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The last question during the debate

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  • sbfriedman
    2012-10-16 10:46:56 PM
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    What do you think about the way that Obama and Romney respectively handled the very last question of the 2nd debate?

    The question was:

    What do you believe is the biggest misperception that Americans have about you as a man and a candidate?
  • Schmidt
    2012-10-16 10:57:25 PM
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    Obama was the clear winner on this last question. Romney set himself up for a rebuttal when he emphasized that he was for 100 percent of Americans. Of course, the opened the door for Obama to cite Romney's 47 percent statement made behind closed doors.

    Looking for a transcript for the exact words.
  • TJ
    2012-10-16 10:59:19 PM
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    Thanks for this mention. I recorded the debate. I'm going to rewind to catch that question. I believe I was distracted just before this. Thanks again !
  • sbfriedman
    2012-10-16 11:11:35 PM
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    (For the record of this forum post, here's the actual question and answers by both Romney and Obama. The question was asked by a member in the town hall audience.)


    QUESTION: Hi, Governor. I think this is a tough question. To each of you. What do you believe is the biggest misperception that the American people have about you as a man and a candidate? Using specific examples, can you take this opportunity to debunk that misperception and set us straight?

    ROMNEY: Thank you, and that's an opportunity for me, and I appreciate it.
    In the nature of a campaign, it seems that some campaigns are focused on attacking a person rather than prescribing their own future and the things they'd like to do. In the course of that, I think the president's campaign has tried to characterize me as — as someone who's very different than who I am.
    I care about 100 percent of the American people. I want 100 percent of the American people to have a bright and prosperous future. I care about our kids. I understand what it takes to make a bright and prosperous future for America again. I spent my life in the private sector, not in government. I'm a guy who wants to help with the experience I have, the American people.

    My — my passion probably flows from the fact that I believe in God. And I believe we're all children of the same God. I believe we have a responsibility to care for one another. I — I served as a missionary for my church. I served as a pastor in my congregation for about 10 years. I've sat across the table from people who were out of work and worked with them to try and find new work or to help them through tough times.
    I went to the Olympics when they were in trouble to try and get them on track. And as governor of my state, I was able to get 100 percent of my people insured, all my kids, about 98 percent of the adults. I was able also to get our schools ranked number one in the nation, so 100 percent of our kids would have a bright opportunity for a future.

    ROMNEY: I understand that I can get this country on track again. We don't have to settle for what we're going through. We don't have to settle for gasoline at four bucks. We don't have to settle for unemployment at a chronically high level. We don't have to settle for 47 million people on food stamps. We don't have to settle for 50 percent of kids coming out of college not able to get work. We don't have to settle for 23 million people struggling to find a good job.
    If I become president, I'll get America working again. I will get us on track to a balanced budget. The president hasn't. I will. I'll make sure we can reform Medicare and Social Security to preserve them for coming — coming generations. The president said he would. He didn't.

    CROWLEY: Governor...

    ROMNEY: I'll get our incomes up. And by the way, I've done these things. I served as governor and showed I could get them done.

    CROWLEY: Mr. President, last two minutes belong to you.

    OBAMA: Barry, I think a lot of this campaign, maybe over the last four years, has been devoted to this nation that I think government creates jobs, that that somehow is the answer.
    That's not what I believe. I believe that the free enterprise system is the greatest engine of prosperity the world's ever known.
    I believe in self-reliance and individual initiative and risk takers being rewarded. But I also believe that everybody should have a fair shot and everybody should do their fair share and everybody should play by the same rules, because that's how our economy's grown. That's how we built the world's greatest middle class.

    And — and that is part of what's at stake in this election. There's a fundamentally different vision about how we move our country forward.
    I believe Governor Romney is a good man. Loves his family, cares about his faith. But I also believe that when he said behind closed doors that 47 percent of the country considered themselves victims who refuse personal responsibility, think about who he was talking about.
    Folks on Social Security who've worked all their lives. Veterans who've sacrificed for this country. Students who are out there trying to hopefully advance their own dreams, but also this country's dreams. Soldiers who are overseas fighting for us right now. People who are working hard every day, paying payroll tax, gas taxes, but don't make enough income.
    And I want to fight for them. That's what I've been doing for the last four years. Because if they succeed, I believe the country succeeds.
    When my grandfather fought in World War II and he came back and he got a G.I. Bill and that allowed him to go to college, that wasn't a handout. That was something that advanced the entire country. And I want to make sure that the next generation has those same opportunities. That's why I'm asking for your vote and that's why I'm asking for another four years.


  • TJ
    2012-10-17 12:25:53 AM
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    Very cool ! I went back and watched this last question. It was fabulous. Great night. I am very much relieved. My initial thoughts were more pessimistic. I am tempted to change to Fox news to see what they're saying but I don't want them to get any Nielson points.
  • WovenGems
    2012-10-17 10:30:33 AM
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    TJ Wrote: Very cool ! I went back and watched this last question. It was fabulous. Great night. I am very much relieved. My initial thoughts were more pessimistic. I am tempted to change to Fox news to see what they're saying but I don't want them to get any Nielson points.


