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WEST LEBANON, NH -- Mitt Romney emerged from debate rehearsals in Vermont today to pick up some pizzas, and to deliver his own analysis of the first night of the Democratic National Convention, which he said could not make the claim Americans were better off after President Obama's first term.
"You've heard no one stand up and say that people are better off than they were four years ago," Romney told reporters traveling with him as he picked up several extra large pies at a pizza joint here. "They really can't say that. They can't say it in all honesty. Particularly with the news that has come out this week."
Wednesday: David Gregory previews tonight's speech by Former President Bill Clinton at this week's Democratic Convention in Charlotte.
"That news: The national debt tripping $16 trillion dollars for the first time, and the number of Americans receiving food stamps topping 47 million, up 15 million from when President Obama took office," Romney said.
Recommended: Ryan tries to draw wedge between Clinton, Obama
"The American people are not doing better and this president understands that and I think that's why people are reluctant to even talk about it because they know the American people know better," Romney said, echoing his campaign's latest line of attack against the Obama administration, after several top Obama advisers fumbled the "are we better off" question on last Sunday's talk-show circuit.
The comments to reporters marked Romney's emergence from a day of strenuous debate preparation at the secluded Vermont estate of his former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey. Romney and a small coterie of aides gathered at the house yesterday morning for a series of mock debates with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who is playing the role of President Obama for Romney.
"I'm just glad I won't be debating ... Rob Portman in the final debates," Romney said. "He's good."
Slideshow: Democratic National Convention
Here in the mountains, with limited cell phone and Internet service, Romney said he did not watch Michelle Obama's address to the Democratic convention in Charlotte last night, and that regardless he only had praise for the first lady.
"I didn't see her speech, but I certainly respect the first lady and think she's, she's done a fine job as our first lady," Romney said. "Lovely person and I respect her."
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Don't look now but,
Personal income is down over the past three years.
Household income is down over the past three years.
16 million more people are receiving food stamps than four years ago.
Gasoline prices have gone from $1.84 to $3.65/ gallon since the beginning of 2009.
Overall the average American is not better off than four years ago. Personally, I'm better off my income and assets have grown. However many people that I know are feeling this decline. The election of either Obama or Romney will have little effect on this trend.
Electing Romney with a plan to give $4+ trillion in new tax cuts to top incomes and corporations will have a big impact on this trend. It will make things worse for most Americans.
You show your ignorance of high income earners. If I can earn more money and get to keep it why shouldn't I hire more workers? In the private sector you hire people not to give them a job, but to earn a profit from the job they do. Would more people doing productive work harm them. You really are stuck on stupid aren't you?
You will only hire more workers if demand increases. Doing otherwise would make little business sense since it would hurt profits while increasing operational costs. Because a business owner is focused on increasing profits, not increasing his workforce.
Actually did anyone read the front page of NBCNEWS today? The article was reporting that companies are seeing bigger profits but not hiring. They just give more work to the current employees so they can widen their profit margins. So even if demand goes up corporations don't hire they heep more work on their current employees, while they vacation on tropical private islands!
I think this why corporations are donating so heavily to Mitt, once he is in office he will repeal the 40 hour a week standard, so companies can detain employees around the clock, he will kill the unions who protect the workers, and we may even be so lucky that we workers become indentured by our employers. Mega corporations are using this work tactic around the world. The company charges you for the things you use like computers then they charge 4-5 times the retail cost, and no you can't bring your own stuff to work. So eventually you owe the corporation more than you make so you can never leave without paying off your debt. It is a work standard through out the 3rd world countries. People in China were so burdened they were committing suicide just to escape their terrible working conditions.
Mitt Romney wants to bring that to America!! Facism at it's best.
BREAKING NEWS: Kokomo Making a Comeback There was a article on Channel 13 wthr.com in Indianapolis, Indiana today. The articles states that Chrysler automobiles who President Obama bailed out is making a comeback. Unemployment was at 17% and is now much lower. Chrysler has now *invested one billion dollars in it's Kokomo operation and has hired more people. Businesses are now opening to accomodate the growth. I guess the President was right to bailout the auto industry. What would of happened if he didn't?
