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MANSFIELD, OH -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivered a scattershot attack on President Barack Obama on Monday, emphasizing a series of issues other than the economy.
Romney veered from his laserlike focus on the economy as several polls released in the aftermath of party conventions suggested that the incumbent president emerged with the advantage. But in looking to get his campaign back on track, the GOP nominee decided to discuss military issues and his commitment to keeping God in the public square, making his focus on the economy (an issue on which he enjoys an advantage over Obama) secondary.
Charles Dharapak / AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stands on a table as he addresses an overflow crowd as he campaigns at PR Machine Works in Mansfield, Ohio, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012.
"I will be a president, if elected, that honors that pledge and all the pledges that I make," Romney said at the top of his remarks before a crowd of about 1,200 in swing state Ohio. "That pledge says that we are a nation under God, and if I am president of the United States -- when and if I become president of the United States -- I will not take God out of my heart, I will not take God out of the public square and I will not take it out of the platform of my party."
Romney also served up fresh lines attacking Obama for his handling of last summer's bipartisan deal to raise the debt limit, a deal reached with the approval of both the Republican-controlled house and the president. That deal called for automatic defense cuts to take place in January 2013 if lawmakers couldn't reach some other sort of deal to address the nation's mounting debt. Lawmakers failed to reach a consensus, and the defense cuts loom on the horizon.
In anticipation of the politically difficult defense cuts, Congress earlier this summer passed a law requiring the Obama administration to detail where cuts would fall if they were to reach fruition. But the Obama administration missed the deadline to report back to Congress, giving political fodder to Romney and other Republicans.
TODAY's Savannah Guthrie discusses the presidential election race with NBC's David Gregory, including the crucial battles in swing states. Gregory also talks about his "Meet the Press" interview with Mitt Romney.
"He won't describe all the jobs that are going to be lost -- no, not probably until after the election," Romney said. "It seems we found one secret relating to national security that he's willing to keep."
Here in Ohio, where the unemployment rate is 7.2 percent, nearly a full point better than the national average, a senior Romney campaign adviser insisted voters were still primarily dialed in to economic issues, including debt and the deficit, and that Romney's economic focus could persuade voters who had not made up their minds.
"The number one issue in Ohio is the same as, I think, the number one issue across the country, which is the economy," Romney senior adviser Kevin Madden told reporters after the event here.
To be sure, Romney, as per usual, laid out his five-point plan for the middle class during today's stop, and hit the president for what he claimed was the administration's lack of a job creation plan. But other economic-based elements of the Romney stump speech were absent, including any mention of welfare reform, and the once ubiquitous "You didn't build that" attack.
While campaign advisers downplayed the significance of Romney's time spent on non-economic issues today, at least one supporter told NBC news that kind of talk was exactly what Romney needed to win over undecided voters in the Buckeye State.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd takes a look at the recent poll numbers and campaign stumps made by both candidates.
John Goodwin, a retired firefighter who shares a mutual Mormon faith with Romney, said before the event that Romney needed to communicate his personal values better to wavering voters who don't yet feel they know and trust the man personally.
"If he can take those values and turn them into the presidency, our country will come back," Goodwin said.
In turn, the Obama campaign accused Romney of the very same secrecy for which he attacked Obama.
“What we saw today from Mitt Romney is more of the same evasiveness that has defined his campaign. He said he would repeal Obamacare, but didn’t offer a solution for the 89 million Americans who could be denied coverage if they have a pre-existing condition. He said he would cut taxes, but didn’t say how he’d pay for $5 trillion in tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires without raising taxes on the middle class. And he said he would put students first, but left out how his deep cuts to education would hurt schools. Mitt Romney knows it’s political suicide to level with the American people about his ‘secret’ agenda, so he’s evading the truth at every turn," said Lis Smith, a spokeswoman for the president's re-election campaign.
