Romney hits back at Obama attacks on Bain

Better yet, where are the jobs that Obama keeps promising? Oh, so let's see, what jobs did Obama create.....(silence) Ah, yes, last jobs report 80.000 new jobs for the month of June, now that's progress. At this rate the 8.2% unemployment will go down in 10 years. But as usual, liberals are on a mission to deflect from Obama's Dismal job record and lack of creating jobs and focus on the MOST important thing that matters most to liberals NOT jobs or the economy, but taxes and how much money Romney has. Love liberal priorities.

"If you look at the ads that we do, Obama told CBS on Monday, first of all, we've done a whole slew of positive ads that talk exactly about how we need to change our education system, how we need to change our tax code, how we need to rebuild America, how we need to promote American energy."

After 4 years of the LP "Hope and Change", this song is played...

'Time to "change" the record.

“What does it say about a president whose record is so poor that all he can do in this campaign is attack me?” Romney asked in an interview Monday with Fox News

Wait, this is the same guy who went exclusively negative during the primaries, right?

America is in deep doo doo if these two clowns are the only choices.

Wait, this is the same guy who went exclusively negative during the primaries, right?

Yes, it is. What of it?

Obama and Hillary also engaged in heated debate on the 2008 campaign...

With regards to Romney, Obama has had 4 years in office, yet he attacks the opposition's record, instead of standing on his own?

Shift the blame!

It would be better if it was Romney hitting back for Obama's attacks on Bane. I always knew Obama was the real Batman.

“What does it say about a president whose record is so poor that all he can do in this campaign is attack me?”

Awwww... the Republicans can try and dish it out, but they can't take it.

Better yet, where are the jobs that Obama keeps promising?

Oh that? Yeah, I guess there wasn't any such thing as "shovel ready" jobs.... Hahaha... Thanks for the $850 billion anyway Obama's cronies and friends in the union appreciated it. As for the rest of America - eat cake!

There are two candidates vying for the presidency of America. one of the candidates is fighting for 90percent of America while the other candidate is for the top ten of the population.Romney has no plans of his own to better Obama .to me he believes he has made it in life the only position that is eluding him is the presidency. the only the thing thats going to stop him from being elected is his past that will come to hunt him.Americans are not stupid they will want to know who he is and thats when the coockie will start to crumble. for me i will stick to the devil i know.

Beware three strikes, you will be out. Obama could not run on his own record including largest deficit, largest food stamp recipients, 8.2% unemployment, and global dictators gone wild. Socrates' wisdom tells us when dwelling in dark cave, the world is the dark cave, thus cavemen even afraid to encounter the firs sight of light. America needs to get out of the cave for a real hopeful future, and let some cavemen carry on their Hollywood kumbaya (1%) perception behind.

“I want to give incentives to companies that are investing in you, the American people, to create American jobs making American goods ... That’s why I’m running for president of the United States,” Obama said

I let this article's headline say it all instead of commenting.

Car Company Gets U.S. Loan, Builds Cars In Finland

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/car-company-us-loan-builds-cars-finland/story?id=14770875

Romney needs to put on the big boy pants if this is rattling his cage. He's supposed to be hitting Obama on the economy but the message of the week is all Romney. By all rights his campaign should be able to control the message considering the economy but Romney keeps making bone headed moves. The Bain stuff and the tax returns (more damaging) should have been taken care of during the primary.

Awwww... the Republicans can try and dish it out, but they can't take it.

The Republicans can take it, it's Obama that will talk about every issue EVERY issue, but the economy and why? Because he knows, the Dems know his record is THE worst of ANY President in US history. Now that is something Obama and the Democratic party CAN'T TAKE.

In fact, about three-fourths of the president’s advertising so far has been critical of Romney.

I bet that number will climb to 90% in the coming weeks.

about three-fourths of the president's advertising so far has been critical of Romney

Is that all? Given his lunatic right-wing views, I'd have thought it'd be difficult to keep criticism of Romney below the 99% level.

bass4funk: "Better yet, where are the jobs that Obama keeps promising?"

You mean the ones that Romney has a history of outsourcing?

"The Republicans can take it,"

Obviously they cannot. Romney is demanding an apology for something that is only a FRACTION of what he was guilty of during the primaries in HIS OWN PARTY! Sorry, but being a cry-baby isn't 'taking it', my friend.

bass4funk: ""The Republicans can take it,""

And as if more proof is needed that you can't take it, you guys have never answered the question as to whether you want Mitt to release his records or not, as the GOP has even asked him to to prove himself. Instead you can only try to point out what you perceive as negative points about Obama! :) I'd say it's 'classic' deflection, but it's not... it's childish deflection at best.

Maybe someone should give Romney a pacifier. Seems he needs one.

The republicans love to call Obama a Kenyan for four years, and dish out other crazy stuff like that, but when they get a dose of reality they cave in like a sponge cake.

