Liveblogging the first presidential debate, 10/3
Welcome back! Carolina Journal and John Locke Foundation staff will blog the debate between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney beginning at 9 p.m. Stay tuned …
Rick Henderson - 10:40 PM
And with that, we’re done liveblogging until the next one, which I believe is Oct. 11, the vice presidential debate. Thanks for joining us!
Rick Henderson - 10:36 PM
BTW, Lehrer stayed out of their way. Did really well, in my view, and let them address each other directly.
Dan E. Way - 10:33 PM
Romney’s summation is that he is concerned about the direction of America, and two paths “that lead in very different directions” If president re-elected Americans will continue to see “middle-class squeeze.” More jobs lost. “If I’m elected we won’t have Obamacare.” Will focus on getting costs of health care down. 4 million people will lose Medicare Advantage under Obama and health care premiums will rise. Military jobs will be lost if Obama re-elected. Romney will not cut military.
Barry Smith - 10:33 PM
My take: Obama struggled and struggled a bit. Romney seemed to be the aggressor.
Becki Gray - 10:32 PM
Obama’s closing remarks: If you vote for me, I promise I’ll fight just as hard during a second term.
Romney’s: Promises to get incomes up, help create 12M jobs, no ObamaCare, more states’ rights, military strength.
There you go.
Rick Henderson - 10:32 PM
Obama’s closing statement is becoming a laundry list, not delivered very well. Sounds like he’s ticking off a list.
Romney’s closing argument: Election is bigger than just two men. What kind of America do you want for you and your children? Two paths leading in different directions. We’ll see lower unemployment and less of a middle class squeeze. Romney’s also giving a laundry list. Not sure his approach worked any better than Obama’s.
Barry Smith - 10:32 PM
Closing statements.
Obama: He brings up someone he met in a few battleground states, including North Carolina. Efforts are designed to make sure the American people have an opportunity to succeed and play by the same rules.
Romney: It’s an election about the course of America. The two paths lead in very different direction. He lists off examples of economic woes, problems with Obamacare.
Dan E. Way - 10:30 PM
In summation, Obama again emphasizes he inherited a bad economy, but that he has faith in the “genius, grit and determination” of American people. Everybody needs a fair share and to play under the same rules. he said he’s kept the promise to fight every single day for American people. From the golf course, one might suppose.
Becki Gray - 10:28 PM
Obama repealed Don’t ask, Don’t tell. Romney will repeal ObamaCare. Clear difference in leadership and governing.
Dan E. Way - 10:28 PM
Legislative paralysis has nation in gridlock Lehrer wants to know how the candidates would handle that.
Romney: Worked with 87 percent Democratic legislature. He would meet every week with legislative leaders. “we have to work on a collaborative basis,” not to abandon principles, but to find common ground. “We need to have leadership in Washington that will actually bring people together. .. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again.”
Obama: Romney will have trouble getting bipartisan help if he kills Obamacare because many Democrats support it.” Said there has been progress even under GOP leadership of House. “Occasionally you have to say no” to both parties.
Rick Henderson - 10:27 PM
Shorter Obama: I’ll listen to anybody, but if I don’t like it, then too bad.
Rick Henderson - 10:27 PM
How will you work across the aisle?
Romney: I’ll meet with leaders from both parties every week, not to compromise principles, but to find issues that must be settled.
Obama: I’ll take ideas from anybody.
Barry Smith - 10:27 PM
Now we get into gridlock. That’s not a bad word for me.
Romney says he’ll sit down with leaders of both parties. “We have to work on a collaborative basis.”
Obama: “I will take ideas from anybody.” The caveat: as long as it’s advancing the cause of the middle class.
Becki Gray - 10:25 PM
Has Romney been reading JLF? School choice, money follows the child, government should not pick winners and losers.
Dan E. Way - 10:24 PM
Romney tells Obama he’s entitled to his own airplane and house, but not to his own facts. He said hs plan does not include education cuts. Throws budget choices back at Obama, sayng the billion he spent on failed green energy companies would have done a lot for education. Obama looks miffed at Romney’s line of attack. Romney again notes Mass. schools are No. 1 in the nation.
Barry Smith - 10:23 PM
Romney’s not going to cut education funding.
That seems a bit inconsistent with his assertion that education is primarily the responsibility of the states and local governments.
Rick Henderson - 10:23 PM
Romney: The billion you’ve put into green jobs could have hired a lot of teachers, esp. when the money gets to your contributors.
