt-ceiling deal during its negotiation, only announcing his opposition to the final agreement shortly before lawmakers voted on it. Instead, endorsed GOP "cut, cap and balance" bill that had no chance of enactment. Favors constitutional balanced budget amendment. Proposes broad but largely unspecified cuts in federal spending. Among the few details: 10 percent cut in federal workforce, elimination of $1.6 billion in Amtrak subsidies and cuts of $600 million in support for the arts and broadcasting.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        ECONOMY:

                                                                                                        Obama: Term marked by high unemployment, a deep recession that began in previous administration and officially ended within six months, and gradual recovery with persistently high jobless rates. Unemployment rate jumped to 8.3 percent from 7.8 percent in February 2009, Obama's first full month in office, and has stayed above 8 percent ever since. The rate hit a high water mark of 10 percent in October 2009 and has dropped to 8.2 percent. Businesses have added jobs for more than two years straight. Obama responded to the recession with a roughly $800 billion stimulus plan that nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated cut the unemployment rate by up to 1.8 percentage points. Continued implementation of Wall Street and auto industry bailouts begun under George W. Bush. Proposes tax breaks for U.S. manufacturers producing domestically or repatriating jobs from abroad, and tax penalties for U.S. companies outsourcing jobs. Won approval of South Korea, Panama and Colombia free-trade pacts begun under previous administration, completing the biggest round of trade liberalization since the North American Free Trade Agreement and other pacts of that era.

                                                                                                        Romney: Lower taxes, less regulation, balanced budget, more trade deals to spur growth. Replace jobless benefits with unemployment savings accounts. Proposes repeal of the (Dodd-Frank) law toughening financial-industry regulations after the meltdown in that sector. Proposes changing, but not repealing, the (Sarbanes-Oxley) law tightening accounting regulations in response to corporate scandals, to ease the accountability burden on smaller businesses. "We don't want to tell the world that Republicans are against all regulation. No, regulation is necessary to make a free market work. But it has to be updated and modern."

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        EDUCATION:

                                                                                                        Obama: Has approved waivers freeing states from the most onerous requirements of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law with their agreement to improve how they prepare and evaluate students. "Race to the Top" competition has rewarded winning states with billions of dollars for pursuing education policies Obama supports. Won approval for a college tax credit worth up to $10,000 over four years and more money for Pell grants for low-income college students. Wants Congress to agree to reduce federal aid to colleges that go too far in raising tuition.

                                                                                                        Romney: Supported the federal accountability standards of No Child Left Behind law. In 2007, said he was wrong earlier in career when he wanted the Education Department shut because he came to see the value of the federal government in "holding down the interests of the teachers' unions" and putting kids and parents first. Has said the student testing, charter-school incentives and teacher evaluation standards of Obama's "Race to the Top" competition "make sense" although the federal government should have less control of education.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        ENERGY and ENVIRONMENT:

                                                                                                        Obama: Ordered temporary moratorium on deep-water drilling after the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico but has pushed for more oil and gas drilling overall. Approved drilling plan in Arctic Ocean opposed by environmentalists. Proposes Congress give oil market regulators more power to control price manipulation by speculators and stiffer fines for doing so.

                                                                                                        Achieved historic increases in fuel economy standards for automobiles that will save money at the pump while raising the cost of new vehicles. Achieved first-ever regulations on heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming and on toxic mercury pollution from power plants. Spent heavily on green energy and has embraced nuclear power as a clean source.

                                                                                                        Failed to persuade a Democratic Congress to pass limits he promised on carbon emissions. Shelved plan to toughen health standards on lung-damaging smog. Rejected Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada but supports fast-track approval of a segment of it. Proposes ending subsidies to oil industry but has failed to persuade Congress to do so.

                                                                                                        Romney: Supports opening the Atlantic and Pacific outer continental shelves to drilling, as well as Western lands, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore Alaska; and supports exploitation of shale oil deposits. Wants to reduce obstacles to coal, natural gas and nuclear energy development, and accelerate drilling permits in areas where exploration has already been approved for developers with good safety records.

                                                                                                        Says green power has yet to become viable and the causes of climate change are unknown. Proposes to remove carbon dioxide from list of pollutants controlled by Clean Air Act and amend clean water and air laws to ensure the cost of complying with regulations is balanced against environmental benefit. Says cap and trade would "rocket energy prices."

                                                                                                        Blames high gas prices on Obama's decisions to limit oil drilling in environmentally sensitive areas and on overzealous regulation.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        FOREIGN POLICY:

                                                                                                        Obama: Opposes a near-term military strike on Iran, either by the U.S. or by Israel, to sabotage nuclear facilities that could be misused to produce a nuclear weapon. Says the U.S. will never tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran but negotiation and pressure through sanctions are the right way to prevent that outcome. Reserves the right to one day conclude that only a military strike can stop Iran from getting the bomb. Declined to repeat the Libya air power commitment for Syrian opposition, instead seeks to build international consensus toward the goal of persuading President Bashar Assad to leave and to press Russia and China to stop shielding his government from international sanctions. Chastised Israel for continuing to build housing settlements in disputed areas and has pressed both sides to begin a new round of peace talks based on the land borders established after the 1967 Arab-Israeli conflict. Signed law to expand military and civilian cooperation with Israel. The law affirms U.S. support for negotiating the establishment of a Palestinian state, reflecting a U.S. bipartisan consensus. Opposes citing China as a currency manipulator, which could lead to broad trade sanctions, instead pressing the matter through diplomacy and aggressively bringing unfair-trade cases against China to the World Trade Organization.