But Tricky Mitt is not to be outdone by Obama, just today he said that the republican party is not the party of the rich at a $50,000 a plate dinner. Oh yes, Obama's secret weapon to win in November-Mitt. The more he talks the more people will see he is out of touch, a liar and of course a tax cheat. How did he ever get elected to anything. Newt, Perry, Sanatoruim, the wacky one from MN and the 999 guy were all right. Mitt is despicable and can only win with tons of money on his side using dirty politics.

You mean the ones that Romney has a history of outsourcing?

No, you mean how Obama has been spending, excuse me wasting money on green jobs that all flatlined and went bankrupt.

Maybe someone should give Romney a pacifier. Seems he needs one.

How about someone teaching Obama how to be a leader and stop worrying about issues that are unimportant but to himself. How about someone teaching Obama how to properly run a country, but that's just pie in the sky.

bass4funk: "How about someone teaching Obama how to be a leader..."

Once again, I see you cannot bother to address the issue of Mitt's hidden money and instead have to deflect. I'm still waiting for you to address my question. But let me pose another for you, that your own GOP has: isn't it in Mitt's own interest to disclose his records?

I mean, the guy ignores his own party along with everyone else. Sounds dodgy to me for a guy who claims to be what he is.

"How about someone teaching Obama how to properly run a country, but that's just pie in the sky."

Yeah, and Mitt would do that -- giving all the jobs to China then rushing to change business names from his own to his wife's when he's going to get a good position. You make me laugh, bass.

Has Romney chosen his running mate yet? Wonder if he'll go for a Finn or a Mexican.

isn't it in Mitt's own interest to disclose his records?

Not really, It's Obama's interest though or as Romney said in an interview today:

The presumptive Republican nominee also dismissed calls from some in the GOP to release more of his tax returns, arguing it would only give the Obama campaign “more things to pick through, more things for their opposition research to make a mountain out of, and to distort and to be dishonest about.”

Or it will give Americans the same choice McCain had to make when he saw Romney's 23 years of return

"isn't it in Mitt's own interest to disclose his records?"

Romney's refusal to release the documents can only mean Romney has something he wishes to hide from the American people, I don't care how much spin Sailwind puts out there. Even some Republicans are calling for him to release his tax returns.

What is he hiding?

Sail "and to distort and to be dishonest about.”

I had to chortle for that gem. Karl Rove wrote the book and sold the T-shirts on lowlife dirty politics. And he's on board the Romney campaign. Those be crocodile partisan tears yeah shedeth.

Republicans are acting like school bullies getting a taste of their own medicine and howling at their treatment.

What is he hiding?

So, when did you stop beating your wife Mitt?

Same logic.

Republicans are acting like school bullies getting a taste of their own medicine and howling at their treatment.

I now take it that you approve and now endorse Karl Rove's brand of lowlife dirty politics after all.

"Same logic."

Rubbish. That's twisted logic.

All he has to do to silence the critics is release these documents. Easy peasy.

What is he so scared of? And what are you scared of?

Actually, I think Rove's dirty tricks are abhorrent.

This is the sad level to which a screaming, mud-slinging US election cycle has slumped. The dems couldn't even get W Bush removed from office in 2004 despite that train-wreck, because they failed to sink to the level of the GOP's smear tactics.

But let's face facts here - until Romney comes clean about his affairs with Bain 99-02, or until he comes clean with his tax records then this isn't dirty tricks, they're legitimate concerns.

"I also don't think it is appropriate for Romney to go ahead and release more of his past returns as his media daily unfriendly press beatings on the one he did release has been pretty severe."

Because you're a party faithful in shameless denial. Even some of the party are calling for Ronmey to be transparent:

http://www.nationalmemo.com/six-more-republicans-who-want-to-see-romneys-tax-returns/3/

Although to be fair, Republican governor Robert Bentley called on Mitt Romney to release more years of tax returns but subsequently flip-flopped in a style quite similar to Romney's, later saying he didn’t mean he wanted Romney specifically to release his records, he just meant every candidate should do it.

Every presidential candidate on the past has done this. Romney's father did it. Yet I'm supposed to accept it is "inappropriate" because the media might dig and find things the American people should know that could be detrimental to Romney's campaign? That's their job Sailwind, and it brings us back to the same question;

What are in his tax returns that he doesn't want the American people to know?

@madverts

Yeah, you can certainly say Romney has flipped and flopped on some issues, but what about his majesty? This is a fact just it is a fact that Obama is a habitual lier. In 2007 he said, he would not raise taxes and what does he do? So please be consistent. Remember, Obama made lying a household name.

sailwind: "The presumptive Republican nominee also dismissed calls from some in the GOP to release more of his tax returns, arguing it would only give the Obama campaign “more things to pick through, more things for their opposition research to make a mountain out of, and to distort and to be dishonest about.”

