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Obama, Romney Face Off in First Debate
October 4, 2012
President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, faced off Wednesday in their first debate of the election campaign. The debate focused on the top issue of the campaign – the state of the U.S. economy.
For 90 minutes, the president and the former governor of the state of Massachusetts clashed over how best to strengthen the country’s sluggish economy.
Romney aggressively attacked the Democratic president’s economic policies, and they disagreed sharply about tax cuts. “Virtually everything he just said about my tax plan is inaccurate. So if the tax plan he described were a tax plan I was asked to support, I would say ‘Absolutely not.’ I am not looking for a $5 trillion tax cut,” Romney said.
Obama countered that Romney’s ideas for changing the tax system would not work. “The fact is, if you are lowering the rates the way you described, Governor, then it is not possible to come up with enough deductions and loopholes that only affect high-income individuals to avoid either raising the deficit or burdening the middle class,” he said.
They also sparred over whether the president’s health care program, sometimes called “Obamacare,” would help or hurt the U.S. economy. Romney said Obama should have concentrated instead on creating jobs.
“I just do not know how the president could have come into office, facing 23 million people out of work, rising unemployment, an economic crisis at the kitchen table, and spent his energy and passion for two years fighting for Obamacare, instead of fighting for jobs for the American people,” said Romney.
The president responded that when he took office, problems in the nation’s health care system were just as urgent as the jobless rate.
The widely-anticipated debate, in Denver, Colorado, took place 34 days before the election.
This was the first of three debates between the two contenders. Obama and Romney will square off next on October 16, on both domestic and foreign policy issues. The final debate, exclusively on foreign policy, is set for October 22.
Vice President Joe Biden and his Republican challenger, Congressman Paul Ryan, will debate on October 11.
[VOA]
Comments
37 Responses to “Obama, Romney Face Off in First Debate”
Leo guy it does not matter weather people take the third party serious or not. To use your on words fiscal cliff and spending stops, I would imagine things will start to get serious in a hurry. Tick Tock,,,
@429CSJ
And that is why the nation does not take 3rd partys serious.
Kathy that is exactly what I said in regards to Dick Cheney and George Bush.
@Leo Guy, going over that cliff is the best thing that could happen to America.
Ron Paul 2012.
Sometimes I wonder if we are a nation of morons. Has anyone ever heard of the “fiscal cliff”? There is not enough income in this country to tax to prevent it. When we go over it, we will get spending under control then because there won’t be any money to spend. The 47% will then be the 97%. I wish the 47% would watch Neil Cavuto on Saturday mornings.
This may be unpopular, but I enthusiastically agree with Romney’s campaign strategy – what some have termed the 47% comment. I’m not a huge Romney fan, but one must agree that a conservative platform mustn’t expend time and valuable resources attempting to reach a population of voters who aren’t going to vote for him anyway. I think people are upset with the perceived insensitivity on Romney’s part. If everyone is going to be mad at him, at least divulge the tenants on which the basis of your political disagreement exists. Otherwise let’s all agree, at a minimum, that “passing” on voters who aren’t going to vote for the fiscally conservative Romney is, incontrovertibly, an effective strategy. Maybe I can be convinced otherwise; but maybe not.
Romney did show me who he is and he does have my vote!!!Anyone who votes to cut are militery,and for me to fund abortion(murder)with my tax money!!!!No thanks not to mention he turned his back on israil!!vote for who you want it is Your God given right!
These are truly scary times when people think and say that the business of
america is on longer business. One out of five working age men do not get of bed to go to work, but go sit on the couch.
It doesnt matter how many jobs get created, u still have to want one to get one. The president inherited a bad situation. Fighting two wars and a bad economy. If he he didnt do the bailout where would the jobless rate be. Two wars that our grandchildren will be paying for (disability claims) and what would the debt be if u subtract the cost of those two wars not to mention the billions and billions that were awarded to Halliburton in contracts that were not open too bids. No im not unemployed matter of fact i made close to 100k last year. I have two daughtera in college and i had to pay federal income taxes. And I honestly believe the US is the greatest country in the world. Do i agree with everything that goes on No, rhats why I will be out there voting on election day.