Hey Willard-
YOU are much better off than you were 4 years ago, by millions of dollars in offshore accounts. If you're not, lets see the tax records to prove it.
Oh, and I'm better off too.
Enjoy losing.
Are we better off?
YOU, Mitt Romney, told Fox's Laura Ingraham,
"IT'S GETTING BETTER"
Classic Etch-A-Sketch: $12.99
Mitt confirming that we are better off under President Obama: Priceless
Obama 2012
Yes, Romneyhood my husband and I better off, but we still know of people suffering, mostly people crushed under debt because of loss of health Ins, and having a medical emergency.
Your promise to kill Obamacare, get rid of PP, on just those two things, you aren't qualified.
And Romney show us your tax returns!
People need to lay off those yelling to see the TAX returns.
They are not smart enough to understand INCOME tax
and PERSONAL GAINS TAX anyway. Do you have any idea
how long it took the Fisted Dead Head to teach her Chihuahua
army a big word like TAX anyway?
GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Wednesday that taking the word "God" out of the Democratic platform proved that the party is "veering further and further away into an extreme wing that Americans don't recognize."
Romney failed to specify whether he was talking about the Mormon god, who was born as a man on the Planet Kolob, or one of the other gods.
This Republican chick is funny............
From mid June of 2011.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the new head of the Democratic National Committee and a Forest Hills native, sure did this week.
"We own the economy," she said of her party.
"We own the beginning of the turnaround, and we want to make sure that we continue that pace of recovery."
Candid? For sure.
Poised to give President Obama and his political team fits?
Absolutely for sure.
We know the blame-Bush impulse is in Obama's DNA, and perhaps the economy will turn around before the 2012 election -- but Wasserman Schultz's willingness to take custody of what is at present a shipwreck is mystifying.
God forbid blaming the guy responsible for the mess. Apparently republicans think there is a statute of limitations for incompetence. If Bush wasn't responsible for the mess that happened under his watch then who was??
Mr. Romney, I will be the first of millions to tell you, "YES!! I am better off today than I was 4 years ago!!" Four years ago my husband was unemployed, and we faced losing our house. Today my husband is back to work, and we, thanks to government programs, have keep our house and are making payments once again. Everyone I know who was unemployed four years ago are gamefully employed now. My household income 4 years ago, $27,000, today between me and my husband our household income is $103,000. I am sure mine is NOT the only success story.
My daughter will be paying less in student loan repayment thanks to Obama.
Our friend, who happens to be gay, will be joining the Navy as an openly gay man, thanks to Obama. A Person sexual orientation should NOT prevent someone from fullfilling their civic duty and Patriotic dedication. (Then again what would Mitt Romney know about that, not ONE Of his son's were brave enough and ready to put their lives on the line for this country!)
I KNOW if Obama has 4 MORE YEARS, my life will continue to be blessed. If Mitt gets 4 years we all know HIS bank account (and his friend's bank accounts will be blessed VERY generously) but what about the middle class? He plans to raise taxes on the middle class to give the wealthy even MORE tax cuts. Honestly, I don't see that making MY life better. Where are all those Tea Partiers, who HATE paying taxes?? Why aren't they rebelling against Romney's budget. I don't get it!! Obama LOWERED taxes twice for the middle class and Romney promises to raise taxes and the TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY PARTY is voting for Romney? Is this Bizzaro world?
Ty for your post and yes,we are also better off.Our daughter had $1.5 million in medical bills and thank God she was on my husbands insurance.There are millions of stories like ours and we need to start talking about them.Our other daughter works for an education based company and if Repubs get in they want to cut education by 1/3,if that happens it will be disastrous.Then they want to do away with pell grants,are they totally nuts !!
And no Democrat has his money in offshore accounts either. Ohhhhh snap!
Who's running for President of these United Sttates??? NO. Romney should stick to his day job. As a sleazy businessman.
Bernard-2645475, Isn't a President suppose to be better than the average man or in this case the average multi-millionaire? Why would you support a tax dodger to be in charge of the tax codes? Isn't that like putting the fox in charge of the hen house??