So you admit that Romney is hiding a lot of dirty laundry that people could sort through should he air it like his GOP comrades are asking him to? Nice one. Seems the only one who doesn't want Mitt to admit his background is Mitt -- and a few groupies on this site, of course.

bass4funk: "Yeah, you can certainly say Romney has flipped and flopped on some issues, but what about his majesty? "

And once again you have a few flunkies trying to take the issue off Romney's inability to be honest and his absolute unchanging will about hiding his assets deflecting the issue and trying to attack Obama instead. Bass4Funk... I ask you, AGAIN, do you not think Mitt should release his income statements? Can you even honestly try and answer the question without including Obama?

Madverts: "Although to be fair, Republican governor Robert Bentley called on Mitt Romney to release more years of tax returns but subsequently flip-flopped in a style quite similar to Romney's, later saying he didn’t mean he wanted Romney specifically to release his records, he just meant every candidate should do it."

Classic! A true Republican!

Yet I'm supposed to accept it is "inappropriate" because the media might dig and find things the American people should know that could be detrimental to Romney's campaign? That's their job Sailwind

Madverts,

You might be interested in Greg Kandra

Greg Kandra spent 24 years as a writer and producer for CBS News. Over the years, his work has appeared on "CBS Evening News," "48 Hours," "Sunday Morning," and "60 Minutes II," among other programs. In 2002, he was co-writer for the acclaimed documentary "9/11," hosted by Robert De Niro. That two-hour television event was honored with every major award in broadcasting, including the Peabody, the Emmy and the Writers Guild Award.

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500803_162-1953660.html

Here is what he had say recently and why Romney might have a good reason not to release anymore to for the Media to get it's hands on.

I’m tired. Truly. I’ve grown weary of trying to defend the indefensible and explain the inexplicable. For years, people have stomped their feet and pounded their fists and snorted “Liberal media bias!” and I’ve always tut-tutted and shooshed them and said, “No, no. Calm down. They meant well. It was just a misunderstanding. A mistake. These things happen.” I spent over 25 years working in the oft-reviled Mainstream Media and I saw up close and personal how the sausage was made. I knew the people who wielded the knives and wore the aprons, and could vouch (most of the time, anyway) for their good intentions.

But now?

Forget it. I’m done. You deserve what they’re saying about you. It’s earned. You have worked long and hard to merit the suspicion, acrimony, mistrust and revulsion that the media-buying public increasingly heaps upon you. You have successfully eroded any confidence, dispelled any trust, and driven your audience into the arms of the Internet and the blogosphere, where biases are affirmed and like-minded people can tell each other what they hold to be true, since nobody believes in objective reality any more. You have done a superlative job of diminishing what was once a great profession and undermining one of the vital underpinnings of democracy, a free press.

Good job.

I just have one question:

What the hell is wrong with you guys?:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2012/06/memo-to-nbc-what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-you/

And once again you have a few flunkies trying to take the issue off Romney's inability to be honest and his absolute unchanging will about hiding his assets deflecting the issue and trying to attack Obama instead. Bass4Funk... I ask you, AGAIN, do you not think Mitt should release his income statements? Can you even honestly try and answer the question without including Obama?

Sorry, the two are impossibly linked together by the fact that you have a President that wants to turn us into France and the other, trying to get that car out of the ditch, that the French....uh, Obama got us all into. But to answer your question, I don't think it's relevant. More power to him, his money, I couldn't care less, like with What Clinton did with Lewinsky, I didn't care, just keep the country on the right track, which we are not on right now. So let me ask you a few questions. Do you honestly think Obama has done a great job governing? And when do you think Obama will finally put this idiotic witch hunt aside and focus on what's really important- the economy?

Please, I'm waiting for more moronic liberal spin.

bass4funk: "But to answer your question, I don't think it's relevant."

But let me guess, you think Obama's birth records are relevant, no? You'll take the place a person was born as precedent over where an adult has made his decisions and wants to be president based on practices that would put your nation in a bigger hole than it's ever seen. Typical, but not surprising. Likewise you probably think Mitt shouldn't have to spell out how he's going to improve the economy and just trust that he'll do so, "once elected". Seems the only thing Romney can promise the American people is that he won't promise them anything until they give him what he wants. Nice kinda president, eh?

bass4funk: "Sorry, the two are impossibly linked together by the fact that you have a President that wants to turn us into France and the other, trying to get that car out of the ditch, that the French....uh, Obama got us all into."

Sorry, bud, but try as you might to fob off all your problems on Obama, he inherited all the crap from GWB and then had the party of 'no' turn down anything that would have helped you personally and your nation. You can blame only the GOP for your current woes.

bass4funk: And stop trying to blame France for your insecurities -- France beats the US hands down in so many areas that it's quite laughable when you guys stare at your statue of Liberty (a gift from France) and claim yourselves as utterly different. Free education, good health care... yeah, France sucks compared to the mess that is the US! haha. Hope it doesn't hurt too much that you know you cannot compare.

A) Romney should release his tax records.