Dan E. Way - 10:22 PM
Obama again says “budgets reflect choices.” Cutting taxes for people like him and Romney affects education budgets.
Rick Henderson - 10:20 PM
Romney: Federal govt to have a role. Kids getting federal funds because they’re low income should have school choice.
Obama: Federal government has a significant role to play. Budgets reflect choices, cuts to taxes for the rich will cut federal education spending. Dodging question.
Dan E. Way - 10:19 PM
Romney supports school choice. Money should follow the child to school of their choice.
Dan E. Way - 10:18 PM
Romney rejects Obama’s notion that he doesn’t support education — Mass. ranked No. 1 in nation.
He talks about Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Romney doesn’t believe in cutting military but maintaining its strength. He said need to maintain commitment to religious tolerance and freedom. Talks about “endowed by Creator” and how Americans care for one another.
“It’s not working” to have federal government central planners make decisions that individuals should make. Outcome of that is 1 in 6 Americans now in poverty, food stamp participation escalating, 23 million Americans out of work . . . .
Barry Smith - 10:18 PM
Romney’s doing well on taking the Declaration of Independence’s inalienable rights.
Rick Henderson - 10:17 PM
Obama: blah blah blah
Romney: Look at the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Life. liberty — we must retain our commitment to religious tolerance. And care for those who have problems and challenges, to preserve the pursuit of happiness and to pursue their dreams. Trickle down government is not better than individuals pursuing their own dreams. Too many unemployed, on food stamps, with college degrees and not working.
Barry Smith - 10:16 PM
Obama says we need more teachers, and that is where the federal government could help.
Romney says the states can do that better.
Dan E. Way - 10:15 PM
On the question of the proper role of government, Obama said genius of America is free enterprise system. But he said even in middle of Civil War Abraham Lincoln started land grant colleges, continential railroad and National Academy of Sciences because America does some things better together. He segues into the need to hire more teachers, something Romney opposes.
Barry Smith - 10:14 PM
Obama: first role of the federal government is to keep the American people safe.
Dan E. Way - 10:13 PM
Romney invokes the Tenth Amendment over the issue of federal government taking over health care. Kudos. Respect for the Constitution.
Rick Henderson - 10:13 PM
Obama question on role of government: 1st role is to keep people safe (and then, not mentioning Benghazi, moves on)
Rick Henderson - 10:13 PM
Romney: sweeping aside the 10th Amendment is a bad model for the nation. Paul supporters swoon again.
Barry Smith - 10:12 PM
The Gorman Street Pub has almost emptied out. Obama and Romney couldn’t hold their attention, I guess. There are still a few political junkies here.
Rick Henderson - 10:11 PM
Romney: My way or the highway won’t work. Basic principles are better when you work out the details later.
Rick Henderson - 10:10 PM
Obama hitting Romney on absence of details on policies. This may work if people think Obama’s answers are better than Romney’s uncertainty.
Barry Smith - 10:10 PM
Obama says Romney is wrong on Preexisting conditions. “That doesn’t help the millions out there that already have Preexisting conditions.”
Barry Smith - 10:09 PM
Obama: Romney says replace it, but he hasn’t said what he’ll replace it with.
Romney: Preexisting conditions would be covered. Private market competing with each other will be better. “The right answer is not to have the federal government take over health care.”
Dan E. Way - 10:09 PM
Romey said pre-existing conditions are covered under his plan, and young people could stay on parents’ plan, something already available in private market without government mandate. “In my opinion, the government is not effective in bringing down the cost of anything” and private market does that best. He used Obama’s own example of Cleveland Clinic against him, saying that was the free market at work. “THe right answer is not to have the federal government take over health care” and mandate to doctors and hospitals the type of treatment they must provide.
Rick Henderson - 10:08 PM
Romney: Federal government should not mandate this.
Obama still on defensive about IPAB.
Rick Henderson - 10:08 PM
Romney: Young people can stay on parents’ plans if private sector says OK.
But the government board will decide what treatments can be offered. Free people and free enterprise brings down the cost; private market figures this out much better than government. American people can decide better than a government board of 15 people.
Dan E. Way - 10:06 PM
Obama said he used the same advisers and came up with the same plan for Obamacare that Romney implemented when he was governor. President said the unelected panel will come up with best practices. Increase in health care premiums is rising, he admitted, but said it is lower increase than at any time in recent history.
