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Evan Vucci / AP
Republican presidential candidate greets supporters Friday during a campaign rally in Orange City, Iowa.
ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- In his first rally since President Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for president, Mitt Romney on Friday called Obama's speech in Charlotte, N.C., "extraordinarily disappointing" and castigated Obama for not proposing how to solve joblessness.
"I read that this morning, you perhaps got the chance to do that," Romney said of the speech, suggesting he didn't watch the event live on television Thursday night.
"But if you did, perhaps like me you found it extraordinary disappointing -- surprisingly disappointing," Romney continued, adding later, "I was surprised by his address because I expected him to confront the major challenges of the last four years, which is an economy which has not produced the jobs that the American people need."
Romney made the remarks to several thousand people inside a basketball gym at Northwestern College, a small Christian liberal arts school here in conservative northwest Iowa.
Campaign officials said 2,600 people were inside the gym, and another 800 to 1000 people were inside an overflow room, which Romney visited briefly afterward.
The event came on the same day the Labor Department released a sour jobs report showing employers added 96,000 jobs in August and that more than 350,000 people had stopped looking for work.
"It’s just simply unimaginable," Romney said of the numbers. "The president said that by this time we’d be at 5.4 percent unemployment. 5.4 percent. Instead, we’re at about 8 percent."
Romney said the difference accounts for 9 million people who could be working.
Earlier Friday, Romney called the report a "hangover" after the Democrats' "party" in Charlotte.
"This is a tough time for the middle class of America," Romney told reporters on a tarmac in Sioux City. "There's almost nothing the president has done in the past three and a half, four years that gives the American people confidence that he knows what he's doing when it comes to jobs and the economy."
Before Romney took the stage here in Orange City, campaign aides tossed to the crowd blue foam gloves designed to look like baseball mitts.
A scoreboard inside the gym had been programmed to list one team as "Mitt" and the other "Romney." Scores were listed as 11 and 6, a reference to the Nov. 6 general election.
Romney was introduced by two Iowa Republicans, Gov. Terry Branstad and Rep. Steve King, who represents the 5th district here and is running for re-election.
Making an apparent pitch for Romney's conservative credentials, King told the crowd that Obama "undermines" the values of northwest Iowa "day after day after day."
"Don't doubt this man's faith. Don't doubt his conviction," King said of Romney. "Do not doubt his patriotism or his faith, and his love for Jesus Christ, our savior."
Romney later urged the crowd inside the overflow room to re-elect King.
"I wanna make sure he's in Washington when I get there so we can do the things we're promising doing," Romney said.
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Where are the tax returns nittMitt?
Is that the speech Willard swore he wasn't going to listen to?
Hold on, wait a minute...LET ME PUT SOME FACTS IN IT!!!!
For the PAST THREE YEARS, President Obama has put before the House and Senate a jobs plan that would get Americans back to work.
Hmmm...I wonder what happened?
OHHHHH, THAT'S RIGHT...Every SINGLE GOP/TPer voted AGAINST IT; THEREBY, living up to what Mitch McConnell VOWED not 24 hours after Obama won the election: HE WOULD NOT WORK WITH THIS PRESIDENT NOR HIS ADMINISTRATION,AND WOULD DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO SEE TO IT THAT HE IS A ONE TERM PRESIDENT!!!!
Had they approved them, the jobs numbers would have been BETTER than what they are RIGHT NOW!!!!!
Is willard flip-flopping on jobs again?
Hit him hard during the debates, Mr. Romney and show America that popularity contests, Motown music and some dancing are not what will make this country great again. Use facts and give detailed plans to reunite this country and strengthen its continally weakening economy. Make sure to speak loudly enough - most of the Dems and Libs are walking through life these days half asleep - (still Dreaming I guess).
P.S. Rise above and do not stoop to their level of name game and blame. GOD bless.
Democrats are dreaming about the economy we had in 2000 before voters made a major blunder and put a republican in the white house. I know Bush didn't run on war, torture and economic disaster but that's what we got. And now, republicans want another yo yo in the white house with the exact same policies. I don't get it.
Romney has said absolutely nothing regarding a real business plan for the economy. He is a selfish, fake and power hungry individual. Ryan's comments come across sociopathic to me.
Obama has been obstructed every step of the way regarding the economy. I hate to think it would have been if Republicans had control of the White House as well.
I watched Romney for 4 years in neighboring MA. He hasnt changed. So MUCH talk, so MUCH attacking, so FEW plans! He once, when running against Ted Kennedy, said that on the issue of gay rights, he would be "TO THE LEFT of Ted. Kennedy". The man is a bag of wind with absolutely NO political principles! HE is whatever he needs to be, depending on which way the political winds blow. Im glad the American people got a chance to see him on national TV. He's just a snake oil salesman who, even when he introduces himself, looks like he's LYING!!