B) Obama should release his college records.

C) Romney needs to clearly explain to people about 1999/2002 Bain situation

D) Obama needs to explain how if "outsourcing" is an issue, why he appointed Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE - which was run so badly it needed $Billions of dollars in taxpayer bailouts AND has outsourced over half of it's 300K+ employees - as Chairman of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander... and transparency and answers from both sides is good for the voters.

I would suggest that anyone who wants - A & C, but not B & D OR who want's B & D, but not A & C - is just being hypocritical and partisan.

But let me guess, you think Obama's birth records are relevant, no? You'll take the place a person was born as precedent over where an adult has made his decisions and wants to be president based on practices that would put your nation in a bigger hole than it's ever seen

First of all, don't generalize all Conservatives, we are not a collective like most liberals. I thought it was stupid to question, I believe that he was born in Hawaii and I ne er cared about that, as long as he's a US citizen, the rest I thought was a waste of time, I never supported any Conservative that jumped on that bandwagon or the "birthers" as I like to call them. So for me, his birth records were never relevant to him being President, not for a moment did I believe otherwise. So on that, you'll get no argument from me.

As far as Mitt spelling out, how he's going to improve the economy, I'm still waiting for you to answer my previous question: Obama has been dodging the issue of the economy, so how is he going to fix it? What's his plan? He is, after all, the CIC, so how's he doing so far and you think, the country is better off??

Sorry, bud, but try as you might to fob off all your problems on Obama, he inherited all the crap from GWB and then had the party of 'no' turn down anything that would have helped you personally and your nation. You can blame only the GOP for your current woes.

I see, so we are back to blaming Bush, therefore, we can give Obama a free pass. Lol You guys crack me up, 20 years from now, liberals will NEVER blame this President for anything, because of course it was GWB fault. Good one, but oh, so, so predictable.

And stop trying to blame France for your insecurities -- France beats the US hands down in so many areas that it's quite laughable when you guys stare at your statue of Liberty (a gift from France) and claim yourselves as utterly different. Free education, good health care... yeah, France sucks compared to the mess that is the US! haha. Hope it doesn't hurt too much that you know you cannot compare.

I'm blaming France and the Socialist system that they have embrace and for the last 40 years have finally caught to them and now look where they're at. Yea, they gave us the statue of liberty and we saved their butts numerous of times (a gift from the US, thank you) FREE is never FREE, the money comes from somewhere, oh, wait, FRANCE doesn't have any anymore, oops! France is France, more power to them, they can have all the Foie Gras in the world, they want to pay high taxes, have long, long lunch breaks and finish by 4pm, good on them. II would never want to be them, I'm happy to be an American. I don't want our president to turn our country into France! Now hopefully, that is something that you can comprehend.

I know for a fact that Romney was born in Tanzania.

Forgot to add that according the NYT, GE is paying NO corporate taxes - here are some of the article highlights:

The company reported worldwide profits of $14.2 billion, and said $5.1 billion of the total came from its operations in the United States.

Its American tax bill? None. In fact, G.E. claimed a tax benefit of $3.2 billion.

The company has been cutting the percentage of its American profits paid to the Internal Revenue Service for years, resulting in a far lower rate than at most multinational companies.

Its extraordinary success is based on an aggressive strategy that mixes fierce lobbying for tax breaks and innovative accounting that enables it to concentrate its profits offshore.

The company spent $4.1 million on outside lobbyists last year

a G.E. tax official said the department's "mission statement" consisted of 19 rules and urged employees to divide their time evenly between ensuring compliance with the law and "looking to exploit opportunities to reduce tax."

Since 2002, the company has eliminated a fifth of its work force in the United States while increasing overseas employment.

The article is well worth the read: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/business/economy/25tax.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3da1PjHH_Z0

So, again:

1) Romney needs to clearly explain to people about 1999/2002 Bain situation

&

2) Obama needs to explain how if "outsourcing" is an issue, why he appointed Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE - which was run so badly it needed $Billions of dollars in taxpayer bailouts AND has outsourced over half of it's 300K+ employees - as Chairman of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

bass4funk: "First of all, don't generalize all Conservatives, we are not a collective like most liberals."

Integrity out the window! Way to start off your comment with hypocrisy!

"As far as Mitt spelling out, how he's going to improve the economy, I'm still waiting for you to answer my previous question: Obama has been dodging the issue of the economy, so how is he going to fix it? What's his plan?"

So your answer to my question is to deflect by asking me a question about Obama? Since we're playing the "let's not answer" game, what are Mitt's plans? seems he has given ZERO plans on anything, and only said he'll spell it all out 'when elected'. That's not presidential material, my friend, it's food for morons.

"I'm blaming France and the Socialist system that they have embrace and for the last 40 years..."

No you're not! You and other Americans only started 'blaming France' for all your problems when they wouldn't join GWB's pet project in Iraq.

