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Subscribe to RSSIn Florida, President Obama slammed Romney, arguing the GOP candidate's math doesn't add up. Meanwhile, a pizza parlor owner swept the president off his feet. NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
MELBOURNE, Fla. – Hours after his opponents Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan did a Sunday morning TV show blitz, President Barack Obama criticized them for not offering more specifics on how they would keep revenue stable while not raising taxes on the wealthy.
“Governor Romney and his allies tell us that we can somehow lower our deficit by spending trillions on new tax breaks for the wealthy. Listen, you’ve got to do the math because when my opponents were asked about it today, they couldn’t. It was like two plus one equals five,” Obama told a crowd of more than 3,000 in a gymnasium at the Florida Institute of Technology here.
When asked during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” what tax loopholes he would eliminate, Romney got no more specific than telling host David Gregory, “high income taxpayers are going to have fewer deductions and exemptions.”
On ABC News’ “This Week,” Ryan said Romney and he would consult with Congress before deciding which loopholes to cut. “We want to do this with the consent of the elected representatives of the people and figure out what loopholes should stay or go,” he said.
Of their lack of specifics, Obama said, “That’s not bold leadership, that’s bad math.”
Ever mindful of his local audience, Obama also focused heavily on Medicare, an important issue to the 17.6 percent of Florida’s population over age 65 – more than four percentage points over the national average.
He cited a new study by Harvard Professor David Cutler that found seniors who qualify for Medicare beginning in 2023 would see higher premiums over the course of their retirement under the Romney/Ryan plan, which would give seniors the option of getting a voucher to help pay for private insurance in addition to the traditional government-run program.
Cutler, one of the Obama campaign’s chief health care advisers in 2008, conducted the study on behalf of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a liberal advocacy organization.
“Basically your profits would decline by the thousands so their profits could rise by the billions,” Obama said of the study’s conclusion.
The Romney campaign responded with a statement from spokesman Ryan Williams calling the study "discredited."
"President Obama’s latest false attacks are a sign of desperation. Only one candidate in this race has robbed today’s Medicare of $716 billion to pay for Obamacare – Barack Obama. He has done nothing to reform Medicare for the long haul and prevent it from going bankrupt, and on his watch family health care premiums have increased by nearly $2,500," the statement read in part.
In Melbourne, the president also mentioned another issue important to voters on this slice of Florida’s coast, whose economy is buoyed in part by the space industry.
“Here on the Space Coast, we started a new era of American exploration that is creating more jobs right here,” Obama said, noting the Curiosity rover that landed on Mars last month.
He warned that Republicans would stifle the research and development that his administration has encouraged.
“This is where we’ve got a choice. We could, as the House Republican budget proposes, cut back on research and technology or we can continue to be at the cutting edge because that’s what we’ve always been about,” he said.
The president is now on his way to West Palm Beach for the fourth and final stop on his two-day Sunshine State campaign swing, after which he’ll return to the White House – hopefully, he said this afternoon, in time to catch Sunday Night Football.
“We intend to be finished to get home in time for kickoff,” he told the crowd in Melbourne.
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Make up your minds. Do you want Mr. Romney to provide specifics, or are you going to suggest his "non-specific" plan is going to fail on your numbers?
Why don't Democrats compare their plan? Or... why don't the Democrats MAKE a plan?
President Obama put forth an extremely detailed plan to move America forward at the DNC. The fact that you didn't notice, even though you have probably seen his speech by now, is a great example of the total and complete disconnect from reality which is the conservative mind.
President Obama and the Democrats say we will invest in Education, Research, upgrade the public infrastructure for example (which we believe will greatly improve the economy and quality of life for all Americans) and you people only see Democrats buying votes from special interest groups, and a socialist agenda. Simple minds cannot understand complex issues. Stupid is as stupid does.
John Rational
I watched most the DNC. President Obama's speech was a rerun of his talking points for past several weeks. Yes, he evoked emotion, painted nice visions, fired up the base, but did not explain how the middle-class was to be grown out.
If you think, for example, that investing in education is a plan, then we will disagree. He mentioned more specifics attacking Mr. Romney than he put forth himself. But, please prove me wrong. What did I miss?
What was the plan and the specifics President Obama put forth?
Like I said, they just can't comprehend uplifting all by helping and investing in those who actually DO all the uplifting. I could replay the speech and the result would be the same. "WHAT, I didn't here any plan, just a bunch of give-aways programs to buy votes." Republicon is as Republicon does.
Romney: Can't talk about his term as Governor, can't talk about his rein of terror on Bain and can't talk about the Olympics. Worst governor in MA. Tore up Bain and tore up lives for the almighty dollar. The Olympics please while Bush 43 was in office he ran to him to get funding for the Olympics, not one thin dime came out of his pocket. Can't talk about his tax returns cause he's supporting other countries instead of this great country.