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Hey, Mitt! Can you say..."desperate"? You're now grasping at religious straws? You talk "principles" but the more you talk and the more people listen to the voices of your many past lives, the more they realize that you'll SAY, PROMISE, THREATEN anything to become president. Just like all these new Republicans, there is no guiding principle that relates to helping the people of this country - there is only greed for money and hunger for power that drives you.
Mittens you asked the question and we want an answer. "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"
What was your bottom line like in 2008? 2009?
Why don't you release your tax returns from 2008 forward and prove to us your not better off? I got a funny feeling you weren't doing so well in 2008!
Almost exactly 4 years ago Lehman , the largest investment bank in the US went belly up, Merrill, Bear Stearns, AIG, all on the brink or gone.
We were 1/2 a stone's throw from total financial collapse.
Anyone with 1/10th of a rational mind knows we are way better off.
I wonder which God Mitt thinks is on the Cayman Islands Dollar?
I'll end the suspense ... there is a picture of the Queen on the front, and a picture a fish on the back. But no mention of God.
Does Mitt hate God?
Willard just show up at the debates. There you will face the truth that you are not fit to be President.
LOL. Funny post Bull. It will be a pleasure watching Obummer stammer and sweat when he doesn't have a teleprompter to tell him what to say.
Paul............Seriously????????? Obama is going to CRUSH Mitt at the debates!!!
paul, you are in for a very rude awakening, romney goes unscripted anything can fall out of his mouth, they guy is smart on vulture capitalism but short on directing a country. A spineless, isolated, arrogant suit that is unfit to be President.
Obama 2012
Go ahead and refuse to work. We'll just replace you with qualified conservative scholars.
Nothing Republicans do have anything to do with honor or integrity. Those defense cuts are being made simply because Republicans completely refused to negotiate and caused our credit rating to go down. We had a deal. Now, after making a deal, they go in and pass another stipulation, nearly a year AFTER the deal is made, trying to make it impossible to actually do the deal. This is the equivalent of me selling you a car and then, after paying and when you come to pick it up, I tell you that unless you drive the car naked it will cost thousands more. The US currently has 16,000 tanks in its inventory. How many does the Taliban have? Or any terrorist group? Why do we need thousands of these things? To fight who? The US spends more than the next 15 countries in the world on defense. If we only spent more than the next 5, do you think anyone would be attacking us? Seriously?
Willard saddle up. You and your sons put on some uniforms and go serve. Has a Romney ever served this counttry? Mormon do serve in the military. Why not the Romneys? This is why he never speak of past or present wars, he has no skin in the game.
Bull, what's your point? Odumbass hasn't even served in the boy scouts...
paul, how do you know, stop using vulgar name characterization for the President, why do folks like you always resort to a nasty, vulgar retort when your loosing an argument. Romney once supported the Vietnam war before his draft number came up, but then ran off to France, eating escargot, while my husband got shot up. The President is to young to serve in that war, today's military is volunteer, Vietnam was draft fodder. W sat in the guard and had his teeth cleaned, cheney hunkered down with rumsfeld, and romney ate escargot. and what have you done today little boy?
Obama 2012
I thought this was all about jobs.
Pat Robertson sucking up to a Mormon?
no, he was sucking a mormon
LOL! He's staying away from econmic issues because he has no plan!
I think Romney does pretty well when he talks about economic issues. I don't want to go back to financial deregulation, no unions and lower taxes. It has proven not to work (many times, including 1927). I am sure Romney is a fine man with the best of intentions. However, like many fine people he is not likeable. I don't know how far he can get into social issues and deliver an acceptable message. It is a shame that people in government discuss social issues anyway.
EMA - Carroll County Department of Homeland Security was in Carrollton today.
They are looking for you Burton right along with the terrorist and stalking network that you are part of that is operating in Tuscarwas, Stark, Harrison, and Carroll Counties.
We are not friends.
Don't speak to me ever again like we are.
Dwight, ?
God and guns...he's hitting the reichwing talking points...he was going to create 350,000 government jobs I guess in NC but I guess the unemployed would rather hear how its the godless gun control freaks that are the problem...