"II would never want to be them"

I can hear the collective sigh of relief coming from Europe. :)

"I don't want our president to turn our country into France!"

Again, the insecurity.

"Now hopefully, that is something that you can comprehend."

I can see, hear, and understand a person who is so insecure they do not realize what they are talking about any day. So what does it mean to be an American then, aside from 'not being from France'? My guess is, as with questions about Romney and his ideas to 'fix it all', you won't be able to answer.

To the back-and-forthers:

Did anyone bother to look at the campaign websites?

Obama Campaign Job/Economy page: http://www.barackobama.com/record/economy?source=primary-nav

Mainly is covering the campaign's view of what was done in the first term. Other than a few built points buried amid those, I don't see any future plan for the next term laid out. If someone finds one, please link it.

Romney Campaign Job/Economy page: http://www.mittromney.com/jobs

In addition, to the plans overviewed on that page, I found a 160ish page plan here: http://www.mittromney.com/blogs/mitts-view/2011/09/believe-america-mitt-romneys-plan-jobs-and-economic-growth

Whether one agrees with Romney's plan or not, it cannot be said that he doesn't have one.

Other than a few built points buried amid those, I don't see any future plan for the next term laid out.

Presidents do not write budgets; they set goalposts and cheer on the congress to get this done. Thus, it is best not to look for details from chief executive candidates but rather broad swaths of policy. A major case in point is the imminent rise of "sequestration," which means that revenues and expenditures have been proactively set. A view into how this occurred and the opinions of the two candidates towards it is quite revealing.

Now, defense spending cuts of $500 billion over the next decade are set to kick in on Jan. 2. Nobody wants this, not even most Democrats, yet it is law. How, one might wonder, was it made law? As mentioned above, congress is the sole branch with fiscal authority, and when Republicans refused what historically was a non-issue - a rise in the authorized federal debt issue - this was the compromise that they worked out: that an Armageddon of spending cuts and tax increases would force the two sides to compromise.

Mah, that was the price the Republicans forced Obama to pay for what was normally a routine action, and he was forced to accept it.

But:

It’s been nearly a year since the president demanded a half a trillion dollars in automatic cuts to defense at the end of this year, and yet with the date now fast approaching, we still don’t know how he intends to handle it.

says Sen. Mitch McConnell. What? Who? And how? C'mon, Mitch, I know you're only the MINORITY leader, but facts are facts: this was the bargain congressional GOPers forced on Obama as the price for raising the debt ceiling.

Fortunately, there is a committee - the House Armed Services Committee, to be exact - to put a human face on the suffering faced by those poor Americans affected by looming defense cuts, as its spokesperson said:

The committee has been working for a year to put a human face on what some see as merely a political bargaining chip: automatic defense cuts.

Normally, I would shy away from combining "human face" with "military" as a way to garner sympathy, but these are strange times - strange enough that even Republicans seem to be casting Keynesian, as if Defense and those that suck at its prodigious teats underpinned our very existence.

Do not fear that the GOP has gone all teary-eyed about those unfortunates swept up in economic turmoil. Some Minnesota state representative recently voiced Republican sentiment over programs which aid Americans in need as such:

Isn’t it ironic that the food stamp program, part of the Department of Agriculture, is pleased to be distributing the greatest amount of food stamps ever. Meanwhile, the Park Service, also part of the Department of Agriculture, asks us to please not feed the animals, because the animals may grow dependent and not learn to take care of themselves.

This, in a nutshell, Patrick, is all you need to know about the difference between Republican and Democratic economic policy: the former would pity the bomb makers, the latter the homemakers. Romney would allow for aggressive Defense growth and pay for that by further reductions in social programs; Obama would limit growth to inflation and bring down the debt with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts on the wealthy.

It really is not too difficult to grasp.

for me i will stick to the devil i know

Thats exactly my sentiment. Had to do it with GB may as well do it with Obama... Each party showing exactly how lackluster they are in their decisions for this country.

@Laguna

Presidents do not write budgets...

A) You are confused. I made NO comment about "budget". People had asked about candidate "policies". I was responding to their questions about where to find those "policies" for both candidates.

B) You are also mistaken. Although congress controls the purse-strings, the President still creates, and submits a budget. He has to tell them what how much he would like them to give them... and what for. In fact, the President is required by law to submit his budget request http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_budget_process#The_President.27s_budget_request You can find the President's 2013 budget proposal here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget

A bunch of your other statements are also wrong, but also have nothing to do with me, just you bloating about a bunch of stuff that has nothing to do with anything I posted -- and I'm not interested in getting into a partisan spat.

Patrick, you said:

I don't see any future plan for the next term laid out.

It's laid out there about as well as the American political system allows it to be.

You also said:

Whether one agrees with Romney's plan or not, it cannot be said that he doesn't have one.

He may have one, but the details critical to allowing his numbers to align he refuses to divulge. Perhaps he has them in his mind; perhaps he does not. Perhaps he will allow things to solve themselves "retroactively." Until these are laid out explicitly, it is quite reasonable to maintain that he does not have a plan, at least one that accomplishes what he purports to accomplish.