This man killed (if coporations are people, Mitt Romney is guilty of murder!)small businesses to enrich himself. Companies came to him under the delusion that he would help save the company and he found ways to "creatively destroy" (his words not mine) companies to enrich himself and his partners. He didn't try to save these small business owners he purposely over leveraged them while using the money he borrowed on one company to buy other companies then when the companies crumbled under the obese debt, they filed bankruptcy, and then he went after the pensions of the workers who had put their OWN money in their pension and he wiped thousands of middle class employees life savings.
Yes, he made millions, but what a disgusting way to make money. Taking someone's hard earned money, money they saved for retirement, forcing them to work until they drop dead. Frankly, it sickens me!! Instead of helping lift up people he, like a bully, crushed them under the weight of his debt. If you think that Mitt is fit to be President, why is Maddoff not running as his VP, is what Romney did to companies essentially what Maddoff did to people?
Conservative baffle me. I was taught there was a right way to do things and a wrong way. Conservatives seem to think that anyway to win or make money is okay, that the ends justifies the means. I just simply was NOT taught to think that. In church I was taught that Jesus wanted us to do good not evil. Destroying someone's life is to me the definition of evil, especially when it was done to enrich yourself.
Romney has been hitting the trail saying their are 47 million on welfare. Has he stopped to look in the mirror? Staples pays only minimum wage to their front line employees. In most states minimum wages are less than the poverty level. So if Mitt is really concerned about 47 million Americans on welfare....he needs make his rich buddies dip into their own businesses and pay people at reasonable rates!!
Well gee Willard I guess you better stand up then because you definately are better off than you were 4 years ago. The stock market has almost doubled since Bush left office. Anyone that has a 401K and still has their job is better off, period. Thanks for playing Willard.
So how is taking away 30 million people's healthcare and raising the taxes on the poor going to help people be better off? I would love for Willard to answer that one. Of course he won't he rarely answers any questions.
Of course, 100% Americans are better today than they would have been, or would be, if Bush had continued or McCain had taken over or, God forbid, Romney becomes President in November. Absolutely, Americans are better off today than the debacle of Bush 2. 4 years ago today was September 2008. Thnk about that. And when November comes, think about what November 2008 was like under Bush 2: Losing 800,000 jobs a month, banks not lending, stock market crashed, at the brink of total collapse, going in the wrong direction, YUP, WE ARE FAR BETTER OFF TODAY THAN UNDER BUSH 4 YEARS AGO TODAY AND GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!
The DNC appears to be considerably more inclusive than the GOP party. There are people from all walks of life, people of all races and backgrounds, people of all religious affiliations, people of all socio-economic status, and Americans as well as American wannabes. I especially loved the Nun's speech. "I am my brother's keeper. I am my sister's keeper" should be the Democratic slogan. When people in this country need help, we should all come together to come to their aid, not cut benefits that help them.
TOEJAM, "Appears more inclusive"??? Uh, yes you could say that but that's an understatement which eclipses all others. The GOP had a number of woman and minority speakers at their convention. Only problem was, the dozen or so people you heard speak were in fact the entire group of minorities in the entire place!!! When looking out into the see of faces in the audience, only an ocean of white faces were to be seen. So much for the GOP trying to palm themselves off as the party of inclusiveness. LOL It's downright depressing, watching these buffoons, going through the motions half heartedly, trying to convince the public at large, what good guys they are.
Trying to make sense and keep abreast of Willard's latest distortions and outright lies is impossible. This is the very same guy who less than a year ago said when being interviewed on the Laura Ingram show that "of course the economy is getting better, it always does". Ingram then said to him, "isnt' that a difficult argument to make, that the economy is getting better, only it's not because of Obama"??? To which he responded, " What can I tell you Laura, it's the truth".
There is something particularly despicable about this guy, who can change his answers at the drop of a hat, reverse a former opinion and think nothing of it. The truth means nothing to Romney, it is merely something to be manipulated to suit his needs at that moment.