So, as Ive said MANY times before, do NOT listen to anything ANY republican says--- watch what they DO, what they HAVE DONE and what they PLAN TO DO!Then you'll know how to vote!
PS--- "Conservatives" ought to know that Mitt Romney is PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for implementing gay marriage in MA when he was under absolutely NO DIRECTIVE to do so!!
http://massresistance.org/docs/marriage/romney/ <=== Tea Party Affiliate
so much talk, so much attacking? Are you kidding? That's all Obama has done for 4 years. First attacks Bush, now Romney. When is he going to take responsibility? Never, of course.
I love reading the comments from all the die hard liberals. Romney is a successful businessman with a bold plan of fiscal responsibility whereas Obama and Clinton jabber for hours about entitlement spending. "we can give you everything you want and reduce the deficit at the same time!!!" Such political bull$hit. The Obama plan will continue to tank this economy. We need strong leadership and Romney/Reid are the solution. $16 trillion in debt, completely flat-line unemployment numbers. Only an idiot would believe than another 4 years of this misery will make things better. We need change, IMMEDIATELY!!! Read the jobs numbers folks. Stop listening to the great speeches and look around you.
Romney/Reid 2012.
No,he is a leverage buy out expert-That is NOT a good business man nor would it make for a good President !! Don't forget that 10.6 Trillion was here when he took office. And again Lloyd,it is the NO parties fault so you are blaming the WRONG person !!! Job one for them is to get rid of Obama and screw America while your at it !!!
maria --- what lloyd forgot is that the jobs numbers have always been an improvement over what his hero bush left us with. he can't answer that.
Lloyd S:
Romney/Reid 2012?????????
Lloyd S talks about 4.6 trillion in new tax cuts for the wealthy as fiscal responsibility. Are you surprised that he doesn't know who the candidates are?
Lloyd S - Oh my god - you are one of the few people on this planet who knows Willard's BOLD PLAN
Could you let the rest of us peons in on it
Or is the bold plan is to make us peons
And why Romney/Reid - versus Romney/Ryan?
Subminimal wishing - two Mormons running the country
What I love is that Romney is part of the NO party.They have blocked 19 jobs bills just to make Obama look bad.So they want America to go down in flames just to get Obama out of office-And that's what they call leadership ??? When Obama gets re-elected Congress will have no choice but to work with him because we won't stand for it and because they will be out on their a$$e$ !!
bankrupt romney where are your tax returns? what are you afraid of? are they really that bad?
You repubs just don't get it. It is YOUR party who has stalled any action on jobs. Facts are facts and no amount of dodging is going to change it. No way I vote for Romney.
Romney/Ryan's trickle-down "economics" are nothing more than ....how can I put this delicately...nothing more than the super rich urinating on the rest of us, and then laughing all the way to the bank.
Even if "yelling out Hope and Change and now Forward" was the only plan put forth by Obama and his contingency, it would be more than the Mutt & Jeff show put on by the Republicans. That however was not the case.
beavis and butthead want to be in charge now i see..R/R
Romney's "plan" to create 12 million new jobs had five parts:
Talk about disappointing.
No details and no clue how any of these would create jobs.
What a hypocritical bull@!$%# artist this man is. How many peoples jobs did President Obama outsource, and how many is Romney responsible for? Of course Romney's polished tongue justifies his corporate raiding by declaring his raiding was done to keep price down for the consumer. In the legal profession I believe they call this "artful" words. I call it GREED!
Maybe Clint Eastwood could come up with a jobs program for Romney? He's good at doing interviews - right? Maybe Romney could appoint Clint as his Secretary of Labor! Clint could spout witty one-liners all day and make the unemployed feel better as he takes their food stamps away and instills a whole new sense of pride in them (while collecting the usual multimillion dollar paycheck). You lefties out there seem to be getting soft with the rhetoric today... what gives?
Romney has not worked since 2006; he anticipated the GOP presidential campaign in 2008, but lost; now he came back for another trial with the same interest, which is the WH only position.
Since 2006, he has been unemployed; one of the unemployed; but the difference is he is a millionaire, for he just earns his living from the investment, e.g. foreign investment, and he has paid less than 15%; or puting it this way, as John McCain has said that Romney did not pay tax.
Now the job numbers, unemployed, like him, well, why doesn't he teach the unemployed to earn living from investment?
And that will be cool. Who care about the job numbers? Romney has not cared about the job numbers, not until right now. Why has he not suggested anything to his GOP's friends in Congress to do something to help to improve the job numbers?
And he has not been working at all this time; what has he been doing since 2006?