Rick Henderson - 10:04 PM
Obama: This board (IPAB) will figure out how to reduce the cost of care in the system. Is he going to defend death panels?
Barry Smith - 10:03 PM
Romney notes bipartisanship, saying Obama didn’t. “We worked together,” Romney says.
“Something this big, this important has to be done on a bipartisan basis.”
Dan E. Way - 10:03 PM
Romney said in Massachusetts there was a bipartisan effort to approve health care reform. Obama didn’t do that, but rammed it down our throats instead. Romney said his plan didn’t raise taxes as Obama’s plan does, and didn’t cut money from Medicare. CBO says 20 million people will lost insurance next year due to Obamacare. Republicans put out a bipartisan plan to reform health care but it was swept aside.
Rick Henderson - 10:02 PM
Romney: My plan didn’t raise taxes by trillion or set up death panels or force 20 million people lose their own health plans.
Rick Henderson - 10:02 PM
Romney: Obamacare was a partisan bill that led to the election of a Republican senator.
Barry Smith - 10:01 PM
Romney: companies less likely to hire employees. “It has killed jobs.”
Obama: Families err worried about going bankrupt if they got sick. He hits on pre-existing conditions, limits. Insurance companies can’t jerk you around. “we’ve seen this model work really well, in Massachusetts.”
OK Romney, respond to that.
Dan E. Way - 10:01 PM
Obama said families told him they feared not having enough money to pay bills because insurance companies limit benefits, feared bankruptcy if faced by a major illness. Under Obamacare, people can keep their own plans. It limits administrative costs, and penalizes those who spend above a certain formula for administrative costs beyond actual health care payments.
Rick Henderson - 10:00 PM
Obama’s getting testy when Lehrer tried to cut him off. Says Romneycare is identical to Obamacare.
Dan E. Way - 9:58 PM
Romney again pledges to kill Obamacare. CBO said Obamacare will add to costs of insurance, not cut it. health costs already are rising. It cuts 6 billion from Medicare, which he would restore. Romney doesn’t like the unelected panel that would make decisions for everyone. Obamacare “has killed jobs,” and he doesn’t understand how Obama spent his first two years expending all his energies to pass the Affordable Care Act instead of helping the millions of American families financially ailing and out of work.
Rick Henderson - 9:58 PM
Romney wants to put money back in Medicare. IPAB is bad. Obamacare was a bad choice compared with jobs for Americans.
Dan E. Way - 9:56 PM
Dodd-Frank “is killing regional and small banks,” Romney said. Dodd-Frank said, correctly, qualified mortgages are essential, and Romney agrees. But two years later no definition has been given on what a qualified mortgage is, so lending is not happening, and that is an unintended consequence of the regulation that is harming the economy.
Barry Smith - 9:56 PM
Romney: No blank checks To banks.
Why should the banks be bailed out? They need to know if they make bad decisions, they’ll pay, not the taxpayers.
Rick Henderson - 9:55 PM
Obama defends Dodd-Frank all the way. We need more regulation of Wall Street.
Romney: I would never designate five banks as too big to fail and give them a blank check. The Ron Paul supporters hit the fainting check.
Unintended consequences of big policies. Great point for Romney.
Dan E. Way - 9:55 PM
Obama: reason we’re in such enormous economic difficulty is because of reckless actions by financial institutions. Banks made money “hand over fist” churning out products bankers didn’t even understand, which made entire system vulnerable. He made sure all loans to those banks will be paid back to the penny.
Barry Smith - 9:54 PM
Obama on the financial crisis: Banks were making loans they shouldn’t have made.
True that. And they were encouraged to do so by the federal government.
Dan E. Way - 9:52 PM
Question is candidates’ view on the level of regulation of the economy.
Romney said regulation “is essential.” “Every free economy” has good regulation. But legislation passed under Obama has become excessive and hurts the economy. Dodd-Frank says some banks are too big to fail, “the biggest kiss” to big banks he’s ever seen. Some parts of Dodd-Frank make sense: leverage limits and transparency among them.
Rick Henderson - 9:52 PM
Romney: Regulation essential for a free market to work properly. Regulation is excessive and out of date in some places. Dodd-Frank designates a number of banks as too big to fail. HE SAYS BANKS SHOULD NOT BE TOO BIG TO FAIL!!!
Barry Smith - 9:51 PM
Obama says Romney’s plan would put seniors at the mercy of insurance companies. He talks about AARP’s opposition to it.