It was four years ago, a lot has happened over that time and anytime something bottoms out and starts heading up, it starts out slowly. I think, Yea, I am better off, this country is better off and if people really look at their situation, most would say their lives are better. At least we are not still heading into an abyss. That was the situation four years ago. Has this country gone into some sort of boom in the economy and solved all of our most pressing problems. NO. But, Obama has been working on it. That is more than the Republicans in the congress can say. They have not tried to solve one problem in the past four years. They run legislation through the House, that no one but the most right wing nut can support and expect for it to become law. They don't have a clue of what compromise and working together mean. They have even said that their major goal is to make sure Obama does not have a second term. Is putting politics over country, what they were elected to do?Yea, we are better off, but is not because of anything the Republicans have done in the last four years. A bit long, but there is your answer Mitt.
Are we better off today than we were four years ago? Here's an answer for Mr. Romney. YES I AM.
My son has healthcare which he didn't have before because he has a preexisting condition. He has a job which he didn't have when Obama took office. Our son-in-law started his own business with the new business incentive program. Are we better off - YES! Even if they hadn't had all of the things above, I can see help wanted signs in widows which had virtually disappeared for a while. My nephew and niece who just garduated college got jobs without any difficulty. People have recovered funds in their 401K plans.
President Obama deserves a second term. Maybe Congress should get over their bias and work with him instead of trying to prevent him from accomplishing anything at the expense of the American people.
How about we as employers FIRE people who are not representing us? After all Romney likes to fire people so maybe we, the American people, should fire every Republican who promised to bring jobs but then failed in that promise.
If you own a business and you hire an employee who said he will X, and he instead does YZ and you need him to do X, do you keep him on? Or do you fire his a$$ and bring on someone who will do as they promised? We are the employers of Congress. Republicans in 2010 said they would focus on job creation. They have instead focused on making the President look like he is failing. They have even voted AGAINST their OWN job creation bills, to tow the party line. That is NOT why Americans voted them into office! Vote them OUT! If your a Republican and are upset they aren't doing the job you sent them there to do, spite them, vote for a Dem!! If nothing else, that will send a message to them that YOU still matter, that they still work for you! If you vote Rep again that just tells them what they're doing is what the people want. In 2 years go back to voting Rep. Just don't let them get away with doing whatever they want because they think you are buffaloed by them!
I can totally hear Rmoney saying this:"Hey Ann, come on and listen to this, ALL of the Democrats are not saying they are better off." "Really Mitty? All of them?" "Well, seven....maybe three....Or that one guy...Say, who is that? Anyway, none of them can say it's better off, Ha Ha! Oh we've won. HA HA." "Oh Mitty we deserve it! 'Cause they answered this 'Gotcha question wrong...HA HA!" In an annoying chime: "We are going to be in the White House, We're going to be in the White House."
Mitt, Lyin Ryan', Ann---DREAM ON! Obama 2012!
You can't make this stuff up:
Exclusive: Paul Ryan Quietly Requested Obamacare Cash
Lee Fang on September 5, 2012 - 1:35 PM ET
Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan is barnstorming the country, promising to repeal every provision of the Affordable Care Act if the Romney-Ryan ticket is elected. But a letter he wrote to the Obama administration may undermine this message.
On December 10, 2010, Ryan penned a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services to recommend a grant application for the Kenosha Community Health Center, Inc to develop a new facility in Racine, Wisconsin, an area within Ryan’s district. “The proposed new facility, the Belle City Neighborhood Health Center, will serve both the preventative and comprehensive primary healthcare needs of thousands of new patients of all ages who are currently without healthcare,
Cant we put that in ad and run it!!
Obama doesn't even need to run!! We just let the American people know what hypocrits they guys are and people will vote for Obama out of disgust for these flip-flop, lying,anti-Christian,silver spoon, bully, elitists !!
Mr Romney -
Although I am a registered Republican, I voted for President Obama in 2008 and I will again in this election. I'm a middle class, blue collar worker. I am better off now than I was 4 years ago. No matter how many ways you try to tell me that I am not better off, I actually am smart enough to know my life better than you do. Some of us little people can actually think for ourselves!
