Romney and Obama campaigns continue to spar over Obama "doing fine" remark

A war of words over the economy between Mitt Romney and President Obama began when the president said "the private sector is doing fine."

(CBS News) President Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney are continuing to try to define each other on their own terms, with each side pushing a narrative of the other that they hope voters will understand and internalize.

On Monday, Romney continued to hit Mr. Obama for telling reporters Friday that "the private sector is doing fine," unveiling yet another web video to keep the controversy going.

The one-minute web video hits the president with television news clips from June 1, the day the Labor Department reported just 69,000 jobs were added in May.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics report said the economy added 82,000 private sector jobs and lost 13,000 public sector jobs for net job creation of just 69,000 new jobs. Economists say the economy needs to add somewhere between 100,000 and 150,000 jobs per month to keep up with population growth. In addition to the lackluster May report, the department revised its estimate for job growth in March and April downward, leaving the average job growth for those three months at just 96,000.

Romney's new web ad, titled "Jolt," shows CNBC reporter Hampton Pearson moments after the figures were released, saying "but overall here, nowhere to really hide, given this report." With ominous tones as a backdrop, the ad then cuts to the president's Friday news conference, where he said the line about the private sector doing fine, and that weakness in the economy persists in state and local government hiring.

"Has there ever been a president so out of touch with the middle class?" reads the text on the screen. The ad is reminiscent of a September 2008 spot from the Obama campaign which mocked Republican Sen. John McCain for saying "the fundamentals of our economy are strong" as the nation was in the midst of a massive financial crisis that led to the worst recession since the Great Depression.

The Romney campaign is hoping to use the clip of the president in the White House briefing room to sear into voters' minds the narrative they have been pitching for months: Mr. Obama is in over his head and doesn't understand how the economy works and is therefore making it worse for millions of middle class Americans.

Meanwhile, the president's campaign team is continuing to push its narrative that while Romney may talk like a businessman who knows how to create jobs, his record as a government executive is proof to the contrary.

A new Obama web video unveiled on Monday opens with a clip of Romney hitting Mr. Obama on his comment that a key source of the economy's weakness stems from local governments, which have taken thousands of firefighters, policemen and teachers from the payrolls.

"He says we need more firemen. More policemen. More teachers. Did he not get the message of Wisconsin? The American people did. It's time for us to cut back on government and help the American people," Romney is shown telling the crowd as the screen shows text saying that is what he did as governor of Massachusetts.

The text says "it didn't work then and it won't work now," before showing clips of local government officials from Massachusetts criticizing their former governor.

"The man did not care. He didn't care what was going on in our communities," said John Barrett, a Democrat who was mayor of North Adams, Massachusetts, for more than 25 years, including the time Romney was governor.

The ad then cites the Bureau of Labor Statistics report placing Massachusetts at 47 out of 50 states in terms of job growth during Romney's tenure.

"Romney economics doesn't work. It didn't work in Massachusetts and it is not going to work in Washington," says Barrett, now out of office.

[sharkboy234]

house democrat vs republican in Arizona

[lami987]

Come on Romney, fire fighters, teachers and police officers are real people. Hire them means helping American people. To Romney only corporations are people, real people are nothing and can be bullied like he did in HS. Its sad a bully, with a lot of money, can run for president. Our efforts to stop bullying would be totally wasted if he got elected to be our next president.

[TJphoto]

Those who do not learn the lessons of the past are only due to repeat them. Notice that no republican running for office calls the name of George W. Bush, or speaks of his time in office. Give us one more chance and we'll finish the job!

[TimeToEvolve]

The real problem is the giant corporations and the Top 1% who run them. They have bought and run the media, the military and the Congress. What is a mere puppet pResident supposed to do in this kind of country if they want to stay alive?

The difference between the parties is that the Republicons WANT AND NEED this, I guess. I guess because they are conservatives and have the firm father figure mentality, they are incapable of seeing just how ridiculous they seem to those of us with a working brain.

[wayneonly]

Yes, as all politicians are wont to do, President Obama put his foot in his mouth because he did not fully explain what he meant. And as his opponent (any opponent) is quick to do, they jump on any gaffe. Obama does it to Romney and Romney does it to Obama. THAT'S POLITICS. It doesn't solve any problems, it doesn't get the economy going, nor does it put one unemployed person back to work. Now let's hear how Romney will put people back to work after he lays off 200,000 to 400,000 government workers and cuts state funding and education funding. Does anybody think that states, counties, and cities can make up those funds without raising taxes to homeowners and businesses?

What is government for? Is it to take taxpayer dollars and give it to "Too Big To Fail" banks, billionaires, oil companies, and multinational corporations? Is it to use taxpayer dollars to "buy" the goodwill of foreign countries that hate us anyway? Is it to use taxpayer dollars to fund wars that are never declared and have not been declared by Congress? Taxpayer dollars SHOULD be used for the betterment of the real American people. Somewhere along the way, Congress AND the voters have lost the TRUE concept of what governments function should be. FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT SHOULD BE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL AMERICANS not just the wealthiest few. It is time we (the voter) elected a President and a Congress that subscribes to that concept. Hint: Obama does, Romney doesn't.

