Governor Romney’s decisive victory over President Obama on October 3 put the two candidates neck and neck according to the polls. The classic debate structure showed off Romney the businessman, as his speaking skills and presentation on stage overshadowing the President. The town hall debate would provide a new challenge, requiring both the President and Governor Romney to connect with the audience and get their messages across in a more informal setting.
As the debate began on the evening of October 16, it became clear that Obama was not going to be the sedate, docile debater of two weeks prior. The two candidates found it difficult to remain in their seats and keep their hands out of each other’s faces. The insults flew back and forth. Obama attempted to discredit Romney’s ability to connect with the middle class with underhanded comments about his wealth, while Romney criticized Obama’s reluctance to be a world leader and his sluggish economic policies at home.
Once again, jobs were on the minds of Americans. Although the debate covered a range of topics, it started and ended with job creation and the economy. In response to Mr. Epstein’s question about being able to find a job after graduation, Romney focused on reducing the amount of student loan debt, making it easier for students to pay for college. The Governor has a vision for the future of education and job creation while Obama is resting on his policies from the past four years, policies with which many Americans are disillusioned. The same number of people are unemployed today as when the President stepped into office four years ago, and Romney is striving to change that number.
Romney wants to lower taxes across all income brackets in order to stimulate spending and therefore, stimulate the economy. His mantra “broaden the base” is apparent in his promise to decrease taxes on small businesses, giving them more flexibility to hire more people. In addition, Romney will reduce corporate taxes, which are among the highest in the world, encouraging big businesses to move back to the United States. Obama’s so-called tax breaks will increase taxes on household incomes of $250K, causing these households to pay what he thinks is their fair share.
In the discussion on immigration policies and what to do with illegal immigrants who currently reside in the United States, Romney stood firm. Although Romney wants to make an effort to streamline the immigration process so that people can come to America legally, he will not tolerate illegal immigration. Obama said that he had done “everything that [he] can on [his] own,” shifting the blame to Congress for any stagnancy in immigration policies throughout his term as president. The president of the United States needs to protect the rights of citizens, and Romney promises to do just that.
Romney came out swinging with his claim that Obama went on an “apology tour” when he first became president, making the United States seem like a follower rather than a leader. He claimed that Obama is not taking Iran’s potential as a nuclear threat seriously and that he is distancing himself from Israel. In the case of Libya, Romney stumbled over his claim that Obama was late in calling it a terrorist attack, but the meaning is the same; if it was not perfectly clear to the American people that Obama was attempting to draw ties between “acts of terror” in Libya and what happened to the consulate in Benghazi, there is something wrong.
This lively debate ended in a draw. Both candidates rose to the occasion, challenging one another and trying to connect with middle-class voters. However, liberal media has ignored policy once again in order to grab on to comments like “binders full of women.” Never mind that Obama referenced “gang bangers” in his argument on immigration. This election is not about Big Bird or who has a larger pension. This election is all about fixing the economy, which is number one on Governor Romney’s list of priorities. I would have hoped that the media would explore the issues and arguments that the candidates presented, especially this close to Election Day.
In the upcoming debate, Romney will have to convince the American people that he can be strong on foreign policy and represent the United States as dominant force on the global scale. President Obama will rest on his laurels, especially the fact that Osama bin Laden was caught and killed on his watch, but Obama needs to show the United States that he will be active among world leaders. •
