Romney: Obama campaign "disgrace" to presidency

(CBS News) Seizing on controversial remarks made by Vice President Joe Biden yesterday, Mitt Romney on Tuesday blasted President Obama for running a campaign he said was a "disgrace" to the presidency, and accused his rival of being "intellectually exhausted, out of ideas, and out of energy."

Romney, speaking in Chillicothe, Ohio at his final event of the day, jumped into the debate over Biden's accusation that presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney would "put you all back in chains" by unshackling Wall Street.

"His campaign and his surrogates have made wild and reckless accusations that disgrace the office of the Presidency," Romney told a crowd of about 5,000 people. "Another outrageous charge just came a few hours ago in Virginia. And the White House sinks a little bit lower."

Joe Biden clarifies "in chains" remark
Biden tells African-American audience GOP ticket would put them "back in chains"
Romney: Obama running just to hang on to power

Hours earlier, Biden told more than 800 supporters, many of whom were African-American, that Romney wants to repeal the financial regulations enacted after the Wall Street crash of 2008, and that Republicans are "going to put you all back in chains" with their economic and regulatory policies.

Romney spokesperson Andrea Saul immediately decried the remarks as "desperate," while Stephanie Cutter, deputy campaign manager of the Obama campaign, called Saul's statement "faux outrage." Biden later clarified his remarks, arguing he had meant to say "unshackle," a term Republicans had used in that context themselves.

Romney pointed to Biden's remarks as evidence that, facing a flagging candidacy, Mr. Obama was resorting to "diversions and distractions."

"He's intellectually exhausted, out of ideas, and out of energy," Romney said. "And so his campaign has resorted to diversions and distractions, to demagoging and defaming others. It's an old game in politics; what's different this year is that the president is taking things to a new low."

Obama campaign press secretary Ben LaBolt responded that Romney's comments "seemed unhinged," and were "particularly strange coming at a time when he's pouring tens of millions of dollars into negative ads that are demonstrably false."

The scuffle continued Wednesday morning, when Romney reiterated his accusations in an appearance on "CBS This Morning."

"The president's campaign is about division and attack and hatred. My campaign is about getting America back to work and creating greater unity in this country which has always been the source of America's vitality and strength," he said.

Asked about the Obama campaign's characterization that he seemed unhinged, Romney said, "I could be much more dramatic, I think. I think unhinged would have to characterize what we've seen from the president's campaign."

"I know what I'm running for. I want to get America working again with more take home pay. The president seems to be running to hang on to power. I think he'll do anything in his power to try and get re-elected," he continued. "These personal attacks, I think, are demeaning to the office of the White House and the comments yesterday by the Vice President, I think, just diminish the White House that much more."

The Obama campaign pointed to its Tuesday night statement in response to Romney's comments on CBS, which LaBolt said "look like a retread of the speech" Romney gave last night.

[2bjoyous2012]

Mitt --- SHOW US THE TAXES!!!!!!!!
You are a disgrace to middle class working AMERICANS!!!!!
You called the President a failure, when his record shows he took this country which Bush and the republican party ravaged, from a loss of over 700,000 per month to over 200,000 jobs per month before the idiots from the republican party took over the house.
You dummy, Biden was answering your wall street shackle comment. CBS why don't you broadcast the whole issue, instead of Romney's idiotic response.

[TimeToEvolve]

Did the greedy freak Robmee say why? Oh, I almost forgot, this clueless bummer with no plans or ideas for anyone but the Top 1% does not have to actually reason anything.

[sueb451]

Mitt Romney, the man who has never met an issue he couldn't take 10 sides of, the man who disrespects the American people by not releasing his tax returns, the man who was an embarrassment on his recent overseas jaunt, the man who deducted $78000 for his dressage horse as a medical expense, the man who will say and do anything to get elected....that Mitt Romney dares to cast aspersion on others!!!!

[TJphoto]

Let's see Mitt, If President Obama is a "disgrace", what does that make George W. Bush? You remember don't you? 2000 calling John McCain a coward, 2004 the "swift boating" of John Kerry. Hiding the true costs of two wars from the public, and the bailouts of the banks, Yes Mitt that was George. So please sing his praises at the convention and sing them loud. You won't, you don't have the pair to do it. BTW, I'm still waiting for your tax returns. If you have nothing to hide PROVE IT!

[Tom_SF]

Biden is a joke. Get these two clowns out of office.

[Juno12]

Mitt Romney said he wants to "unshackle Wall Street", Biden is telling you all that will do is put 99% of us in chains, which is exactly where Romney and his ilk want us.

[Eco99]

You nailed it Juno. If your not a 1%er you are nothing more than a means to the end for them and the GOP in general. Maybe if we all incorporated ourselves we would have more rights?

[TimeToEvolve]

Every article that comes out about Ryan cements the fact that he is about as radical a right wing wacko as there could be. Ryan would be a regressive, backwards, backwoods thinker anywhere in the world. And Robmee is not far behind.

[Thinkbeforeyouwrite]

Mitt, you are the one who is "intellectually exhausted" as you flip-flop from one belief to another and try to rationalize the change. How can Obama be "out of ideas" as the GOP has stood in the way of his ideas on how to help the economy for a few years now. Are all his ideas (or anyone's) perfect as proposed? No, but let's get a Congress in there who will try to work with the man not these "Do Nothing" types. "Disgrace" is a way to describe how the GOP has treated a man the people of the United States chose to be their President. Mitt/Biff, go find someone to bully. Oh, that's right, you did that as a young man and I'm sure you know better now.

[TimeToEvolve]

I am still waiting for even one rational idea to help the 99% from Robmee or anyone from his failed and obsolete Republican Party.

[Eco99]

I agree with you both. The vehement attacks against Kerry for flip-flopping were continuous but where is the same opinions on Mitt. I've said it before and I will say it again, Mitt is like a greased pig at the fair you cannot pin him down on any policy position of substance.

[AmericanLady100]

Vice President Biden's gaffes are legendary. And yet, he's still likable. I believe that he will fight for the middle class, especially police officers and fire fighters. Governor Romney remains difficult to approach after all this time spent introducing him. He gives few details about his policies. He's doing his best to shut down Rep. Paul Ryan, who at least speaks his mind on issues so you can figure out where he stands. His secretive behavior is a great concern. Right now as things stand, I see little to gain with a Romney presidency.

[hilario3]

Mr Romney forgets about the real shameless antics of Gov Bush
toward war hero Sen John McCain and the 'swiftboating' of another
war hero Sen John Kerry. Mr Romney's memory is truly selective,
I do not want a President that comes into office already with
signs of dementia.

[Tom_SF]

Don't forget to buy some more candles for your Obama altar.

[fiberglass3]

Taxes Mitt Taxes - Try to stay focused on the topic that the voters want to see.