    McClellan = Union

    Johnson = Rebel


    Wouldn't happen to be a civil war buff, would you? Think of FoxNews as if Richmond had had a radio station in 1864. What would that radio station have said about the rebel chances?
  • the_ark
    2012-10-17 07:47:10 PM
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    Very powerful and to the point wrap up by President Obama!
  • Disheke
    2012-10-17 08:05:46 PM
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    Speaking of the 47 percent: I don't understand why more of the 47% are not expressing more concern about Mr. Romney's recent dialogue with his fellow Plutocrats in that closed setting. After getting caught, he now says "he is for 100% of the people". Which Mitt should we believe? His speech in that private setting shows us the "real Mitt Romney" and it would be wise for those of us in the 47% to clearly understand this and not forget it! What he is saying now is what he thinks we need to hear in order to vote for him. We should remember that this Presidential "wannabe" has not changed his plutocratic stripes - - he is concealing them for the moment. As a proud member of the 47%, I come as retired service member and a recently retired employee of the DoD with a total of 52 years of government service. In the military, I served several tours in Vietnam (where was Mitt???). As a military member in Washington, DC, I worked a second full time job for more than two years in order to buy a home. I've worked extremely hard all my life and am paying a higher tax rate than Mr. Romney today. I have never been a "taker" and resent the high brow attitude shown by him and his Republican plutocrat cronies and congressional members to the 47%. I don't resent the fact that he has made money - - this is a great thing! It is what this country is about. I don't believe anything has in the past or will trickle down to the middle class or poor in the future - - no job creation here. There is no way that I could ever support him or the Republican Party that he kowtows (flip-flops to). For the most part his multiple flip-flops are actually lies - another reason he is unacceptable to me.
    I can't possibly be alone here. There must be many people not unlike myself who Mr. Romney describes as a "takers". I am surprised that there is not more concern being expressed. Surely, the entire 47% can't all believe his recent shift to the position that "he is concerned about 100% of the people in this country"? He'll do anything to get elected and if this happens, he will become exactly what Grover Norquist and the far right wanted in a President - - someone to just "sign their bills". Watch then what happens to programs to aid the poor and middle class - - there won't be any. I suggest that Mr. Romney's traits are not those we need in a Commander-in-Chief. If, God please forbid, he does become President, I fear that the poor, the middle class, families with disabled children, as well as seniors, who depend on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are really in for a rough time for a long, long time. It seems to me that many of the 47% (particularly seniors) who will be severely impacted by Messrs. Romney & Ryan’s position are Republicans. Where are these people and why are they expressing concerned??? Hopefully they will wake up and do the right thing at the polls.
  • kms1951
    2012-10-17 08:38:41 PM
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    Mr. Romney is a self-centered, silver spooned brat! He has never had to sit at the kitchen table and figure out how money he will have left after he pays the bills. If he will have enough money to buy a weeks worth of gas to get and forth to work, if he will have enough money to buy meat AFTER he buys bread and milk. He has no respect of President Obama, for whatever reason, and I believe most of us know that reason. Mr. Romney has no respect for the American people, nor of his own family. He has not answered one question honestly. He does not have a clue about foreign policy. Now that is a shuddering thought.

    President Obama is a man with the highest integrity, extremely intelligent, a devout family man and the belief that the America will become the most highly respected and most wealthy nation and the leader of nations, again. President Obama is a stern, absolute man. He is a tremendous Leader for the Free World.


    Mr. Romney is not a gentleman. He is extremely arrogant and very stupid! He has no idea what America is all about is except that he can tear things down in order to gain monetary wealth. Mr. Romney has not once talked about his own mother. Hence, he has no respect for women. Mr. Romney has no respect for anyone. Mr. Romney would set women back to the sufferage movement.

    On the flip side of the coin, President Obama has always talked fondly about his mother, his wife and children. That tells you a lot about a man. The President has the highest regard for all peoples.

    Mr. Romney said that "if people don't have health insurance and you get sick, just go to the Emergency Room, some charity will pick up the bill". Are you kidding me? I know several people, to include people in my own family, that had no insurance had terrible illness and ended up filing bankruptcy because of the medical bills. We're talking cancer, motor vehicle accidents. I know of two family, close to me, that their babies are not insured because the states they live in say that budget cuts have caused them to cut #1 Education and #medicaide. No one picks up the bill, Mr. Romney. And, the Republicans have just cut funding for the Vets this past week. What next, will he stop the widows checks?

    President Obama walked into a horrible economic mess. But he had "hope" and he believes in the "American people". We, the people, in order to form a more perfect union". There is no "I" in "We, the people" and the President knows that. Mr. Romney has only said "I".

    Therefore, President Obama has five stars. Mr President, WE, THE PEOPLE, BELIEVE IN YOU!!!! You have my hope, you have my prayers as well as your family. We will all weather this storm.

    God Bless you, your family and God Bless the United States of America.



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