Reichwing where they spend their time convincing the middle class that its the poor peoples fault...
Why do liberals believe that conservatives are selfish? Answer: Because conservatives believe that helping people via means OTHER THAN the bureaucracy of the federal government is better than helping them by giving money to bureaucrats who would rather spend it on entertainment at bogus conventions than helping people. Kinda like those multi-thousand dollar toilet seats.
Many conservatives, including Mormons, give 10% of their earnings every month to their churches, who then use the money to help their communities directly. Far more efficient, and far more giving than what liberals do.
There's the problem. Many conservatives give to THEIR church and believe in helping in the way THEY choose. Most liberals believe in helping everyone not just the small world we control.
Most Christians consider tithing a responsibility or a order given by God not a charitable donation. Charity goes to the sick and suffering offering or whatever your churches equivalent is. Just because the government sees tithing as a charitable donation doesn't make it so.
Right Bear, and you would FORCE people to do what they choose not to do. Perfect liberal logic. In your world, regardless of whether a person tries to help himself, or chooses to sit with his hand out and expect to be taken care of, you and your ilk are just dandy with supporting the slugs.
You're absolutely right on though. Conservatives are all about choice. Today's liberals are all about the hive.
Everyone is forced to do things they don't want to do. I'm FORCED to pay taxes for the Iraq War that I felt was unjust from the start, I'm FORCED to pay taxes for the Afghan War that I believe has gone on too long, I'm FORCED to pay taxes for that go to oil subsidies for companies with the highest profits in the history of the world.
We'll remove your obligation to help America's poor when you remove our obligation to pay for the military machine and subsidize the greedy who can definitely compete on their own but want more just because more is better.
How's that? Or I'll stick my personal logic which is, none of us pays for everything. I like to think my taxes go to domestic issues I support and your taxes go to whatever you support. It helps me sleep at night.
You're only FORCED to pay those taxes because you let your elected officials do it. That, again, is the difference between conservatives and liberals. You're just fine with allowing the government to run your lives. The more government the better. It's easier than thinking for yourself. God forbid you'd have to make a decision.
You people always talk about "the greedy" as though anyone who disagrees with you is a rich, uncaring bastard. You are so self-righteous it makes me ill.
To: Paul W-396258
What makes me ill is the "GREEDY RICH" saying they are not GREEDY.
President Obama 2012
Again the caricature of what it means to be liberal. I don't dislike conservatives we just see things differently. I don't know what happened in the conservative movement that made you guys so angry about anything and anyone who doesn't agree with you without waver. I HONESTLY don't understand that.
Had you read my post in context, you would've seen that my "greedy" reference was about subsidies going to companies that don't need. It didn't have anything to do with conservatives or people with a different point of view.
So far as your idea that liberals think more government is better. You're wrong. Most of us want as much government as is necessary. We want government with a limited scope not an arbitrarily limited size.
We believe that being American means more than than where you're born. And as a great nation, we have an obligation to our own.
What we don't believe in is arbitrary limiting the size of government because small in infinite. It'll never be "small enough" for someone.
We all want the same things, you're just too locked in your own mindset to accept that you (and those you agree with) aren't always right. And your "You're only FORCED to pay those taxes because you let your elected officials do it" is the most comment I've seen online in a long time. Guess what, we all elect our leaders to represent us and my point is that they don't always do what we want. But giving me that garbage victimization line that we're "forcing" you to do something is so old and tired. We all get things from government that we want and sometimes don't want.
Again, you're too blind to see reality. All you see is that there is someone out there ridiculing you and making policies you don't agree with. I'm sure it never occurred to you that sometimes we don't agree with your policies and that is just as much FORCING your way onto us...or it's justifiable when you do it.
So be ill, be victimized, be indignant. I'll keep right along doing what I think is best for the country and true to my faith regardless.
Solutions, you have no clue what you're talking about, obviously. Enough said.
