John Tamny
Back in 1968, Alabama Governor George Wallace thundered that “There’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the Republicans and Democrats.” Wallace’s famous quote sprung to mind last night as Mitt Romney and Barack Obama squared off in their second debate.
Surely there were differences between them, but to watch the debate was to see two candidates vying to say who would cut taxes the least for top earners, who would “crack down” most on China, and who believed the most in an “all of the above” energy strategy. Neither said much of import, if at all, each candidate won certain segments, but the impossible to escape conclusion was just how unimpressive both candidates were.
It was like two beginners playing tennis with each other, neither able to hit the ball over the net. Both deserve to lose.
It began with the first question asked by a Hofstra College student who wanted to know what either would do to ensure that future grads like him will have jobs.
Romney responded that (all quotes paraphrased) “We’ll have to make a college education more affordable for all, and I’ll do this through growth of the Pell Grant program.” The problem, of course, is that it’s the federal government’s existing subsidization of college loans through programs like the Pell Grant that reduce the incentives for colleges and universities to lower tuition costs. And then in promoting a boost in Pell Grant funding, Romney’s calling for more of the same whereby the feds take money from one set of American hands, and place those funds in the hands of others. On the street this would be called theft, but when politicians propose it, it’s “compassion.”
After that, Romney basically repeated the same line over and over again: “I know what it takes to create jobs, and I’m going to make sure you get a job.” The president as our nanny, one supposes. The sad thing is that Romney, far more than Obama, does know how to create jobs, but to explain how he does he’d have to be more up front that he’s rich precisely because he’s expert at turning around companies.
Obama’s response was no better. He added his support for expanding the Pell Grant program that makes college more expensive, and then “bragged” that funding for Pell Grants had already increased during his deficit-ridden presidency.
On jobs specifically, the nanny standard bearer for the Democrats said “We need good jobs, jobs that can support a family.” Having said this, he then said that he wanted to create manufacturing jobs which, even if he could, would in today’s world at best foot the bill for a Starbuck’s latte – once a day. Barack Obama to families: Drop dead!
Moderator Candy Crowley followed up with a query about what either candidate would do about the high number of jobless Americans overall.
This segment went to Romney for the former governor pointing out that the unemployment rate is the same today as when Obama entered office. He added that the number is only 7.8% because so many have exited the labor force due to a lack of job opportunities...
Read more:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/johntamny/2012/10/17/romney-v-obama-was-a-nauseating-draw-and-both-deserve-to-lose/
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