                                                                                                        Romney: Appears to present a clearer U.S. military threat to Iran and has spoken in more permissive terms about Israel's right to act against Iran's nuclear facilities, without explicitly approving of such a step. "Of course you take military action" if sanctions and internal opposition fail to dissuade Tehran from making a nuclear weapon, he has said. Has spoken in favor of covert action by the U.S. and regional allies in Syria but "the right course is not military" intervention by the U.S. Associates himself more closely with hardline Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pledges more military assistance to Israel and agreed with Israel's position that Jerusalem is the capital, disregarding the Palestinians' claim to the eastern sector annexed by Israel in 1967 in a move that is not internationally recognized. Has branded Russia the "No. 1 geopolitical foe" of the U.S. and threatened to label China a currency manipulator in a move that could lead to broad trade sanctions.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        GAY RIGHTS:

                                                                                                        Obama: Supports legal recognition of same-sex marriage, a matter decided by states. Opposed that recognition in 2008 presidential campaign - and in 2004 Senate campaign - while supporting the extension of legal rights and benefits to same-sex couples in civil unions. Achieved repeal of the military ban on openly gay service members. Has not achieved repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages and affirms the right of states to refuse to recognize such marriages. Administration has ceased defending the law in court but it remains on the books. Directed government to require all hospitals that get Medicare and Medicaid financing to grant visitation privileges to gay and lesbian partners of patients. But has declined to issue an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating against gay employees, holding out instead for congressional action to extend such protection to workers in all sectors. In 1996 Illinois state Senate campaign, stated: "I favor legalizing same-sex marriages," a position he later abandoned at the federal level and now embraces again. "I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married," he said.

                                                                                                        Romney: Opposes legal recognition of same-sex marriage and says it should be banned with a constitutional amendment, not left to states. "Marriage is not an activity that goes on within the walls of a state." Also opposes civil unions "if they are identical to marriage other than by name," but says states should be left to decide what rights and benefits should be allowed under those unions. Says certain domestic partnership benefits -largely unspecified - as well as hospital visitation rights are appropriate but "others are not." Says he would not seek to restore the ban on openly gay military members. Asserted in 2002 campaign for Massachusetts governor that "all citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of sexual preference," in tune with statements years earlier as a Senate candidate that equality for gays and lesbians should be a "mainstream concern." But did not explicitly support marriage recognition and, as governor, opposed same-sex marriage when courts legalized it in Massachusetts. "My view is that marriage itself is between a man and a woman."

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        GUNS:

                                                                                                        Obama: Has not pushed for gun control measures as president. Signed laws letting people carry concealed weapons in national parks and in checked bags on Amtrak trains. Favors "robust steps, within existing law" to address gun issues, White House says. Voices support for renewed ban on assault-type weapons but has not tried to get that done. Has not swung behind longshot Democratic bill, introduced after the Colorado movie theater shooting in July, to let only licensed dealers sell ammunition, require police to be notified after any sale of more than 1,000 rounds to an unlicensed person, and require buyers who aren't licensed dealers to show a photo ID. Backed tougher gun control as Illinois and U.S. senator, including proposals to renew the assault-weapons ban and require background checks for buyers at gun shows.

                                                                                                        Romney: Opposes stricter gun control laws. Suggested after the Colorado shooting that he favors tougher enforcement of existing gun laws, although the theater attack was carried out with legally obtained weapons. As Massachusetts governor, vowed in 2002 to protect the state's "tough gun laws," and in 2004 signed a Massachusetts ban on assault weapons. Quadrupled state's gun-licensing fee but loosened rules on the licenses and extended their duration. In 2008 primary campaign, said he would have signed the federal assault weapons ban if it had come to him as president, but he opposed any new gun legislation.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        HEALTH CARE:

                                                                                                        Obama: Achieved landmark overhaul putting U.S. on path to universal coverage now that Supreme Court has upheld the law's mandate for almost everyone to obtain insurance. Under the law, insurers will be banned from denying coverage to people with pre-existing illness, tax credits for middle-income and low-income people will subsidize premiums, people without employer-provided insurance will have access to new markets and small business gets help for offering insurance. Millions of uninsured are to be reached through expansion of Medicaid with hefty subsidies to states but Supreme Court limited federal power to penalize states that want to opt out of the expansion. Law's biggest changes start in 2014. "Nobody is going to go broke just because they get sick. And Americans will no longer be denied or dropped by their insurance companies just when they need care the most. That's what change is."

                                                                                                        Romney: Promises to work for the repeal of the federal health care law modeled largely after his universal health care achievement in Massachusetts because he says states, not Washington, should drive policy on the uninsured. Proposes to guarantee that people who are "continuously covered" for a certain period be protected against losing insurance if they get sick, leave their job and need another policy.