HonestDictator: "Had to do it with GB may as well do it with Obama... Each party showing exactly how lackluster they are in their decisions for this country."

Save that one made an effort to catch/kill public enemy number one. Bush just felt the need to start a few wars to detract from the fact he could never, ever even come close.

@Laguna

Give it up... you are just looking to start a spat where there isn't one.

He may have one, but the details critical to allowing his numbers....

I did not pass judgement one way or the other on his plan, nor the president's - and I won't. You need to read the other posts. Partisans were going back and forth each claiming that the other side's candidate had no plan. I merely showed them that each campaign had a website with a policy section where they discuss their policy plans (to varying degrees). I did comment the Romney's plan seemed to more detailed (160pg doc) than the President's (bullet points); but also stated there may be a more detailed President plan somewhere else - and if someone found it they should link it.

You comments are blindingly partisan and contradictory... But again, they have nothing to do with me. I was just providing information that was requested by others.

So you are just tossing up straw-men and tilting at windmills.

You seem boiling for a fight, so I'd suggest that you go respond to one of the opposing partisans; not me.

Sailwind,

Great, so now I know how Greg Kandra feels about modern journalism.

I have to admit I'm not sure why you think this exonerates Romney from releasing information the American people have a right to know, but I'm sure you do....

Patrick,

I'm not jumping in here, but demanding Obama release his college records is a bit unfair in this instance, since Romney also refuses to release the transcripts of his college years, or his four years at Harvard...

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/28/obama-ducks-calls-to-release-his-collegiate-transc/

Personally I'm not interested in that nonsense, it's a bit like the birth certificate. I'm a a firm believer in regulated capitalism, but it's priceless to see the uber-rich white guy that won't release his tax returns because the American people will see how much this tiny elite are taking the piss out of the rest of the 99.9% of taxpayers on the planet.

@Madverts

My position is they should both release everything. I'm not playing favorites, nor being selective about who releases what. It should all come out. I am for total transparency from all candidates. Especially in Presidential campaigns.

I merely made that list the way I did as that is what people are currently most vocal about: Dem's want Romney's taxes -- GOP's want Obama's College records; Obama claims fraud at Bain -- Romney claims cronyism by Obama.

Just an FYI - Romney may not have released his transcripts... but there is information about his college performance out there:

"at Brigham Young University... graduating first in his class in 1971 with a degree in English and a 3.97 GPA" "He was also accepted into a joint M.B.A. program at Harvard Business School. ...and in 1975 he graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and in the top 5 percent of his class at HBS." http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2007/02/01/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-mitt-romney

But again, I'm for complete transparency. Both of them - release it all. When one steps into the ring and vies for that role, the voters have the right to know.

Mitt Romney ... said Monday the president should instead be talking about his own record in the White House.

Let's review. Has Obama done any work as president in months? No. He is too busy partying, drinking, playing golf, vacationing and campaigning to be concerned about doing the job he is getting taxpayer (i.e., my) money to do. Obama = failure.

RR

Integrity out the window! Way to start off your comment with hypocrisy!

Integrity went out the window, when Obama stopped listening to the people and started forcing Americans to adopt and take things that the vast majority don't want.

"As far as Mitt spelling out, how he's going to improve the economy, I'm still waiting for you to answer my previous question: Obama has been dodging the issue of the economy, so how is he going to fix it? What's his plan?"

I don't know, I'm sure he'll spell that out in the near future, but Obama still didn't tell us how he's going to fix the economy. Still waiting on that, just sayin'......

So your answer to my question is to deflect by asking me a question about Obama? Since we're playing the "let's not answer" game, what are Mitt's plans? seems he has given ZERO plans on anything, and only said he'll spell it all out 'when elected'. That's not presidential material, my friend, it's food for morons.

I don't think so my friend, I think you are getting a bit agitated. Like I said, I don't know Mitt's plans, but I as sure as hell don't know Obama's plans, but I do know one plan and that he is on a mission to drive the country off a cliff.

No you're not! You and other Americans only started 'blaming France' for all your problems when they wouldn't join GWB's pet project in Iraq.

And why do you think the French can still speak French today.

"II would never want to be them"

Yep, absolutely,No Way!

I can hear the collective sigh of relief coming from Europe. :)

As well back atcha! There is a whole collective sigh of relief coming from the USA

"I don't want our president to turn our country into France!"

Again, the insecurity.

You're confusing insecurity with pride.

"Now hopefully, that is something that you can comprehend."

I can see, hear, and understand a person who is so insecure they do not realize what they are talking about any day. So what does it mean to be an American then, aside from 'not being from France'? My guess is, as with questions about Romney and his ideas to 'fix it all', you won't be able to answer.