Of course AARP has a financial stake in Obamacare.
Rick Henderson - 9:50 PM
Obama: Medicare has lower administrative costs (because Medicare has no incentive to deal with fraud, which is where private sector “profits” come from.)
Dan E. Way - 9:49 PM
Romney said he supports no change in Mediare and Obama supports removing 6 billion to prop up Obamacare. He supports two plans being offered to younger people. Romney said he’d rather not having government telling him what he can and can’t do with his medical benefits, so he wold choose a private plan that he could switch out if he’s unhappy. Getting competition into Medicare not a new concept. It was promoted by Bill Clinton’s chief of staff. Bam!
Rick Henderson - 9:49 PM
Romney: We need to means test for high income seniors. Competition for Medicare came from Bill Clinton’s chief of staff (Erskine Bowles!)
Barry Smith - 9:48 PM
A coupe of guys at the Gorman Street Pub are playing the drinking game, and turned their glasses up when “Obamacare” was mentioned.
Dan E. Way - 9:47 PM
Obama mentions Medicare voucher system proposed by Romney running mate Paul Ryan. He said insurers will not take on sickest patients, so Medicare will collapse under weight of flight of healthier seniors using vouchers. If you repeal Obamacare, seniors will pay 0 more for prescriptions and more for medical check-ups, and insurance companies will get billions back when they aren’t making seniors any healthier.
Barry Smith - 9:47 PM
Romney: On Medicare, Obama is cutting 0M. Some hospitals/doctors won’t take more patients, rates will be lowered. He says it’s a mistake.
Obama: “He’d turn Medicare into a voucher plan.”
Is “voucher” a bad word?
“I don’t think vouchers are the way to go,” Ocar essays.
Rick Henderson - 9:46 PM
Obama: Voucher won’t keep up with health care inflation; but he’ll maintain traditional Medicare alongside voucher. You’ll have cherry-picking by insurance companies. My grandmother will be at mercy of private health care system.
Dan E. Way - 9:45 PM
Romney said neither he nor president is changing rules for those on Medicare or nearing Medicare age. Then he corrects himself. He referred to the 6 billion. Some 15 percent of hospitals and medical providers said they will take no more Medicare patients because that reduction is actually cuts in reimbursement rates. Romney would put that 6 billion back in Medicare. Using that money to float Obamacare is the wrong approach, and that’s what Obama is proposing, Romney said.
Rick Henderson - 9:45 PM
Obama: Romney’s premium support program is a voucher affecting people 55 or older.
Rick Henderson - 9:44 PM
Romney: Seniors depend on entitlements. Neither of us are proposing any changes to any program that affects any current retiree or near-retirees. Medicare, though, Obama is cutting 6 billion in cuts to providers in Medicare, which will cut number of providers who will take Medicare patients. Medicare advantage gutted. This will affect current recipients.
Dan E. Way - 9:42 PM
Obama spins family story about a grandmother who was a vice president of a bank, but could live independently only because of Social Security and Medicare, so that flavors his view on what are called entitlements. He said were able to save 6 billion from Mediare by not overpaying insurance companies. This is the spin on his administration cutting 6 billion from Medicare, which they’ve denied.
Rick Henderson - 9:42 PM
Entitlements: (OH BOY)
Social Security?
Obama: Social Security will have to be tweaked but I want to talk about Medicare.
Barry Smith - 9:41 PM
Now we’re on Social Security.
Obama: “The basic structure is sound.”
What? How can you say that?
Dan E. Way - 9:40 PM
Romney said tax break for oil companies has been in place 100 years and is actually .8 billion. Obama has given some billion to green energy companies, “50 years worth” in solar and wind. Obama not just picking winners and losers, he’s just picking the losers. “The idea that you get a break for shipping jobs overseas is simply not the case.” Romney said he’s been in business long time and never heard of such a thing. Governors across political spectrum want Medicaid put back into states, not allowing central federal governemnt dictate. “The right approach” is allowing “the brilliance” of people and states to find solutions. Romney’s mastery of facts is beginning to show.
Rick Henderson - 9:39 PM
Romney: Governors can care for their own poor much better than federal bureaucrats. States are the labs of democracy. He’s on a roll here.
Barry Smith - 9:39 PM
Another Romney zinger: “You don’t just pick the wins and losers, you pick the losers.”
