Obama slams Romney for "binders" remark

President Obama addresses a group at the Richard and Norma Small Multi-Sports Center Gym at Cornell College on October 17, 2012 in Mount Vernon, Iowa. / David Greedy/Getty Images

After a combative debate against his rival Mitt Romney Tuesday night, President Obama today picked up where he left off, ridiculing Romney for turning to "binders full of women" to find qualified women government officials.

Speaking to a crowd of about 2,000 supporters packed into a gymnasium at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, Mr. Obama touted his plan to recruit 100,000 new math and science teachers over the next decade and help young people focus on these fields.

"We don't have to collect a bunch of binders to find qualified, talented women ready to teach in these fields right now," Mr. Obama said. "And when young women graduate, they should get equal pay for equal work. That should be a simple question to answer."

When asked during last night's debate about pay equity for women, Romney said he reviewed "whole binders full of women" in his search for qualified women to fill his cabinet as governor of Massachusetts. The phrase quickly caught fire on the Internet as the president's supporters seized on it to mock Romney.

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Romney: I had "binders full of women" to staff my cabinet

By contrast, Mr. Obama noted today that the first bill he signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Act, which makes it easier for women to file suit against unfair pay.

The president today repeated several arguments and one-liners he used in the debate, calling Romney's economic plan a "sketchy deal."

"Let's recap what we learned last night," he said. "His tax plan doesn't add up, his jobs plan doesn't create jobs... Everybody here's heard of the New Deal. You've heard of the fair deal, you've heard of the square deal. Mitt Romney's trying to sell you a sketchy deal."

He blasted the Republican candidate for failing to explain what tax deductions he would eliminate to pay for his planned tax cuts, joking, "Usually when a politician tells you he's going to wait until after the election [to explain his plan], they don't have a pleasant surprise in store for you."

By contrast, the president touted his record as proof that his agenda will work. The economy has added five million jobs in the last two-and-a-half years, he said, while foreclosures are at their lowest point in four years, 401k plans are recovering and "our assembly lines are starting to hum again," he said. "We've got a lot more work to do, but we've to go build on that progress."

Tailoring his message for Iowa voters, Mr. Obama touted his commitment to investments in clean energy, noting that nearly 7,000 jobs in the state depend on the wind energy sector. Romney would end tax credits for wind energy producers, he noted.

Recent polls have shown a close race in the battleground state. An American Research Group survey conducted Oct. 11-14 showed Mr. Obama and Romney tied in Iowa at 48 percent to 48 percent.

Early voting began in Iowa on Sept. 27, and so far Democrats have a 53,000-vote advantage, Radio Iowa reports. Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz said he expects over 40 percent of the votes cast in the election to be cast early. Republicans in recent days have cut into the Democrats' early vote lead and could make up ground by Election Day. While Mr. Obama won Iowa in the 2008 election, Republican candidate John McCain won more votes cast on Election Day.

[jenions]

Plain & simple ... the Romney/Ryan 2012 ticket is nothing more than utter rubbish... a load of con-gab... proven over & over

[hdbkrst69]

Obuma has no room to talk or attack anyone about things said and done by others! When he replied to Romney's comment about how before he, obuma, took office, gas was at $1.86 and now up to almost $4.00. obuma's reply was, "When I took office the price of gasoline was $1.80-$1.86, why is that? Because the economy was on the verge of collapse". When he was campaigning for the seat I recall him clearly stating that energy prices would skyrocket under his plan. So now Americans are suppose to believe that $4.00 a gal for fuel today means the economy is doing good, back on track, revived, the norm? When the moderator tried to shield obuma with the rose garden remark about Benghazi being a act of terror, basically calling Romney a liar, then admitting she was wrong later on, she should have been escorted off the stage. As a moderator you can not play favorites, but she did and got away with it as well. I think back to that day when they brought those 4 caskets home with Clinton and obama standing there, knowing dam well what happen and yet they continued to cover it up right in front of the families and the American people! Then there's Fast and Furious.... Another cover up! No answers! No truth! What else do we not know the truths about? Had any other president pulled this crap, the American people would have rioted in the streets and demanded their heads on a spit! Why are we allowing this Adm to get away with this tyranny?

[hdbkrst69]

Obuma has no room to talk or attack anyone about things said and done by others! When he replied to Romney's comment about how before he, obuma, took office, gas was at $1.86 and now up to almost $4.00. obuma's reply was, "When I took office the price of gasoline was $1.80-$1.86, why is that? Because the economy was on the verge of collapse". When he was campaigning for the seat I recall him clearly stating that energy prices would skyrocket under his plan. So now Americans are suppose to believe that $4.00 a gal for fuel today means the economy is doing good, back on track, revived, the norm? When the moderator tried to shield obuma with the rose garden remark about Benghazi being a act of terror, basically calling Romney a liar, then admitting she was wrong later on, she should have been escorted off the stage. As a moderator you can not play favorites, but she did and got away with it as well. I think back to that day when they brought those 4 caskets home with Clinton and obama standing there, knowing dam well what happen and yet they continued to cover it up right in front of the families and the American people! Then there's Fast and Furious.... Another cover up! No answers! No truth! What else do we not know the truths about? Had any other president pulled this crap, the American people would have rioted in the streets and demanded their heads on a spit! Why are we allowing this Adm to get away with this tyranny?

[CitzenOfUSA]

It's hard to believe Obama is even close in the polls when you objectively consider his performance. I own a pair of successful small businesses and know first hand that our current President just doesn't understand small business or how to fix the problems we are facing. That's why he pounces on discussions about "binders". It's insulting to all of us who have any experience building businesses.

[TomMariner]

I keep reading the articles and comments and find I am just too stupid to know how making sure that half of Romney's government was female is something that is bad for women? Has the President ever solicited so many women for a 3,000,000 person Administration the had to keep them in binders?

I get lots of clever word plays, but nothing bad for Romney in his statement. Anybody want to get unclever and let me know??

[Souptwins]

I'm a working professional woman and can't understand why some people are saying the "binders" comment was insulting. Perhaps I'm missing something but I heard it for myself. He noticed an absence of female applicants and sought them then went on to hire more women than most Gov's. How is this insulting? His current campaign staff includes many very competent women and there's a group of women who used to work with Romney currently campaigning for him to counter these type of unfounded attacks.

[brasileira2]

Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! Romney is too FUNNY!!!!

He was probably talking about his blackbook.