How pathetic Mrs. Romney! Your hubby was demonized? WHAT A LAUGH! You must have been watching your own Convention, because THAT IS ALL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS DID TO THE PRESIDENT AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION! Maybe you republicans should have worried more about what you CAN DO, AND LESS ON PUTTING DOWN OUR PRESIDENT! What I took away from the republican convention was, that you are all racist, against our BLACK PRESIDENT! That is what I saw. Now go to your church and talk to the LORD, ot should I say, your cult.
Has anyone else noticed that every time Romney is asked a serious, difficult question...he smirks and gives the most general of responses?
At least Obama gives serious consideration to a hard question...actually trying to answer.
Don't expect the Romney/Ryan team to use facts. They wouldn't know one if it hit them in the eyes.
Gasoline is over $4 per gallon... it was $1.85 per gallon the day Obama took the oath of office.
And we all know that the POTUS can control gas prices....what a maroon!
Don't you think that if he could somehow lower gas prices, Obama would have done it by now?
Martha...go back to school and let the big boys talk now.
Why does he keep mentioning the possibility of tapping the strategic reserve?
Stategic politics?
Here we go again putting the blame on the President when he doesn't control the global market!!!
Hopefully after november...MANY of the Repugnicans will be talking to empty chairs.
Lets clean HOUSE people!
The national average for a gallon of gas is now $3.83. In September of 2008 on Bushes watch it was $3.84. If I were as silly as a Republicon I would now argue that the price of gas dropped from $3.84 per gallon to $1.85 per gallon because by September of 2008 everybody knew President Obama's election was assured.
Also please observe that when the price of gas is high conservatives rush to blame the President, but when the price is dropping they argue he had nothing to do with that. Any piece of information offered to a delusional mind will be interpreted by such mind as solid proof that the delusion is true. These poor souls are in for a rude awakening come November.
And you can't buy gas at all, at any price, if you don't have a job.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFl6bxxDW3c
are you saying that Nancy Pelosi is a republican?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFl6bxxDW3c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKdScVerrBU&feature=related
CYSS, I assume you are voting for Obama then, since he led the economy from losing 700,000 jobs a month to an average GAIN of 75,000 jobs per month.
Of course you think Obama is anti-business since on his watch total corporate cash reserves have risen to about two trillion dollars (they have a BUNCH of money, but they are not expanding and creating many jobs. Get it?)
Or maybe you think Obama is anti-business because the stock market has recovered and people are making record profits on wall street again? (senoirs have recovered all the value they lost on their 401Ks)
No, it can't be that either. I've got it! You're just plane dumb as a fence post.
Don't get too worked up about:
Vets
Teachers
Afghanistan
Immigrants
Women
Gays
Middle Class
Poor ( they are doing fine dontchyaknow )
etc etc.
Well Mittens...we are pretty worked up about it...hopefully enough to remove the tools in Congress so that in Obama's second term we can start to truly fix the mess that the GOP has created here in America.
Is President Obama going to ask how President Clinton handled bank regulation, housing, and derivative regulation?
Even by Clinton arithmetic, that adds up to '08 financial crisis.
MJ,
Let me answer that with a question.
So is the answer MORE de-regulation?
Gee, MJ, who wants to repeal Dodd-Frank? Once it's a mistake. To do it again is stupidity.
DionysusOmega
#798.2
The market was de-regulated by Clinton and his cronies. Are you Obama supporters going to be able to keep him from doing the same thing.
Remember, Obama used the CRA and Acorn intimidation tactics to extort risky loans from the lending institutions Are you libbies going to be able to stop him from doing it again.
As far as Dodd/Frank - it did not go far enough and the derivatives market is still unregulated. Is Obama going to take care of that?
BTW, you answered that question with a question. Can you libbies do anything without trying to cloud the issue?
These crooks will keep squandering everything, with the sole purpose of undermining any progress,and expose themselves for the criminals they are in the process.And when the usual suspects are tried and hung,then we can stop talking deficit and start talking definitive stimulus proposals.Untill then, our tax dollars will have to pay for regulation before it can be effectively used for anything else.
As Obama is duped once again... or could it be that this is actually his masterplan?
"Pakistan's powerful spy agency regards America as its "worst enemy," and the government's claims that it is cooperating with the US are a sham to extract billions of dollars in American aid, according to the CIA informant jailed for his role in hunting down Usama bin Laden."
That pretty much sums up our relationship with many of our 'allies'.
BTW - can you spell Fascism?
One of the highest arts of war is to manipulate one's enemies into doing what one wants even as they conspire against us in secret. Americans are about to discover that this strategy works just as well against Republicon radicals.