I remember the same kinds of things were being said when our GREAT Governer Rick Scott was campaigning for his election. Oh he’s just what we need, he’s a business man so he knows how to create jobs. What happened? Where are the 3,000,000 jobs. Huh, Anyone care to elaborate? Same plan, different dude, enough said! I’ll take my chances with Barack. We all would probably be homeless if a Republican had won in 08.
The President still has my vote. I do not want a cut-throat business man who made big bucks off of people’s misery running this country. His performance last night doesn’t fool me for a second. A wolf in sheep’s clothing. We saw the real Romney and his elite disdain for almost half the country when he didn’t know he was being filmed with his fatcat donors. It was chilling. He sounded like Mr. Potter in “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
@429CSJ
When are you gonna come over to the winning team? Sometime in the future “IF” we beat Barry, there will be a time for the third party dream. Barry loves guys like you. If you vote third party, you are voting for Barry, and if Barry wins, it’s game over dude! Working people must unite to stop this joker.
@ Huh.
The whole Romney ” elect me and i will tell you my plan later” People aren’t going to fall for that
They fell for it in 07. Did they not?
@alecia
Well since you are so smart, please enlighten us on who would be the best candidate. I waiting with bated breath. :-/
Romney did a lot of talking, but did not point to any specifics on how he plans to do what he says.
He wants to cut tax and increase military spending. Well, you can’t do both. Money has to come from somewhere. You either cut tax and cut spending. Or raise tax to increase spending
The whole Romney ” elect me and i will tell you my plan later” People aren’t going to fall for that
I myself don’t trust either one of them. Romney had great things to say and smoked Obama in the debate, but isn’t that how Obama got elected four years ago? I don’t believe either one of them.
Chris Matthews nearly had a heart attack last night! Priceless to see the liberal media outlets, liberls and alike making excuse after excuse after excuse for Obama.
I’m convinced they will make excuses for Obama even in a great depression! You’ll have no food, no water, no job, no hope or change and you’ll still be defending and making excuses for Obama!
Logic, reason and common sense trumps Obama!
I’m the 47% and I’m voting for Romney. Logic and reason trumps halftruths, misleading headlines from the liberal media and cover ups from the current administration. Romney is not my 1st choce but he will unseat Obama and that is the goal. Get the leftist/commie/socialt OUT. I am a huge supporter of Ron Paul but we must unseat Obama!
RON PAUL SUPPORTER LIKE ME: This is a step towards restoring the constitution. Our message will grow fast and louder with the younger generations like me, but it will take some time. I know many friends, my age, of all nationalities, races, both male and female that are huge Ron Paul supporters. We must vote Romney in to get Obama out. Romney may. Not be exactly what we want and exactly align with our ideologies but Obama MUST GO..
Romney wiped the floor with Obama. Send him back to corrupt Chicago and blend in the the rest of the fraudster and corruption!
Romney better cut the federal government or else he will be out in 4 years as well.
Ron Paul may never run again but his ideology and message is stronger than ever. Team up and get Odrama out!
WOW…@Alecia your so smart as to know who is fit to be president and who isn’t maybe we should just vote for you then. We know Obama isn’t fit because he has never done anything in the working world but as far as Mitt at least he is a business man and at this point we need someone with a clue in turning things around to help America get back on track.
This country is in sad shape because neither one of these guys are fit to be president. They are both liars and will say anything to get elected.who cares how much they love their wives that’s all a part of the act.
Seeing the look on Chris Matthews face last night and then hearing the rest the crew over there at PMSNBC doing their spin control about Barry’s debacle of a debate was the fun. It is tough, but I do go over to the “slobbering love affair” liberal networks from the fair and balanced network. I just wish some my liberal friends here would try the same. They might like it. Naaah. :-/
Wow, so tired of all these people complaining about minimum wage paying jobs. If Romney creates them it will be better than living of the working people. And no one told you that you had to fail at highschool, not go to collage and live off the system.so sick of hearing people complain instead of getting off thier butts and making something of themselves.I don’t expect anything to be handed to me I have worked my butt off for it,and don’t like the fact that my tax dollars pay for lazy peoples living.