                                                                                                        Would expand individual tax-advantaged medical savings accounts and let the savings be used for insurance premiums as well as personal medical costs. Would let insurance be sold across state lines to expand options, and restrict malpractice awards to restrain health care costs. Introduce "generous" but undetermined subsidies to help future retirees buy private insurance, or let them have the option of traditional Medicare, with a gradually increasing age to qualify for benefits.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        IMMIGRATION:

                                                                                                        Obama: Issued directive in June that immigrants brought illegally to the United States as children be exempted from deportation and granted work permits if they apply, a step that could benefit 800,000 to 1.4 million. "It's a temporary measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while offering some justice to these young people." Took the step after failing to deliver on a promised immigration overhaul, with the defeat of legislation that would have created a path to citizenship for young illegal immigrants enrolled in college or enlisted in the armed forces. Says he is still committed to it. Government has deported a record number of illegal immigrants under Obama, nearly 400,000 in each of the last three years.

                                                                                                        Romney: Favors U.S.-Mexico border fence, opposes education benefits to illegal immigrants. Opposes offering legal status to illegal immigrants who attend college, but would do so for those who serve in the armed forces. Would establish an immigration-status verification system for employers and punish them if they hire non-citizens who do not prove their legal status. Proposes more visas for holders of advanced degrees in math, science and engineering who have U.S. job offers, and would award permanent residency to foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with a degree in those fields. Would end immigration caps for spouses and minor children of legal immigrants. Although criticizing Obama's directive protecting immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children, would not say if he would reverse it, pledging instead an unspecified "civil but resolute" long-term fix to illegal immigration.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        SOCIAL SECURITY:

                                                                                                        Obama: Has not proposed a comprehensive plan to address Social Security's long-term financial problems. During budget negotiations in 2011, proposed adopting a new measurement of inflation that would reduce annual increases in Social Security benefits. The proposal would reduce the long-term financing shortfall by about 25 percent, according to the Social Security actuaries.

                                                                                                        Romney: Protect the status quo for people 55 and over but, for the next generations of retirees, raise the retirement age for full benefits by one or two years and reduce inflation increases in benefits for wealthier recipients.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        TAXES:

                                                                                                        Obama: Wants to raise taxes on the wealthy and ensure they pay 30 percent of their income at minimum. Supports extending Bush-era tax cuts for everyone making under $200,000, or $250,000 for couples. But in 2010, agreed to a two-year extension of the lower rates for all. Wants to let the top two tax rates go back up 3 to 4 percentage points to 39.6 percent and 36 percent, and raise rates on capital gains and dividends for the wealthy. Health care law provides for tax on highest-value health insurance plans. Together with Congress, built a first-term record of significant tax cuts for families and business, some temporary.

                                                                                                        Romney: Keep Bush-era tax cuts for all incomes and drop all tax rates further, by 20 percent, bringing the top rate, for example, down to 28 percent from 35 percent and the lowest rate to 8 percent instead of 10 percent. Curtail deductions, credits and exemptions for the wealthiest. End Alternative Minimum Tax for individuals, eliminate capital gains tax for families making below $200,000 and cut corporate tax to 25 percent from 35 percent. Does not specify which tax breaks or programs he would curtail to help cover costs.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        TERRORISM:

                                                                                                        Obama: Approved the raid that found and killed Osama bin Laden, set policy that U.S. would no longer use harsh interrogation techniques, a practice that had essentially ended later in George W. Bush's presidency. Largely carried forward Bush's key anti-terrorism policies, including detention of suspects at Guantanamo Bay despite promise to close the prison. Also has continued with military commissions instead of civilian courts for detainees and invocation of state secrets privilege in court. Expanded use of unmanned drone strikes against terrorist targets in Pakistan and Yemen.

                                                                                                        Romney: No constitutional rights for foreign terrorism suspects. In 2007, refused to rule out use of waterboarding to interrogate terrorist suspects. In 2011, his campaign said he does not consider waterboarding to be torture.

                                                                                                        ---

                                                                                                        WAR:

                                                                                                        Obama: Ended the Iraq war he had opposed and inherited, increased the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan then began drawing down the force with a plan to have all out by the end of 2014. Approved use of U.S. air power in NATO-led campaign that helped Libyan opposition topple Moammar Gadhafi's government. Major reductions coming in the size of the Army and Marine Corps as part of agreement with congressional Republicans to cut $487 billion in military spending over a decade.

                                                                                                        Romney: Endorses 2014 end to U.S. combat in Afghanistan, subject to conditions at the time. Would increase strength of armed forces, including number of troops and warships, adding almost $100 billion to the Pentagon budget in 2016.

                                                                                                        Read more here: http://www.theolympian.com/2012/08/01/2195634/obama-and-romney-where-they-stand.html#storylink=cpy

                                                                                                        • AFTER READING ALL OF THE ABOVE
                                                                                                        • there is only one obvious choice for the intelligent voter...
                                                                                                        • OBAMA/BIDEN 2102
                                                                                                        • 2 votes
                                                                                                        #81.6 - Sun Aug 19, 2012 3:20 AM EDT
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