No insecurities here. If you don't understand anything about American culture, then you should either not make any incendiary comments or pick up a history book. Not my job on JT to teach you. And again, you keep dodging the question I asked you as well. How does Obama deserve a second term? What are his goals and overall accomplishments besides wasting our money, raising taxes and giving us Obamacare that as I said before, the majority of Americans don't want. I never said, Romney is the golden child, but hey, at least he won't financially kill us and will be fiscally responsible.

@Romeo

Is it ANY surprise? Obama cares more about his partying lifestyle and the elite Stuck up Hollywood crowd, schmusing around them instead of doing his job. But the hypocrisy for liberals is one-sided, if you talk about his majesty, then the Dems cry foul. On digging up Ovama's past, but digging up Romney's past is ok?!

Man there are some delusional posts in this forum gives the Ultra Right Wing Japanese parties a run for their money.

In a different time I could vote for Romney. He wasn't a horrible Massachusetts Governor. Back then he was pro-choice, mildly fiscally conservative (kind of balanced the budget with "Fees" instead of taxes) and at least he was willing to try to get everyone covered by Health Care.

The problem is he's the John Kerry of the RNC. He's very calculating and it doesn't bother him to flip flop his position. He'll want a second term and he has zero compunction about placating the Tea-Tards. He won't be able to give them the budget they want because deep down he knows maths, but he'll have no compunction about tossing social and moral issues overboard to get the second term.

In that sense he's far more dangerous and damaging that GW ever was. At least with GW he told you exactly what he was going to do and more or less did just that (well, plus a little decade long war to drain the countries coffers for good measure).

Obama has a lot of issues for both liberals and conservatives, but like GW he told everyone exactly what he was going to do in 08. And that's what he did. My biggest knocks on him was the time he wasted trying to work with the Republicans.

bass4funk: "Not my job on JT to teach you"

Yeah, I figured you wouldn't be able to answer a simple question. No surprise, really.

"I don't think so my friend, I think you are getting a bit agitated. Like I said, I don't know Mitt's plans, but I as sure as hell don't know Obama's plans, but I do know one plan and that he is on a mission to drive the country off a cliff."

Not agitated one bit. In fact, I'm getting a kick out of watching you struggle over your insecurities about France and blaming them for all your problems.

"And why do you think the French can still speak French today"

Same reason they've spoke it for hundreds and hundreds of years -- you're certainly not implying that they can still speak French in France because GWB invaded Iraq, are you?

"I don't know, I'm sure he'll spell that out in the near future, but Obama still didn't tell us how he's going to fix the economy. Still waiting on that, just sayin'......"

Of COURSE you don't know!! He has made it quite clear that he'll "clear everything up when elected", meaning he has no plans whatsoever. Why would you vote for a guy who has no plans and refuses to tell the truth about his past? How brainwashed can the Republicans be?

Farmboy: So where are the jobs they created? At fast-food restaurants?

Not sure why you are picking on fast-food restaurants. A majority of fast-food restaurants are independent own either by families, single ownership, or partnership. Fast-food restaurants consists of BK, MD, SB, and KFC etc. which are consider to be local businesses. They bring in revenue for local, state, and federal government. They employed people from the surrounding areas. Are you against fast-food restaurants, people's dream to own a business and make something of themselves, and to employing people???

@Smith

Yeah, I figured you wouldn't be able to answer a simple question. No surprise, really.

What's there to answer? Romney didn't lay out his plan yet, therefore, I cannot say 100% as to what his plans are in full detail. Just the basics. By the way, you never answered my question either, yep, typical liberal rhetoric.

Not agitated one bit. In fact, I'm getting a kick out of watching you struggle over your insecurities about France and blaming them for all your problems.

If you are getting a kick, then you really need to find a hobby, if you take it that seriously. Lol Hey, trust me when I tell you this, I don't have ANY worries about France, NONE! Not blaming France for anything, stop putting words in my mouth. I said, your beloved anointed majesty is the one that is turning the country into France. Been to France many times, nice country, but NO THANK YOU!

Same reason they've spoke it for hundreds and hundreds of years -- you're certainly not implying that they can still speak French in France because GWB invaded Iraq, are you?

You didn't have your espresso today, huh? I was implying that France would be speaking German now if it wasn't for the US bailing them out, pure and simple.

Of COURSE you don't know!! He has made it quite clear that he'll "clear everything up when elected", meaning he has no plans whatsoever. Why would you vote for a guy who has no plans and refuses to tell the truth about his past? How brainwashed can the Republicans be?

So Obama is the smartest guy in the room, eh. Well, let's take a look at it for a moment. http://www.mittromney.com/news/press/2012/07/transparent-hypocrisy-obamas-fast-and-furious-broken-promises

These are various articles compiled, so the overall analysis would be without a doubt, Obama is NOT transparent, yes, most politicians aren't, but Obama, pleeeese. That, I DO KNOW!

bass4funk: "What's there to answer?"

