Tuesday, October 23, 2012

President Obama destroys Mitt Romney; Romney again takes credit for auto bailout

While watching the debate on foreign policy between Republican "severely conservative" Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama, I noticed that Romney again became moderate. He agreed with Obama on more issues than I can remember. On Afghanistan, Romney seemed to agree with the timeline to get out of that country. There was agreement on the use of drones. I kind of liked the agreement. So what does the real Romney stand for? I don't know. Because before the debate, the Romney campaign hinted that it was a mistake for a set timeline to get out of Afghanistan.

But where Obama excelled was his command of the details. Every time Romney attacked Obama, the President defended his administration deftly. Romney had a bunch of feel good platitudes. The best moment for Obama. Romney made an argument for more ships. Obama shot back, arguing that Romney did not understand the modern military and that obsolete needs might want bayonets and horses.

But again Romney again took credit for the auto bailout. Folks, this is about one state. My home state of Ohio. You see the auto bailout saved jobs here. Obama says Romney opposed the auto bailout by bringing up an opinion piece Romney wrote for the New York Times in 2008. (Here it is.) Obama uses the title "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt."

Romney did not support federal loans for the auto industry. Period. Even Fox News concedes this. They report that Romney wanted private companies to bailout GM and have federal funds as guarantees. It's this line from the New York Times piece that Romney uses to lay claim he helped and was for the auto bailout. "The federal government should provide guarantees for post-bankruptcy financing and assure car buyers that their warranties are not at risk [.]" Note the term "post-bankruptcy financing." This is not financing before or during the bankruptcy. So do any of you think a private company like Bain Capital would offer loans to troubled GM? Try getting a loan with bad credit, folks.

But here is exactly what Romney feels about GM. " IF General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye." New York Times op-ed piece. Clearly he opposes government help for the auto industry.

Folks I'll repeat what Vice President Joe Biden says. Osma Bin Laden is dead and GM is alive.

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