You do that Bear, and I'll keep doing what I think is best. And may the best ideology for this country survive your progressive agenda. Oh, and if you think the current government is limited, just how big a hole does it have to create before you can no longer escape it's gravitational pull? Isn't a 16 trillion dollar hole big enough? No? Need more government? Who's going to pay for it? Even if you taxed the "rich" at 100% you couldn't get rid of that hole.
Bear, I couldn't let that comment about "we have an obligation to our own" go. Liberals aren't the only ones who feel that way. I've served this country, as did three of my four brothers, my father and two uncles, and now several of my nephews (I don't have kids); I give constantly (and not just through tithing) to people who need it. I have an obligation, and I continue to serve it. Liberals just don't see it that way. Instead, they see taxes and more government as the solution. I don't.
Well you'll see Obama in the WH for 4 more years!
Paul, you sound like most conservatives. You think you're in the center so anything to the left of you liberal. So untrue. You think in the most extreme ways. I never said our current government is limited nor do we think it should always expand. I also served this country and did so during Desert Storm which I didn't support but served with honor and pride. I don't doubt that you give to charity. But you still think liberalism means tax more spend more.
Either your party lied to you and you bought into it or you're lying to yourself. Either way, you're nothing more than any other extremist. You've locked in on a course of action and refuse to consider any alternatives. If it's not your way, it's wrong.
Well, there's 320 million of us. You don't have the only opinion nor do you have all the answers.
And yes, the country would just fine under my progressive agenda. Part of that agenda is giving you the right to disagree with me right now.
Yeah, that's great.
The church gets a new bus. They get a new "youth center" with arcade games and pool tables. They put in a skateboard park, and the "Praise Band" gets a new P.A. They buy up and tear down a few more homes in the neighborhood to make way for more parking.
The government couldn't do this as efficiently.
Bear, I already have the right to disagree with you. Have you missed that in your education? As for "my party," I voted democrat for the first 50+ years of my life. It's only in the last three elections that I've changed. I didn't vote for W either; I threw my vote away because neither candidate was worth a damn. And as for Odumbass, I voted for McCain to try to stop Barak from getting into office. He and your progressive agenda are just plain bad for this country. Socialism (aka progressive politics) didn't work in Europe or Asia (and it's failing miserably in the EU right now); it won't work here either.
--- Press Release ---
To Romney & Ryan
There is this ubiquitous thing called the INTERNET which includes every pubic video of you, if you are elected to public office.
Someone on your team doesn't know the Internet exists or they are just ignoring it.
-- End --
You can shake an Etch-A-Sketch.
That doesn't work on an ipad. It's all backed up to the cloud.
Awe come on folks, none of the Democrats, or the Republicans, want to really talk about any real issues! If they did, they'd be talking about how Blue Cross and Blue Shield have positioned themselves to be the Federal Government,s, one and only monopoly as the only National Healthcare Option, for all us taxpayers! Oh, damn, I guess the cats out of the bag now? [:-(]
TAX CHEATER & EVADER ROMPPY! We do not need the "MORE OF NOTHING" Talk and SPEECHES. They are meaningless and show a "BACKWARD in TIME SMOKE STACK VISION".
You 1-10% good for NOTHINGS have got to GO. YOU and all your REPUBLICAN FOOLS have LIED and CHEATED the AMERICA we all knew and know.
That SCENE of TOP TO BOTTOM and we DICTATE POLICIES is not DEMOCRACY but HYPOCRISY. All of you NEED TO GET OUT and go into a REHAB. Please and THANK YOU.
Alain, you missed your meds today didn't you?