I asked you what it means to be an American and you cannot answer, because while you're busy bashing France for no reason you cannot say what it means to be from the US. As for 'picking up a book and reading history', I probably know more about US history than you do (and world history for that matter, including France), and picking up a book is not identity.

"If you are getting a kick, then you really need to find a hobby, if you take it that seriously"

I have plenty of hobbies, my friend, doesn't mean I can't get a kick out of reading the news and comments.

"You didn't have your espresso today, huh? I was implying that France would be speaking German now if it wasn't for the US bailing them out, pure and simple."

I don't drink espresso, thanks. I know what you were implying, and it's typical American arrogance to think the US was the only army in the war and won it all for everyone else's sake. Again, never have Americans complained about France as much as they have since France wisely decided not to join GWB's pet project in Iraq (which was, of course, solely to take away from the fact he could not find Bin Laden -- which Obama did).

"These are various articles compiled, so the overall analysis would be without a doubt, Obama is NOT transparent, yes, most politicians aren't, but Obama, pleeeese. That, I DO KNOW!"

Not necessarily disagreeing with you there -- no government is transparent, and that might be a GOOD thing to an extent, but if Obama is not that transparent, Mitt is as transparent as a brick wall painted midnight black. The guy refuses to release his past tax records, despite his own party asking him to do so, and you think he's presidential material?

I have to admit I'm not sure why you think this exonerates Romney from releasing information the American people have a right to know, but I'm sure you do....

Madverts,

My overall opinion really boils than to this. If Romney had a D after his last name and was in this position and I was a Democrat I would also be encourage just releasing more past returns and be done with it. The press would highlight the charitable donations and really downplay anything that would be a potential embarrassment and then just would move on. After all the reality is he's never been in trouble with the IRS and there is absolutely zilch evidence that he ever has been with his taxes (which really is the bottom line after all with the Independents that will actually decide this election).

But since he has a R by last name it is quite obvious, just given the coverage from the return he did release for 2010 that the exact opposite in the press would occur. He is in a damn if do, damn if don't position with the press and is taking the position just not to feed it anymore with more fodder and just take the hits from those that were going to vote for him anyway this early in the campaign. This really does show the sad state of the Media today. The Media today is really no longer a leveling playing field where a politician no matter if he or she has a D or R can expect roughly the same treatment. Politicians with an R have to deal with that reality much more than politicians with a D and have they have to campaign with that always in mind.

Democrats need to release their tax returns but not republicans because the media will be mean?

Heh, repectfully, what a load of partisan twaddle. :)

This issue isn't going away, he should stop hiding from he American people, release the returns and brace the dam.

I asked you what it means to be an American and you cannot answer, because while you're busy bashing France for no reason you cannot say what it means to be from the US. As for 'picking up a book and reading history', I probably know more about US history than you do (and world history for that matter, including France), and picking up a book is not identity.

First of all, I was not bashing France, they can live as they want, I wish them well. I don't envy them whatsoever. I was just pointing out the facts about the country and their socialist system. I just don't want my country to turn into France, if I want France, I'll fly over there and visit the country. Also, I'm an American, why do I have to tell you what it means to be an American, I'm not in college, I'm not applying for citizenship. You spout off like a child "I know mo-ore than yooouu" This is not a playground. What you think you know and what you actually know are two different things, don't confuse the two.

I have plenty of hobbies, my friend, doesn't mean I can't get a kick out of reading the news and comments.

Try George Carlin, he's really hilarious!

I don't drink espresso, thanks. I know what you were implying, and it's typical American arrogance to think the US was the only army in the war and won it all for everyone else's sake. Again, never have Americans complained about France as much as they have since France wisely decided not to join GWB's pet project in Iraq (which was, of course, solely to take away from the fact he could not find Bin Laden -- which Obama did).

I'm NOT implying ANYTHING and if anyone is being arrogant, it's not me. Just because I don't like this President and his policies that makes me arrogant? So you think it wasn't the US that overwhelmingly saved and liberated France. France didn't join GWB's coalition, of course, how could they when they were busy doing secret dealing with Iraq. I understand it. As far as Obama getting OBL, of course he gets credit, about the only thing he got right. He tapped into his inner Bush, just got gutsy went into Pakistan (took Bush's advice to use SEAL team 6) to get the job done, hots off to him.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/oct/10/france.iraq

Not necessarily disagreeing with you there -- no government is transparent, and that might be a GOOD thing to an extent, but if Obama is not that transparent, Mitt is as transparent as a brick wall painted midnight black. The guy refuses to release his past tax records, despite his own party asking him to do so, and you think he's presidential material?

I will tell you this, I wouldn't say Mitt is the most electrifying politician, and I really don't care if he shows his taxes or not. So a person that advocates FREE market enterprise and with a proven Business track record, again PROVEN, STAPLES, the winter olympics, now compare that to Obama's accomplishments, debt, debt, and more debt. So that makes Obama an effective leader a good President?