Rick Henderson - 9:38 PM
Romney: Solyndra, Tesla — you don’t just pick the winners and losers, you pick the losers.
Rick Henderson - 9:38 PM
Romney: Obama provided billion in breaks to green energy but big oil gets only .8 billion. Zing!
Dan E. Way - 9:37 PM
Obama says oil industry gets billion a year in corporate welfare, subsidies small businesses Romney champions don’t receive. “Why wouldn’t we want to eliminate that.” If you own a corporate jet, you should pay full freight not get a tax loophole. Again he hits Romney for not identifying specific tax loopholes he would close. He said most Americans would agree American companies shouldn’t get tax cuts for moving jobs overseas, as is now possible. “Budgets reflect choices.” If not asking for more taxes, need to come up with many cuts. “Severe hardship for people” that would not help America grow would be the outcome of not raising taxes, he said.
Rick Henderson - 9:36 PM
Obama’s now talking about class size and textbooks, which has no correlation to federal tax policy.
Rick Henderson - 9:36 PM
You can eliminate a lot of corporate tax breaks and raise a lot of revenue, but not the ones Obama’s talking about.
Rick Henderson - 9:35 PM
Obama: Eliminate corporate tax breaks. Jets. (No money there.) Exxon. (Same tax breaks every other company gets.) Pure demagoguery.
Barry Smith - 9:35 PM
Romney seems to be doing a good job of explains basic economics, that if you have growth you get more revenue.
Obama calls his plan to reduce the budget a “balanced approach.” Then he hits on corporate welfare.
Dan E. Way - 9:34 PM
“The idea of taxing people more, putting more people out of work” will fail, Romney said. We are headed down the same path as Spain, a failing economy.
Rick Henderson - 9:34 PM
Romney: Revenue I get is from economic growth. You don’t get growth through higher tax rates.
Dan E. Way - 9:33 PM
Romney on Simpson-Bowles: “In my view the president should have grabbed that.” Romney said he has his own plan so he doesn’t need to embrace Simpson-Bowles. “We still show trillion deficits every year” after four years of Obama saying he has solutions. Romney reminds that Obama himself said “When you’re in a recession you shouldn’t raise taxes on anyone,” and economy growing more slowly now than when he made that statement and yet Obama wants to raise taxes.
Rick Henderson - 9:33 PM
Romney: You said when economy was in trouble, you shouldn’t raise taxes. Well, economy is doing worse than when you said that. Raising taxes kills jobs.
Barry Smith - 9:32 PM
Romney reminds Obama that he’s been president for four years and hasn’t cut the deficit like he said he would.
Rick Henderson - 9:32 PM
Obama: We put forward a trillion deficit reduction program ( trillion of it came from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that were never going to be spent to begin with, but never mind).
We need a balanced approach, meaning spending cuts that will never materialize.
Romney: President should have grabbed Simpson-Bowles. Obama: We made adjustments to it. Romney: If you did, you didn’t cut the debt.
Barry Smith - 9:31 PM
Obama: he reminds us that he walked into a mess when he walked into the White House. “We all know that we’ve got to do more.” He wants cuts and taxes.
He went way over the 2 minutes.
Dan E. Way - 9:31 PM
Obama plays his trump csrd: blame game over what he inherited. Two wars not paid for, tax cuts, recession. “We all know that we’ve got to do more,” and he has trillion reduction plan. .50 for every cut accompanied by of new revenue. Bowles-Simpson plan invoked, an odd choice by Obama, since he formed that commission and did absolutely nothing with its recommendations.
Rick Henderson - 9:29 PM
Obama: I inherited a mess. Cut out things that aren’t helping. We cut back a lot of programs that spend almost no money but sound good on paper.
Barry Smith - 9:29 PM
What to do about the federal debt?
Romney: It’s a moral issue. You can cut it 3 ways: Cut taxes, lower taxes, economic growth. He explains that if you have growth, you have more people paying taxes. He’ll cut money to PBS.
They said that back in the 1990s.
Dan E. Way - 9:28 PM
Romney said “it’s a moral issue” to pass along debt burdens to the next generation. Under Obama, it’s trillion a year more. Romney wants to curtail spending. He would have a test: Is a program so critical we need to borrow from China to pay for it. Said he would eliminate Obamacare and PBS Ha! In your face, guys. “The president said he’d cut the deficit in half; he’s doubled it” adding almost as much debt as all prior presidents combined.