Romney's comments on his "love" for God belie his actions. In 2002, while running for MA governor, he also refused to release his tax records because, as it turns out, he LIED to the MA voter's faces on MULTIPLE occasions about his residency. The MA state constitution requires that you be a resident of MA for 7 years in order to be eligible to run for office. He LIED in order to receive ENORMOUS tax breaks on his primary residence in Utah.
http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-tax-returns-release-massachusetts-governor-election-obama-2012-7
So, Romney will lie to anyone anywhere in order to make/preserve money wonder what he is hiding in his tax returns now. If these are examples of his "principles" and his "love" of God then you would be a foolish fools to trust him. In romney's world GOD = MONEY and he will definitely do whatever is necessary, including telling bald-faced lies to protect his personal "GOD".
http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-tax-returns-release-massachusetts-governor-election-obama-2012-7
Whenever I hear all of this conservative talk about individuality I am reminded of what Benjamin Franklin said about the Declaration of Independence. He said, "We must all hang together or we will surely hang alone". Some things never change (usually it is human nature).
Ah yes, the age old proven GOP stategy. When behind in the polls, simply slip on a loin cloth, mash a crown of thorns on your head and string yourself up on a cross. Works every time!
President Obama has made many tough decisions with risk, which had they not worked, would have cost him any chance to be re-elected: Sending actual forces to get Bin Laden vs a bomb, ending don't, ask don't tell, and saving the auto industry. Tell he Ohioans working in the auto supply chain - and the stores where the spend their paychecks - that didn't it matter.
"The Ken doll" too has made tough decisions..... in Mass. as governor: but he's somehow forgotten them - signing Romneycare, signing pro-choice measures, allowing previously approval tax increases which really help balance and take credit for the state budget. What a brave unsung hero- somebody should publicize brave those actions.
And now another moment of silence on 9-11 today for the Rumdumney and lyin ass Ryan Reflublican ticket RIP you two idiots , now there is something specific for your- platform . Get out of town. They would have been better off running that senile butt hole Pat Robertson and Clint Eastwood on the American senility party platform .What a couple of jokes Romney and Ryan are. Neither one can answer a question with a direct answer and it turns out that the architect of Obama care likes some parts of his own plan. 6points behind today with 60 odd days left it is over you two. You are the sperm donors to the butt holes of creation movement. Get lost and get a lobotomy .It will be a marked improvement and might get your collective IQ's up to 40 points each I hear there is a two for one special at cost cutters PS how that Ohio thing working out for you both?
It appears Feisty is now an expert on religion! Maybe she will enter the Preisthood soon! She is another prime example of those who think they are above everyone! The liberal nuts who will continue to vote for a moron so they can follow blindly along like rats following the "Pide Piper"!
She would be a great mate for Axlehead of Chris Matthews as they all share that tingling sensation whenever their idol Barry the liar and pothead throws them more BS to devour!! I know it is all Bush's fault and Barry was dealt a raw deal!
You idiots will believe anything this loser says because of your pea brains!!
rick, stop trying to preach to the choir, they all went home.
Obama 2012
I'm an expert on religion.
It's all B.S.
Snakes don't talk, and statues don't bleed.
Here’s what Thomas Paine, “Founding Father,” has to say in The Age of Reason.
“I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe the equality of man, and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.
But, lest it should be supposed that I believe many other things in addition to these, I shall, in the progress of this work, declare the things I do not believe, and my reasons for not believing them.
I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church.
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine. But it is necessary to the happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.
It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime. He takes up the trade of a priest for the sake of gain, and, in order to qualify himself for that trade, he begins with a perjury. Can we conceive anything more destructive to morality than this?”
And that last is why I am not going to vote for Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan or any GOP candidate. The GOP I used to belong to no longer exists.
The Egret, Thomas Paine, even extraordinary in today's world. Thank you.
Obama 2012
Mr Bain experimentrunning Bain company can qualify him to run to be president as some have say the only problem is CEO Bain maked most decision base on selfishness of the company that he owned it, so he careless those will be hurt without jobs based on his decision unlike Mit ,Obama make decision base on what good for whole country for all Americans not just what is good for some as Mr Bain did, yu be the judge
most Ceo make most decision base on selfishness, they not look out to save us americans worker just like Mr Bain did, unlike Mit Obama make good decision benifit for most americans not jyst some Rich ceo$