Billie - It has been obvious what the Republicans have been doing - all Republican Governors have cut Public Employment
Ezra Klein - on MSN has said if Public Employment had not been cut the unemployment numbers would be 7.3%
These Governors got stimulus money and what did they do with it they put it in their coffers - not put it where it should be
It has been a concerted effort from Republican Congress and Republicans across this country to regain control
Voter suppression, defund Medicare - lie about Planned Parenthood - etc
And turn this entire country into a right to work - no unions - and control minimum wage
Is this what you want?
Fine than vote for Willard - because that is his agenda - and why should he care he has his
Unemployment is down 0.2%, and jobs have increased this month.
Only the conservatively biased media could turn that into a bad thing!
Harbinger, read the jobs report. Only 96,000 jobs were created in August. Less than the 150,000 needed per month to keep up with new people entering the jobs market. The reason the unemployment rate went down was 369,000 long term unemployed ran out of benefits and dropped off the unemployment roles. This is 4 times the number of jobs created. Even CNBC said these figures are very "troubling" But the Bureau of Labors Statistics in this report said almost 50% of the jobs created were in the food service and beverage industries. Yes those McDonald's and bar jobs will really solve our problems. The number of males employed in this country has now reached a 30 year low of 60%. The facts from Obama's own Dept. of Labor is the jobs market is not getting better. It bears out what the CBO said last month, we are headed from another recession early next year. Obama's double down on government center stimulus is not the answer because it hasn't worked twice before.
People drop off the roles every month, and have every month, every year.
That's a complete red herring.
And the stimulus turned an 800000 per month job LOSS under Bush into an average 200000 per month job GAIN under Obama.
But Republicans just can't stand it when there's good news about America!
Patriot up!
But we are at the lowest percentage of men working in the last 30 years. We are down to 69%. We have more people dropping off then jobs created. We aren't even keeping up with the number of new people entering the jobs market. We need 150,000 jobs per month to do that. The lowest point in employment wasn't in 2009 like Democrats claim. Obama's own Department of Labor says it is now under Obama with only 69% of eligible males having jobs.
Ray W - please focus - if Congress had passed the Infrastructure and the Jobs Act
Where the devil did you think we would be right now - hailing Obama
Why didn't they? Power baby - that's all Republicans have ever been about since FDR
Your vote counts - if you want people to dominate you vote Republican - if you want control of your destiny vote Democratic
Just my opnion take it or leave it!
Reading these blogs, it is easy to see why we are where we are as a country. We do not have adult conversation and discuss the issues in constructive manner, respecting each others varied opinions. All we get from both sides are: insults, name calling, lies, made up ridiculous rhetoric, it is all pointless. There is no deep thought involved in why one candidate is better, why his plan will work, and the counter points, it is depressing. For Gods sake we are all Americans and we need to pull together, we are in a MESS, no one can deny this and acting as though we are all cast members of Jersey Shore does no one any good.
Oh the right wing-nuts. If there is no crotch-issue to attack, let's go after the validity of statistics on job growth that have been reported in the same way, using the same formula, for all recent Presidents. Quite frankly, there isn't much that can be done beyond what is being done to inspire the hiring. The drag on the economy has a lot to do with the Euro-debt crisis, the recession in China, and so on and so on and so on. The biggest and perhaps best leading economic indicator - the market - is actually rocket-propelled as of late which indicates things are continuing to move nicely in the right direction.
All we can say to our chirpy friends on the right is that our President and his team remain determined and committed to cleaning up the mess you made. Your noise about it reminds me of how the kids would sometimes cry when their diaper was changed. What they were too little to understand is that they would soon feel much more comfortable once the change took place.
The change we need and voted for has been taking place and will continue to do so into the next term. It's going to happen, in spite of your noise, and even you will be better off as we continue the clean up. Chill out and hug your binky.
Fair enough, what is the plan? the debt is 16 trillion how can you cut this when the left refuses to consider the big three in entitlements? We are headed off a financial cliff, how do we avoid this from the lefts perspective ?
Look at the President's jobs plan which the House won't pass. More government hiring, government union stimulus, and green energy industries spending. Sound familiar? Yes the same stimulus plan which hasn't worked before. Until we get the private sector going again, there will be no recovery. But the President feels that government centered stimulus will work even if we have to borrow another $5 trillion to prove it.
The plan is as described by policy statements. Deficits go down as tax revenue increases and the argument seems to be on how to do that. Deficits also go down as spending decreases and there seems to be no agreement on that either. What we do know is that an expanding economy solves both issues as it did, miraculously during the Clinton Era. We also know that we began at a much lower starting point and therefore have a deeper trench to dig out of.
So . . . the fix:
Stop the leaks in the revenue base by eliminating the shortfalls caused by the sliding scale of the top earners. Myself included.
Increase the income cap for contributions to social security and never, ever, raid the fund again as has been done during times of surplus.