Rick Henderson - 9:28 PM
Now on to the deficit/debt.
Romney: Debt is a moral issue and generational issue. You can raise taxes, cut spending, or grow economy. Raising taxes slows the rate of growth. Cut spending by ending ObamaCare, stop subsidy to PBS, return programs to state level, cut employees through attrition. If it’s not worth sending the bill to China, then don’t do it.
Dan E. Way - 9:26 PM
“Look at the evidence of the last four years,” Romney said. Food stamps way up, etc. The status quo won’t cut it anymore.
Rick Henderson - 9:26 PM
Romney: Call it a trillion plan all you want, it’s not true.
My priority is putting people back to work.
Talk about evidence? 23 million people are out of work. 47 million people on food stamps. Status quo is not cutting it.
Barry Smith - 9:25 PM
Obama talks about “math” and “common poppyseed.”
Economics isn’t just addition and subtraction. If you have economic growth, you have more people working and paying taxes.
Dan E. Way - 9:25 PM
Obama drops the BC reference again — Bill Clinton — and the jobs created under his Democratic predecessor. Says his plan is just like Bill’s.
Rick Henderson - 9:25 PM
Obama: Romney’s sales pitch was the one GWB made.
And he’s spreading all the wealth around.
Lehrer has completely lost control.
Rick Henderson - 9:23 PM
Romney: Those 3% of small businesses employ half the people in America. You want to raise their rates to 40%. Your tax plan would cost 700k jobs (NFIB). Gets in a Bowles-Simpson jab. Didn’t Obama reject that?
Obama: Let’s move on, but Romney’s still lying.
Dan E. Way - 9:23 PM
National Federation of Independent Business says 700,000 jobs will be lost in America if Obama succeeds in raising tax rates from 35 to 40 percent, according to Romney.
Dan E. Way - 9:21 PM
Obama says “it’s math” that Romney’s plan won’t work. While Romney has given specifics, Obama talking more in generalities. Obama invokes Bill Clinton, saying taxes should revert to rates under Clinton when 23 million jobs were created. Obama talking about not “blowing up our deficit” seems ludicrous considering the trillion the president added to the debt.
Barry Smith - 9:20 PM
Obama says it’s arithmetic.
He’s not taking into account economic growth.
Obama wants to go back to the rates for upper income that were in pace when Bill Clinton was president.
Rick Henderson - 9:20 PM
Obama: Go back to Clinton tax rates (when the tech boom was under way and we didn’t have the debt burden that’s in place now).
Rick Henderson - 9:19 PM
Romney: I don’t support tax plan Obama described.
Let’s throw out all the studies.
54% of small businesses pay individual tax rate, high taxes suppress job creation.
Obama: Romney just threw out his own tax plan.
Dan E. Way - 9:18 PM
“Virtually everything he just said about my tax plan is inaccurate,” Romney said. Romney looks directly at the president in calling him out on those inaccuracies. Very effective. “I will not under any circumstances raise taxes on middle income families.” Romney said he’s seen a study that said Obama’s plan will raise taxes ,000 on middle-income families. 54 percent of businesses pay at individual rate, that’s why they need help.
Barry Smith - 9:18 PM
Romney says he won’t put in pace a tax cut that adds FTP the deficit.
A tax cut might just spur economic growth, therefore increasing revenues.
Dan E. Way - 9:16 PM
Obama said Romney’s proposal calls for trillion tax cut and trillion more in military spending. Romney “hasn’t been able to identify” where he would restructure tax code. That would necessarily burden middle class families with ,000 more in taxes to pay for that, the president alleged.
Barry Smith - 9:16 PM
Obama says he’s cut taxes for middle-class families. Is he counting that health insurance tax (according to the Supreme Court) that Obama calls a mandate?
Rick Henderson - 9:15 PM
Romney: No tax cut that adds to deficit.
Obama: I cut taxes for middle class families. Repeats trillion tax cut along with trillion for military under Romney.
Dan E. Way - 9:14 PM
Romney said he doesn’t have a trillion tax cut as Obama alleged. He’s not going to reduce taxes for high-income people. Middle-income Americans “have been buried, they’re just being crushed,” under Obama. ,300 decrease in family income, electric rates up, health care and food costs up. Energy, trade, balancing budget, are cornerstones of his plan. Romney agrees education is key, particularly in training programs. But overhead is overwhelming by so many programs being spread over so many departments. Said he would lower rates on corporate and individual taxes. Romney said “all of the increase in natural gas and oil has happened on private land, not public land.” Obama has cut public leases in half; Romney said he would double them. He wants to use clean coal to create jobs and get America moving.