[wayneonly]

7-Luckyseven, you are right in that Obama had two years of a Democratic House and Senate, but they were trying to fix the mess of the "Too Big To Fail" banks first. Once they dealt with "Bush's mess", they dithered about the health bill (which should not have been a priority at that time) until they lost sight of the job situation. DUMB MOVE by Obama and Congress. Then the Republicans and the Tea Party Republicans took over the House and ruined our credit rating by holding hostage the debt ceiling process until the last minute. With that "success" they have blocked every jobs bill or "tinkered" with jobs bills until they were so filled with tax breaks for the 1%ers that Democrats would never pass. Congress (both Republicans and Democrats) has literally "played games" with jobs bills, not to help the unemployed or the economy, but in an effort to make the other party look bad. If there is one "patriot" in Congress, he/she has literally "run for the hills".

[lami987]

Whatever Obama wants to do to improve the economy is always blocked by republicans in congress. Republicans would rather have a disastrous economy than to have Obama reelected.

[sabathiel]

Pay no attention to either as man cant do anything right without God.
The Lord's elect:Michael is Gods choice and the kingdomsof this world are about tobecome the kingdom of our Lord and of HIS Christ.
www.hismajestyservice.info

[Living_In_America]

You GOP clones are really really sad ... and so so easily fooled and or manipulated.... you take the gains workers have secured over the last century for granted as if the "Job" creators willingly started paying overtime and gave up on the work polices currently employed by the Chinese.

Romney talked about dismantling all kinds of Agencies that have forced those same "job" creators to stop polluting the water, Passing off un healthy food and drugs, roads, bridges dams parks etc.. etc.. etc...

These are services 100 % of the USA benefits from ..

Oh I left a couple of things the GOP wants "us" to do with out Social Security and Medicare PROGRAMS WE PAY FOR THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS -

Wake Up - Put your Racism and OR Jealousy and OR Ignorance aside long enough to do whats right for America -

[TimeToEvolve]

I think that Obama is right, compared to the ongoing debacle caused by the Bush Cheney International Crime Family. Compared to what the Republicons since Reagan have done to American and world economies, we are doing fine.

And the current Republicons make the Reagan and Bush wackos look like moderates. Prepare for even worse.

[credibility2]

...the president cares more about growing and bloating the government with more public sector union jobs...he's never cared about the middle class and private sector...he didn't make a gaffe...he really believes what he said...

[jay1jay1]

yes a**cred...lets take the job from the cop that would respond to your house in case of crime, also the teacher so your child has 60 kids in class, and most of all the fire station closest to your house. Let's also board up any bridge you gotta cross, and never ever repair your road, We are all private sector a**hole.

[hillzhavays]

by sjc_1 June 11, 2012 3:36 PM EDT
Romney will try to play this for all it is worth, which is not much, it was taken out of context and people know this, they will look foolish trying.

However, Romney's remark was not taken out of context, he basically said that we should get rid of MORE fire, police and teachers. I do not think that will sit well with people who pride themselves on a good community.
______________________________________

Quote for us the exact words of Romney where he says "We should get rid of MORE fire, police and teachers." Source your quote.

Otherwise, you are just another overdramatic, hypocritical frothing lib.

[sjc_1]

"[Obama] says we need more firemen, more policemen, more teachers. Did he not get the message of Wisconsin?" Romney said in Iowa. "The American people did. It's time for us to CUT BACK on government and help the American people."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/11/12165336-first-thoughts-the-bleeding-doesnt-stop?lite

[Larnan5]

"Romney is just what we need. Really?
A rich, spoiled, out of touch, politician who states openly we do not need any more teachers, firemen or police. I guess he means "We'" as in his family. Now here's a guy who lives in a few luxurious homes that are probably equipped with the finest fire prevention systems known, has private security and enough money to send his kids, grand kids and who knows how many more generations to the most expensive private schools in the country. But he has to gall to tell us, the hard working middle class, that we don't need any of this. He does not want to serve us.He wants us to serve him.

Now that's a gaffe worth thinking about!"

[littleleers]

Of course we need firemen, police, teachers. Here in Washington State we have something called property taxes and sales tax. Other states have a state income tax.

Once again, the Feds (Obama & Co.) feel it is their domain to micromanage local and state government services. Ridiculous.

Obama has failed miserably. Unemployment has risen to 8.2% and that is optimistic since many have run out of unemployment benefits.

Grief counselors will be very busy the day after the election when Romney wins. All the Obamabots will be in deep depression that their hero has has been removed and a real man, business owner, and statesman has been elected.

[credibility2]

...and you actually believe that the president isn't wealthy...at least Romney worked and earned his money...the president got it through entitlements...