Obama accuses Romney of "twisting" his words

President Barack Obama gestures at a campaign stop in Oakland, Calif., Monday, July 23, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Paul Sakuma

(CBS News) President Obama returned to the campaign trail Monday and accused the Republicans and Mitt Romney of "twisting" his words on small business.

Mr. Obama's opponents have repeatedly nailed him on a comment he made at an event in Roanoke, Va., on July 13, where he said, "If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." Romney and Republicans have said that one sentence, taken from a large point Mr. Obama was making about his view that wealthy Americans are willing to pitch in more to help the economy, is anti-small business.

Monday night, at a fundraiser at Oakland's Fox Theater, Mr. Obama, with his tie pulled loose around an open collar and rolled up shirt sleeves responded to those criticisms.

"Earlier today Gov. Romney was at it again, knowingly twisting my words around to suggest that I don't value small businesses," he said. "In politics we all tolerate a certain amount of spin. I understand these are the games that get played in political campaigns. But when folks omit entire sentences of what I said, they start splicing and dicing, you may have gone a little over the edge."

He also blamed Republicans for sticking to their "uncompromising view" that the only path forward is to go back to top down economics that contributed to the poor economy in the first place.

Earlier in the night, he spoke at a fundraiser attended by a supporter who has also been the focus of Republican attacks: former Energy Department official Matt Rogers, who helped secure a federal loan for the failed solar company Solyndra.

Tuesday, Mr. Obama heads to Portland, Ore., and Seattle to attend another four campaign fundraisers.

CBS News' Mark Knoller contributed to this report.

[hillzhavays]

by Yeah_Its_Me July 24, 2012 5:34 PM EDT
by hillzhavays July 24, 2012 4:21 PM EDT

I mean, it's like Obama and the Left have a child's understanding of how the world works.

Uh... GOP tax theory used to be that taxes were both healthy and needed - at higher rates than they are now. Effective rates that is. And we had very prosperous times under that concept.
____________________________________________

What you mean early last century? Only Lefty Kooks try to make ancient policies apply to today's world.

Here's a tip for you: It doesn't apply to today's world. Actually, I dont' think dirt had even been invented back then. Only people with stunted intelligence and not much in the way of real world smarts think they apply.

[hillzhavays]

by Dancing-in-the-Streets July 24, 2012 1:12 PM EDT
You don't keep a government functioning with thank you notes! Of course you need to pay your taxes!
_______________________________________

Your employer, if you have one, would be happy to pay more taxes. Guess how they're going to keep their bottom line unchanged with the added cost of doing business?

Well, your salary for starters - they'll just lay you off. If that's not enough, send somebody else packing along with you. It's easy to cut costs and soak up the added tax expense.

That's called a business decision. You are apparently unfamiliar with such a thing.

[Yeah_Its_Me]

Then we should cut all business taxes! Better yet, we should pay companies to operate here! Can't have businesses burdened in any way.

[hillzhavays]

Yeah, you are either stupid or being purposely ignorant. Neither makes you look very smart, FYI.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

http://www.barackobama.com/truth-team/entry/stephanie-cutter-president-obamas-fight-for-small-businesses?source=em12_20120724_sc_tt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=obama&utm_campaign=em12_20120724_sc_tt

If you've seen the President's actual remarks, you know that all the President said was that, together, Americans built the free enterprise system we all benefit from.

[hillzhavays]

What he said clearly MEANS, to anyone who cares to take the time to understand it, that he wants businesses paying more taxes to the government. For whatever reason, he means more taxes. It's obvious that is what he means. It would be obvious to a 5 yr old.

So my question remains: Exactly how does business paying more taxes in a downturn encourage them to invest more in their business and hire more workers?

I mean, it's like Obama and the Left have a child's understanding of how the world works.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

I thought y'all said they only reason they'd EVER hire more workers was if the demand for their product went up?

I specifically remember being told that their reaction to Obama could have NOTHING to do with their hiring practices!

Lets make up our minds shall we?