Rick Henderson - 9:13 PM
Romney: Middle income Americans have seen drop of ,300 under Obama’s policies. Gas prices up, food prices up, they’re crushed.
47 federal training programs need to be turned back to states.
Lower rates but fewer deductions to keep revenue steady.
Private energy production up but permits on government land down.
I like coal.
Barry Smith - 9:13 PM
Romney’s fighting for the middle income votes, saying higher income people will do fine, no matter who is president.
Then he goes on to talk about education. The same thing I said about Obama when he was talking about education applies to Romney.
Barry Smith - 9:11 PM
Obama talks about education.
Is that a federal issue? Shouldn’t that be the responsibility of the states, localities?
Obama talks about “having enough revenues to make those investments.”
Rick Henderson - 9:11 PM
Obama responds: Must improve education; Race to the Top. Hire new teachers in K-12 and community colleges and keep tuition low.
Need to lower corp. tax rate and close tax loopholes. Agree on boosting US energy production but have to have renewables.
Renewables, new teachers, subsidies, all require money.
Romney wants trillion in tax cuts and higher spending.
Dan E. Way - 9:10 PM
Obama said “enormous progress” made and showing gains in public schools through programs such as Race to the Top. Wants to hire another 100,000 more teachers, and create a few million more community college slots. Obama said he wants to lower corporate tax, but close loopholes to incentives that are investing overseas. Read more taxes. Obama says oil and gas production higher than they have been in years. What he’s not saying is most of that has been done without the aid of his administration, which is keeping exploration off public lands.
Dan E. Way - 9:09 PM
On jobs creation question, Romney wishes happy anniversary to Obama. How nice. “It’s going to take a different path,” opening more trade in Latin America, crack down on China if they cheat, get a balanced budget, champion small business, improve education and tap into more energy. New businesses down to a 30-point low, he said. Obama’s bigger government, more taxes and regulation, trickle-down government, will not work.
Barry Smith - 9:08 PM
Romney congrats Obama on his anniversary, then jokes about how romantic the celebration is. Is that one of his zingers?
Then Romney lays out his plan, generalizations fora sure. He champions small business.
Rick Henderson - 9:08 PM
Romney: Need new businesses to start to create jobs. Obama goes for trickle-down govt. Won’t restore vitality in economy.
Rick Henderson - 9:08 PM
Romney: We need a new path, not a top-down. Describes five-point plan: Energy, trade, balanced budget, skills, balanced budget.
Rick Henderson - 9:06 PM
Obama: Romney wants tax cuts for rich, top down, buzz words.
“New economic patriotism.” Ugh.
Dan E. Way - 9:06 PM
Creating new jobs is the topic. Obama said “the most important” point he wants to make is a happy 20th anniversary to his wife. An odd beginning. He wants us to believe the auto industry “has come roaring back” and he’s created 5 million jobs. Romney wants to cut taxes for wealthy he said. He wants to change tax code to help small businesses. That would be a change from his current path.
Barry Smith - 9:06 PM
The major differences on how they’ll go about creating jobs.
Obama: gives a shout out to Michelle on their 20th anniversary. Happy anniversary!
The question isn’t where we’ve been, Obama says. Is that why he mentioned them?
Rick Henderson - 9:05 PM
Jobs:
Obama starts. Starts with an anniversary wish to Michelle and a lame joke.
Question tonight is not where we’ve been but where we’re going. So my first term didn’t really happen.
Dan E. Way - 9:04 PM
Romney and Obama meet at center stage after introduction, smile and shake hands to much applause.
Rick Henderson - 8:59 PM
Why do you want Obamacare repealed?
Romney: Cost of health care is prohibitive, but Obamacare will cost ,500 more per person than traditional insurance, which is the opposite of what Obama promised.
Barry Smith - 8:54 PM
Barry Smith - 8:50 PM
I’m live blogging the presidential debate tonight from the Gorman Street Pub in Raleigh? Why here? Well, it’s a sports pub, and politics is a contact sport, right? It’s quite lively here.
I’ll also have the opportunity to check out the baseball scores while Obama and Romney cut each other down. By the way, whose idea was it to have the debate on the last day of the MLB regular season?
Written by Rick Henderson
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