Romney "disappointed" by Chicago teacher's strike

Members of the Chicago Teachers Union distribute strike signage at the Chicago Teachers Union strike headquarters on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 in Chicago.

/ AP Photo/Sitthixay Ditthavong

(CBS News) Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Monday he is "disappointed" that the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike in Chicago, leaving public schools closed until a deal can be reached between the union and the city.

"I am disappointed by the decision of the Chicago Teachers Union to turn its back on not only a city negotiating in good faith but also the hundreds of thousands of children relying on the city's public schools to provide them a safe place to receive a strong education," Romney said in a statement released to reporters.

Echoing Republicans nationwide, Romney criticized teachers unions in general for putting "their interests" first.

"Teachers unions have too often made plain that their interests conflict with those of our children, and today we are seeing one of the clearest examples yet," he said.

The Chicago teachers went on strike after the union and the city could not come agreement over issues of pay and student performance standards.

Additional coverage: Chicago teachers to go on strike

Romney also criticized President Obama in his statement for what he cast as having sided with the teachers union. Mr. Obama's former chief of stafff, Rahm Emanuel, is the mayor of Chicago and is thus on the opposite side of the negotiating table.

"President Obama has chosen his side in this fight, sending his Vice President last year to assure the nation's largest teachers union that 'you should have no doubt about my affection for you and the President's commitment to you.'" Romney said.

White House spokesperson Jay Carney told reportes Monday that "our principle concern is for the students...and families affected by the situation."

[thatrandomguy69]

Staff is spelled wrong...

[sjc_1]

This is what Romney/Ryan choose to talk about because they don't want to discuss the real national issues that people care about. The CBS interview revealed it, they have NO plan for the economy that anyone thinks will work to create jobs.

[0bama2O12]

Romney is surprised teachers are underpaid and overworked!

[nygurl1]

Since I don't know what teacher salaries in Chi are, all I can do is compare, but if $76,000 was the top salary in NY, for long time teachers, I doubt it is an average in Chi!

I also doubt they are getting any spectacular benefits.
And NO ONE would offer a 16% increase ever!
So he's lying like all reps!

Now for over-worked. ...They get paid for 8 hrs like most do but....if they have extra help classes after school, not paid....if they come in at night for meet the parents or whatever, not paid.
.
You'd be amazed the extra time they put in!
And shall we mentions supplies? ... Teachers spend hundreds of dollars on supplies the school doesn't supply! ...Paper, crayons, chalk, stars, erasers - you know, the stuff that should be included!

[Millennial]

YEP, blame the president for everything, is going to BACKFIRE in the GOP/tea party's face come November...the american voters is not going to roll the dice at all and elect Gov. Romney as president whose preaching the SAME rhetoric of the BUSH years. Romney had a chance to come with something different and he has not and he's being evasive with reard to his tax cut plan.. and Congressman Ryan? Need I say more?

The American voter is looking at CONGRESS legislators whose up for re-elections. I'm voting out those up for re-election in my district...because the House tea partiers who on purpose sought to fail this president FROM DAY ONE inspite of this president's accomplishments which emerged.

The american voters who are HONEST and not bias-- like a honest fighter even if the voter doesn't agree the opposing politician's point of view and this president is a honest/fighter with an opposing points of view for both major parties.

As a independent voter, my vote is for Prresident Obama and I'm looking to cast an early vote. Let the debates begin, V.P. Biden is going to tear lying Ryan a new a&&.

I'm done.

[nygurl1]

We can only hope.

[Maerzie]

Exactly what would Romney even know about working for a living?? Maybe he'd like to live on the wages and conditions of the striking people?? The Great Outsourcer has no CLUE what real live people go through in ANY part of their lives!!

[nygurl1]

Obama has worked with people! He knows what they want & need.

mitty just dismisses them and plays up to his masters!

Any work mitty did was for his church or to make more money than he'll ever need! ....Meanwhile closing companies and, out-sourceing and firing people!

Ma is glad to get rid of him since he almost destroyed it!

[hypnotoad72]

The first interest of a person is survival.

This takes money.

Once one's own needs are met, they can help others.

I'm sorry people like Romney, and Rahm Emmanual (the dude who did an end run around this union), would rather have workers be slaves. Don't believe me on Rahm? Do a web search. It takes little time to find.

People can either fight for their rights and freedoms, or they can act sleezy, mask true intent, or be outright malicious. Nothing from Romney suggests the first option, but one could surmise the remaining two. I think it's the middle option, given how far and wide he goes to flip-flop on everything.

Romney wants to politicize an issue - he should therefore not complain if people respond to him using his own disgusting level.

[hypnotoad72]

Why is he disappointed? He wants everything to fail, probably so he can profit from it.

[hypnotoad72]

Ask his buddies for more:

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/27/eric_cantor_conflict_of_interest/index.html


http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/joe_conason/2009/03/27/deficits

[dzemog1]

Can we please get a commitment from Romney that, after he loses in November, he will FINALLY stop trying? The guy's been running for President for 10 yrs. He was a loser then, he's a loser now, and he'll be loser in November.

[hypnotoad72]

It'd be worse if Romney won...

[TimeToEvolve]

The American people are disappointed that a greedy, narrow minded failed Governor is being run for President Puppet by Wall Street. We are disappointed that someone running for the highest office in the land does not care about American workers and businesses. Robbed Me is a disgrace to America.

[nygurl1]

Yesssssssssssss!

[EveryWord]

I wake up every day thanking God for the teachers I had as a boy. The teaching profession is of infinitely more value to our society than anything done by the Romneys of the world.

He's the one who should be having his pay cut, or his job lost, or his hours expanded to 12 per day.

And if every teacher could make even the tiniest fraction of what the whoring corporatistas make by making the rest of us suffer, the world would be a better place for our kids.

[TimeToEvolve]

Amen, could not agree more. I had the same feeling about my public school teachers.

[Eco99]

Ditto.