Fact-checking the final presidential debate
President Obama and Mitt Romney met for the third and final debate Monday night, where they tackled foreign policy issues. Below, CBSNews.com takes a closer look at the candidates' assertions on issues relating to Iraq, Russia, Iran, the size of the military, the economy and energy.
Romney's statements on Russia and Iraq
Obama to Romney: The 1980's are calling to ask for their foreign policy back
OBAMA: "Governor Romney, I'm glad that you recognize that al Qaeda is a threat, because a few months ago when you were asked what's the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia, not al Qaeda; you said Russia, in the 1980s, they're now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War's been over for 20 years...
"You say that you're not interested in duplicating what happened in Iraq. But just a few weeks ago, you said you think we should have more troops in Iraq right now..."
ROMNEY: "Well, of course I don't concur with what the president said about my own record and the things that I've said. They don't happen to be accurate... First of all, Russia, I indicated, is a geopolitical foe... It's a geopolitical foe, and I said in the same -- in the same paragraph I said, and Iran is the greatest national security threat we face. Russia does continue to battle us in the U.N. time and time again. I have clear eyes on this. I'm not going to wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Russia, or Mr. Putin. And I'm certainly not going to say to him, I'll give you more flexibility after the election. After the election, he'll get more backbone. Number two, with regards to Iraq, you and I agreed, I believe, that there should be a status of forces agreement."
Romney did say in a March interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer that Russia is "without question our number one geopolitical foe." He did mention Iran after a follow-up question from Blitzer. Here's the relevant section of the interview:
ROMNEY: ... In the new START treaty, as well as [Obama's] decision to withdraw missile defense sites from - from Poland and then reduce our missile defense sites in Alaska from the original plan, I mean these are very unfortunate developments. And if he's planning on doing more and suggests to Russia that - that he has things he's willing to do with them, he's not willing to tell the American people - this is to Russia, this is, without question, our number one geopolitical foe. They - they fight every cause for the world's worst actors. The I - the idea that he has some more flexibility in mind for Russia is very, very troubling, indeed.BLITZER: But you think Russia is a bigger foe right now than, let's say, Iran or China or North Korea? Is that - is that what you're suggesting, Governor?
ROMNEY: Well, I'm saying in terms of a geopolitical opponent, the nation that lines up with the world's worst actors. Of course, the greatest threat that the world faces is a nuclear Iran. A nuclear North Korea is already troubling enough.
Obama, Romney argue over Iraq Status of Forces Agreement
As for Romney's remarks on Iraq, he did reference in a speech this month at the Virginia Military Institute the Obama administration's failed attempts to reach a deal with the Iraqi government to keep some U.S. troops there.
Romney said in that speech, "In Iraq the costly gains made by our troops are being eroded by rising violence, a resurgent al Qaeda, the weakening of democracy in Baghdad and the rising influence of Iran. And yet America's ability to influence events for the better in Iraq has been undermined by the abrupt withdrawal of our entire troop presence. The president's tried, he tried, but he also failed to secure a responsible and gradual drawdown that would have better secured our gains."
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Revenue "declines due to the recession", separate from the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003: 28%
Defense spending increases: 15%
Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003: 13%
Increases in net interest: 11%
Other non-defense spending: 10%
Other tax cuts: 8%
Obama Stimulus: 6%
Medicare Part D: 2%
Other reasons: 7%
Romney continued to repeat a lot of what Obama was saying regarding Foreign Policy and just 'trying' to sound more eloquent---very little authenticity in Romney. What a fraud!
The President also called Romney on taking credit for an educational program began 10 yrs before he was governor in Massachusetts, as Mitt continued to try and steer the debate to the economy and Mitt didn't bat an eye and kept right on playing up like the program that enjoyed success while he was governor was his idea to begin with, unbelievable!
Romney showed 'a little' integrity, finally acknowledging the President, agreeing with the Iran response Obama gave before he essentially repeated it!
Obama was right noting that Romney was saying he would do what Obama's been saying and doing in Foreign Policy all along, only louder and expect a different result---like that's going to make a difference? In my view, Romney's louder is nothing more than a hucksters stale, hot air, LOL!
Obama must be retired in two weeks. We cannot afford another term of this liar and promise breaker.
Advisor: Uh, no Mr. Romney, the Purple one is Iraq, we already went to war with them. Iran is the yellow one to the right.
--Political Axiom #1--
By whatever means, take credit for the accomplishments of your opponent.
--Political Axiom #2--
If you can't convince with facts, dazzle with bull crap.
--Political Axiom #3--
Romney does have a huge image problem. It centers around popular beliefs that are often fact-free and mythical which are commonly circulated around the conservative radio and TV shows.
Obama has won the presidential debates, but not the election. Voters who become apathetic and complacent risk loss of the election.
For those backing Romney, I can only wonder *which* Romney they endorse.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57538431/u.s-may-soon-become-worlds-top-oil-producer/
I love how Republicans live in fantasyland. In fantasyland they were all super rich then came Obama and screwed the economy up and now they can't buy those big screen tv's or sports cars anymore. Of course they forget that they never were rich in the first place and nor could they ever afford them. But hey, it's much better living in fantasyland than the real world. It's easier to blame someone other than yourself.
But I thought Republican's believed in picking themselves up by the bootstraps and that everyone had the same chance?
Shhh. not right now.....We're in blame mode!
News flash: no private individual nor public official - past, present, or future - holding any elective office at any level has ended or will end gang violence in Chicago. You apparently believe the task to be a minor problem to solve ("even," as you put it) - maybe you should give it a whack.
As for defense spending, and its benefits and/or capability to stymie or end conflict, today's "wars" are vastly different than many previous conflicts which were primarily rooted in the quest for geography or resources. Our enemies of today are not constrained by - nor even much interested in - political boundaries drawn on a map of the globe. Conflicts today are borne of ideology for the sake of ideology, and most everything else is inconsequential.
"This woman is voting for Romney." You were anyway.