You're nuts!! This registered Democrat is voting for Romney!! Obama will be the death of us!
HopeisGone, Look what Mitt did to those small businesses who came to him for help? He delighted in "creatively destroying" them. Lepoards can't change their spots and Romney has no love for the middle class. He will destroy the middle class. Already he has promised to raise taxes on middle class families and lower taxes on the wealthy. What more proof do you need that he is dangerous to us working class! Sue Z is smart enough to see it, why aren't you!
It is strange, Mitts is even asking this question. I am sure none of his personal acquaintances have seen a declined in their wealth in the last 4 years. And for Mitt himself, the last four years have been the most profitable he has had in his entire life. Also, for millions of Republicans, life has been real dandy over the last four years. Taxes down and the stock market up. What is there to complain about?
TEApublicans are DESPERATE because they know this was their year and they nominated a LOSER like Mitt (dog-on-the-car-roof) Romney as their candidate. He lost to Kennedy, lost in 2008 to McCain, in November he'll lose to President Obama.
Democrats didn't like GW Bush but at least they didn't have to lie about him, just tell the truth about his many mistakes and failures, such as leaving the SEC toothless when it comes to Wall Street. Our POTUS is so good LIES are all the GOP has!
To allow the GREEDY SUPER RICH to buy the White House is One Foolish Idea!
Now, I'll just sit back and watch as some GOP TROLL MISSTATES, LIES, DISTORTS, and INSULTS. They do it so well!
This is what I don't understand! The TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY Party is supporting the guy who wants to end EIC which millions of middle class families take advantage of, and effectively raising taxes on middle class families over $2000. Yet Obama has given us 3 tax cuts during his 4 years. We now have some of the lowest taxes in the last 50 years on the middle class. Mitt Romney wants to let the Bush tax cuts expire on the middle class while making the tax cuts on the rich permanent, again raising taxes on the middle class. So why are the TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY people support someone who is raising their taxes?
Please explain this to me?
I haven't seen even 1 Obama bumper sticker...and I'm from Jersey! .....I've seen about 40-50 Romney ones. Obama is toast!!
the last 4 years sucked, and obama is the reason.
a vote for obama is a vote for Islam and both are bad for this country.
and michell is trying to spend as much tax money as she can and she cares nothing about this
country and it's Flag.
Geno, you think Michelle is going to outspend Ann Romney. That stuck-up snobby elitist will run up a charge account that Bill Gates won't be able to pay!! Why because she has no concept of how much things cost because she is filthy rich! You know the rich like free stuff, do you really think she will pay for her own stuff? Did Sarah Palin?? I have seen many of Michelle Obama's clothes that come from The Gap. Unlike Mrs. Romney who ONLY wears designer clothing.
Geno, are you gay? I don't know any straight guys who can tell how much an outfit costs. My husband could tell designer clothes from thrift store clothes, but then again he is straight. Honey child, you need to come to the party that accepts your sexuality.
Geno, where oh where are you getting your ideas about Mrs. Obama? I haven't seen her act in any way that indicates that she's "money hungry". I concur with the post that is above mine. Mrs. Obama buys many of her clothes from the stores that I shop at. Gap, J.Crew and she may even shop at Banana Republic. Hardly elitist stores. I've never heard of her or The President spending vast amounts of money on their two daughters clothing, They shop at the same stores as their mother and like their mother they are well dressed. Not ostentatious in any way. There's a lot there to appreciate and admire about Mrs. Obama.
Peace.
Hey Geno! Vote for the Mormons! they have multiple wives.. they have male Elders who decide for all women what the women will wear, what they will say, what they will do.. They have laws against eating pork, drinking coffee and tea, against smoking.. They have laws against contraceptives. OH HEY! was that too ISLAMIST for you?!?!
We are better off than we were four years ago. The war in Iraq is over and saving American tax payers money. Our sons and daughters, father and mothers came home. We are gaining jobs every month but according to Romney we are not. When he speaks to Governors of other states and tells them that their economy is failing and they reply no we are thriving, he can't even get the Republican Governors on board to tell his false statements. So Mitt Romney we are better off than we were four years ago!!!!