I'll give him credit - Obama appears to be doing an excellent job manipulating his followers.
Give Mittens credit...
He may be the only presidential candidate in history who refuses to interview for the job.
CYSS, your wealthy masters manipulate dim witted people like you into supporting their efforts to steal their money.
Our leaders convince us to support them by well reasoned arguments which we agree with. Ignorance can be cured, but stupid is forever.
How about one specific FACT that Romney/Ryan are NOT talking about.
The proposed changes to tax policy that Romney/Ryan have put forth would reduce Romney's own tax burden from a paltry 13.9% down to under 1%.....how does that sound America?
I would tell Obama and Biden to save some of the death blows being dealt out for the debates.
But everyone knows "Tommy the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Kid" could out debate both Robme and Lyan..
tALK ABOUT BAD MATH! Republicans only care about deficits when they are out of office. Who's really responsible for our debt growth? The debt/GDP ratio at the end of each presidency tells the story. Hard to argue with facts!
Debt as % of GDP
At end of Carter Presidency: 31% (After 30 years of decline)
At end of 12 years Reagan + 4 years Bush Sr: 65% THEY MORE THAN DOUBLED THE DEBT
At end of Clinton: 55% A DROP OF 10% (ARITHMETIC WORKS!!)
At end of Bush Jr: 85%!! HE ADDED 30% (BUSH TAX CUTS, ANYONE?)
As of Dec 2012 under Obama: 100% When you're car is in a ditch you have to step on the gas.
Togetther, Reagan and the Bushes added 65% of the current debt as a % of GDP. Had they balanced their budgets we'd only be at15%!!! Actually we'd probably be at zero, because Bush wouldn't have tanked our economy and we would not have needed the stimulus package.
SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMICS DOESN'T WORK. IT'S A MYTH. YOU CAN'T JUST LOWER TAXES AND DO NOTHING ABOUT DEBT. IT'S ARITHMETIC!!! VOTE ROMNEY AT YOUR OWN PERIL.
The idea that wealthiest 1% create jobs when taxes are cut is so backwards that it is borderline stupid. If it were true, we should be swimming in jobs. Why aren't bush tax cuts creating jobs NOW. It is simple, wealthiest 1% takes tax cuts and they buy more houses and yachts. I do not care how many yachts or show ponies Romney spends his money on, just don't lie to low info Americans to get even bigger cut.
Workers of the world unite. No more property rights. Let us eliminate the public sector. Let the government own everything. Make Obama supreme dictator for life. We will all wear uniforms and work for Obama. All hail the chief!
Yeah, Republicons want to give more money to their wealthy masters and HOPE they create jobs. Obama and the Senate Democrats want to give a 10% tax break to businesses that actually DO expand their payrolls.
Conservatards turn EVERYTHING up side down, then get a stupid look on their face point and say, "Look how you screwed everything up again!" On Nov. 7th 18th century thinking gets it's arse kicked back to the 18th century where it and all these brain dead trouble makers belong.
Translation: They have no clue how they are going to pay for the tax cuts that they plan to give to the wealthy.
Speaking of bad math, the President promised that the 2012 federal deficit will not exceed 229.27 billion dollars. To keep his promise the Obama administration must run a surplus of roughly a trillion dollars between now and the end of the month. I want the President to explain how this is going to be done.
just want to make sure everyone knows......bill clinton isn't running for president.......
Yes and Mittens is only trying to. LOL It's wonderful to have opponents that insist on defeating themselves. Simple minded creatures who can't handle the real world do not stand a chance against President Obama. He is playing chess and you dim wits are still trying to find your checker board. So long Alice!!!
Ryan is STILL using that debunked $716B line?
Didn't you hear? Lyin' Ryan said he wasn't going to let fact checkers dictate the course of his campaign. LOL This is Republitardese for, I don't care how many times my lies are exposed, I'm going to go right on telling them. LOL
Obama the liar in chief....what a joke your comment is...
Have another sip of shine and calm down DG. Nobody is going to repossess your trailer.
The more Romney and Ryan Speak, the bigger Obama's lead will become. They are talking head stiffs, with no plan, no answers, just backed by big money angry republican's who are now becoming aware that Obama is gonna clean house over the next 5 years.
Romney 1040!
Not like NBC is fact checking the attack-counter attack they report. IMO LAME journalism that does NOTHING to help the VOTERS make an INFORMED< HONEST CHOICE!
What do you expect....the state run media is in the tank for King Obama....
Bush created more jobs for longer periods until the democrats took over the house and senate, and Obama didnt creat any jobs until the Republicans took over the house.....so the point is this....no matter who is the president we will have no job growth unless the republicans controll the house and senate