[TimeToEvolve]

I just realized the reason that RobMe and the other Republicons don't want to talk about any ideas or plans for America. Because if people knew what they were, they would not have a snowball's chance in hell of even sniffing elected office.

[TimeToEvolve]

What does Obama expect from a slimy, conniving, cheating and sleazy plastic Wall Street puppet. RobMe will do ANYTHING to win. All he wants to do is finish the Bush Crime Family's job of destroying the middle class (actually this started with Reagan's War on the Middle Class).

[TJphoto]

It was the Government that created the tax laws that allow the 1% to pay less percentage wise than the rest us. Part of the "Trickle Down Fable" that the Republican Party has sold since 1980. Most of us have figured out it's really Trickle Up.

[TimeToEvolve]

Yes, because the giant corporations and 1% actually purchased the government using corporate lobbyists. Now they literally own and run the media, the military and the Congress. And of course our elections.

[Maria0420]

The president has a point. I have not seen one original idea or any kind of plan from Romney. All he has done is take the president's ideas and words. If he likes them, he takes credit for work he has not done. Otherwise he twists and spins in a way that insults our intelligence. He needs to start thinking on his own if he wants to be a credible candidate. Or maybe he thinks money can buy things such as intelligence, ideas, originality and charisma.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

If you can read this Thank a Teacher!
If you're reading this in English, thank a Soldier!

Now this goes out to all those in the top 1% who may hide their money to keep from paying taxes AND it goes out to those in the bottom who might lie on their taxes to get large refunds back..AND to any businesses who pocket record profits while paying no Taxes!

Those Teachers and Those Soldiers Do Not Work For FREE!
So PAY your Taxes!
Anyone who does NOT pay their taxes and in any way gets out of it, is simply saying "I think those teachers and those soldiers should be my slaves."

Zann's Rant - Not Obama's

[hillzhavays]

Then Dancing, do not take any exemptions on your taxes, at all. Otherwise you're "getting out of it". So please take your Gross income and put that figure in your Adjusted Gross Income and pay your full rip. Otherwise, you are a hypocrite and a pathetic one at that LOL

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

I have never made stuff up to get out of paying my taxes, even when there were President's I didn't agree with, and I don't intend to start now.

[hillzhavays]

"Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive."

I pulled this from his speech. This line is the crux of the whole statement. This American system wasn't built to "allow" business to thrive. It was built to foster an environment that "attracts" businesses and supports economic activity.

Example: Walmart wants to build a new center. It could build it in Podunk, AR or Goobertown, IL. Podunk isn't real quick and doesn't sweeten the deal for Walmart - in fact, they say "You're lucky just to be allowed to operate in this country. Build here, because we want your tax revenue". But the guys running Goobertown get with the program early and offer Walmart a tax credit toward property taxes.

Now I wonder where Walmart will build it's center and who will get all the job creation?

PS. Obama is running Podunk, BTW.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

In short: Kiss the Ass of the Rich and they might throw you a crumb!

[hillzhavays]

Thank you Dancing. That is very illuminating. Your statement is proof that you don't have the first clue about stimulating business activity.

Here's the good news: We identified a core attribute that you have directly in common with Obama. Congratulations!! :)

[hillzhavays]

Smokey is right, Dancing. Obama's line of thinking is those people should be paying more taxes to their government. Not "they should be thanking their government". Maybe they should be. I don't necessarily disagree with that. But not now - we need to end the uncertainty they feel having an idealogue in office who is demonizing them and trying to raise their costs of doing business with more taxes.

Your example is off the mark as well. The government should be thanking business people for working day and night and investing all their money into a business to make is successful, not the other way around. Part of the government's job is to create an environment that fosters economic activity and draws businesses to it. Obama doesn't understand this because he is a divider and the only thing he knows is how to paint a sector of society as evil in order to gain more votes.

The government did not shoulder the risk when people invested their money into creating a business. The business owner shouldered the risk. And the most likely reason was the business owner expected some kind of reward in return, as in profits. Obama proposes to lower that reward. Business will react to that negatively. That's not what we need right now.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

You don't keep a government functioning with thank you notes! Of course you need to pay your taxes!