Acting is what being going on in the white house for more then three years. You can spin what you want until you have to face some one whom corrects you in front of the world. Now the liberals come out with the lies and distortion of the truth.
dont count the President out yet
Well Romney smoked Obama last night, even the left wing supporters are saying so.It was wonderful. An now we will get to watch Ryan rip Biden a part. What a great day!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot think of one single shred of evidence indicating that the country is better off than it was when Obama took office. Neither does he himself or he would have capitalized on that fact last night. If you want to continue on the same course, please write in and let me and everybody else know what he achieved in the last 4 years. Lower crime rate? Fewer people on welfare? Cheaper groceries or gasoline? More jobs? Who knows, you might convince some people to change their votes.
After watching the debate last night, one thing I can say is that Romney studied and learned his part well, he should go and audition in Hollywood. And as far as the body language goes, he seemed as though he was wound so tight and was so excited that I thought he was going to have an outburst at any minute. (Watch the debate, and you will see what I mean.) And I agree with his wife, Ann, I’m kind of worried about his mental well-being too. He could hardly contain himself while President Obama was speaking. And as for President Obama’s body language, you could see the disgust and disbelief on his face to the lies that Romney was so blatantly telling. Romney may have gotten his talking points across, but how much of it was true? And as for the 47 percent of the nation, (which I don’t think was mentioned last night) that Romney cares nothing about, the “poor folks” , as he phrased it last night, they are of no importance to him. So if you are a part of that 47 percent you already know where you stand if he becomes President.. My assesment from watching Romney is that he knows this is probably his last chance at becoming President and he will say whatever it takes to make that happen. He wants to fulfill a dream that his father had. He has no real clue as to how to get this country back to work, just a dream of being President, the same dream that Bush Jr. had, and we are STILL experiencing the mess he put this country in. People had better think long and hard about this election!
Love seeing these liberals doing their song and dance. Any vote NOT for Romney, IS a vote for Barry no matter how you slice it and dice it.
@Roll Tide!!
Watergate does not bother me, does your conscience you? Tell the truth.
Sweet home Alabama my ask.
anything will be an improvement over the way things are run right now!
“ROLLTIDE”
Please give one instence of how your life has been affected in a positive way since OBUMMER has been President ..
Romney the job creator sure will create a bunch of new part time minimum wage jobs just like in China so that the companies will move back… It worked great for them in China… So, if you’re not making over $200k now get ready to apply for as many minimum wage job as you can handle… btw, your taxes and cost of living will be going up too… because he plans to deregulate everything to maximize profits for the (minimum wage) job creators… afterall they have cars made in Europe to buy and bankaccounts in the Caymans to fill… Sure 12million new jobs but at what cost? Would you like fries with that?
Romney is a far better actor than President Reagan could ever have hoped to have been.
I loved the way Jim Lerher reacted to Romney’s comments regarding funding for public communications.
Ron Paul 2012.
Romney should be waking up to his nose grown another foot. It is so sad the people that believe him. He is all for the rich people and he can try to cover up his lies but we know the truth. He talks about bring jobs to America but yet he supports companies going overseas. It’s nothing but political nonsense.
It is good that Gov Romney will soon be president. America is not a wellfare state and those that are unable to produce should not be subsidized by the state. Free interprise is the domain of entrepreneurs and the government has no business sticking its nose into affairs that are none of its business. Business owes the American people nothing, if a company wants to move overseas that is the companys business not yours or the government. The government does not owe the people healthcare. If you cannot make it in America you need to move elsewhere. I keep hearing about Gov Romneys tax records that is none of your business, does he go poking his nose into your tax matters, no so grow up and get to work or get on down the road. You can live cheaper in Mexico.
It is very clear that obama can not debate with EXPERIENCE.
after the debate last night, the pres was heard to say, “is there a big hole in the back of my pants?”. Romney handed him his backside.
Well President Obama won the handshake..,
Governor Romney owned President Obama, refinanced him, then owned him again! There is nothing like the satisfaction of watching a punk thug get shown the door!!!