Reduce defense spending considerably - we are ever more efficient and much more effective than at any other time in history. We do not need all that we once did - even the Joint Chiefs agree.
Expand retraining and higher education initiatives to move an underdeveloped workforce into areas of industry where workers are actually in high-demand. I have a great deal of difficulty finding the skilled workers I need and I am not alone.
And so on.
Obama's plan to raise taxes on the rich only pays for 1.5 days worth of government spending. Since 40% of our budget is deficit spending, one can see this answer is a joke. Obama claims his plan will cut $4 trillion from the budget but the same CBO claims additional spending projections from Obama's budget projections will add an additional $6.4 trillion over the next 4 years. So just do the math. This President has no clue how to reduce the deficit. The number from his own plan don't bear out his claims
Even as a conservative I agree with much of what you say-I would also add I would not mind tax increases to the Clinton era levels, this would affect me. I do not mind paying my fair share- what I hate is waste. The Govt should not be in the business of creating jobs. I will not invest or expand one dime until I know which direction this whole AHC is headed. I have a small company (15) employees Right now I cover my folks with 100% health care coverage, but I am terrified of Obama plan when it goes into effect, no one I mean no one knows for sure how it is going to shake out
You are correct - the health care issue is THE ISSUE. The AHC has been through so many twists and turns it is almost impossible to forecast the repercussions. I do know that you are unique - paying 100% is a very rare, generous, and humane thing to do. However, under the current system or any one in the near future, it will quickly become untenable. Here's why - only an opinion:
More so than a health care crisis, I believe we have a health crisis. We are simply not taking care of ourselves: we are inactive, we eat poorly and too much, etc. Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and all that comes with it are truly the catalysts to our cost of care problem. I don't think we can regulate or mandate a system into submission that is truly a reflection of the real problem. Until we start reducing our need for health care thru lifestyle and wellness changes, the costs will continue to increase no matter how much we squeeze.
That's what bothers me most about the AHC - this isn't addressed. I support open access to all and subsequently consider it an attempted step in the right direction but . . . we have a long way to go.
Well I have great people and I want to keep them! In addition we offer for my traveling salespeople gym memberships when they are on the road- they love it. Whoever wins I hope he has the courage to take on entitlements and get our fiscal house in order.
A perfect plan that I'm glad they appreciate. I'm introducing as many incentives as possible to keep utilization down, even including families - some stick, some don't - and trying as much as I can to stay away from the high-deductible plans as possible. A real challenge. My wish is that they would do what we do in our companies: not worry so much about who is right and who is wrong and focus much more on solving the problem. A "check your ego at the door" willingness to dig in and work together. I think the problem with politics is politics.
Nice chatting with you my friend. Best of luck in all that you do. Now . . . back to work.
Take care brother - best wishes
Please just one conservative enlighten us on how Romney is going to create more jobs-just one. He hasn't put forth one single idea on any topic. Anyone who votes for this idiot isn't paying attention. He doesn't give a damn about America or any of you that support him. Pathetic!
Mitt has a law degree from Harvard, and an MBA from Harvard, he is worth 250 million, question if you are so smart why aren't you rich? However you feel about him, he is not an Idiot. He does have a plan, go to his web site and read it. I could ask you the same question ,what is the Obama plan?
Just how many private sector jobs had Obama created before he became President. The answer is ZERO. So how can you take his word on what it take to create jobs? You actually had to have done it to be an expert on it!!.
sucks to be a teatard
Celtic: I went to his website and his plans SUCK !! Obama also has a law degree and so does his wife,so what ??? As for the whole business man,I don't think so.He is a leverage buy out expert and that is how he made all his money-That is NOT someone I want as my President.Repubs plan:Get rid of Obama and screw us in the process.They have blocked 19 jobs bills !!
Maria, do you have the first clue what a private equity firm does. They either purchase or finance companies is bad financial shape in hopes of turning them around. Fact Check looked into Democratic claims about Bain not creating jobs and found the claim like the Washington post made by the Democrats was totally bogus. Bain has many start up successes such as Staple and other now large businesses in their track record. Of the troubled companies Romney has backed, he has over an 80% record of success in turning the company around. So nice try but the claim has been checked and doesn't hole water.
Then don't vote for him, simple enough- As for Law degree and MBA it was directed to Cathy who claims Mitt is an idiot, clearly he is not. Mitt actually had a job, not a community organizer whatever that is. O struggles because he has no concept of how business works, he never meet a payroll, dealt with Insurance, banks - getting lines of credit - making a budget and sticking to it etc.. He is politician and a lawyer. A good man to be sure, but in over his head. NOTE to RAY correct , also Mitt used HIS money to do this, not the taxpayers
Democrat Senator BOB Kerry
Said this today about OBAMA CARE...
Kiss you company health plans good bye...
Another gift to you from team OBAMA