Romney tried filibustering his auto industry answer. Obama pulled it away from him, saying “you’ve had the floor a while.” That Romney grin is the grin of a man who realized his answer didn’t help him one bit.
U.S. exports have doubled since I came into office, to China, and currencies are at their most advantageous for exports since 1993.
President Obama, dancing the China dance with Mitt Romney. Romney’s “tough on China” rhetoric has been a staple of his campaign to date, as well as his condemnation of copyright infringements originating from China.
It’s widely reported that drones are being used in drone strikes, and I support that entirely.
Mitt Romney, answering a question many people wanted to be asked, and many doubted would be. On this issue, however, there’s no illuminating difference between one candidate and the other — both Romney and President Obama (obviously) support the current policy on drone strikes.
Governor, the problem is that on a whole range of issues, whether it’s the Middle East, Afghanistan, now Iran, you’ve been all over the map. i mean, I’m pleased that you’re now endorsing our policy to engage diplomatically… but two years ago, you said that was something you’d never do.
President Obama, taking another chance to strike his opponent on his consistency, or lack thereof, on foreign policy rhetoric. Obama has pushed hard on the impression that Romney changes his positions casually, which is true to a large extent. The reason this is an important method for Obama is because of Romney’s tact in this debate — strategically agreeing with Obama on broad policy strokes, but disputing particular decisions and policies with a much narrower focus.
Bob, let me explain. Nothing Governor Romney just said is true. Especially the part about me apologizing… every reporter and fact-checker who’s looked into has said, that’s not true.
President Obama, denouncing one of Mitt Romney’s longest running and most durable rhetorical barbs — referring to Obama as having participated in a global “apology tour.”
It’s absolutely the right thing to do to put in place crippling sanctions. …I would tighten those sanctions.
Mitt Romney, ceding that the Obama administration has imposed “crippling” sanctions on Iran, but insisting he’d make them even more crippling. If there’s one thing that’s clear in our current foreign policy discourse, it’s that both sides are keen on continuing policies against Iran that have had a profoundly deleterious effect on their economy.
Keep in mind that military spending has gone up every year I’ve been in office. We spend more than the next ten countries combined… what you can’t do is spend 2 trillion dollars in additional spending the military isn’t asking for, 5 trillion in tax cuts… and then somehow you’re going to cut the deficit with what we have left. The math doesn’t work.
President Obama, taking the opportunity of a question on military spending to again veer the topic towards something a little more domestic, and one of his more effective attacks on the Romney economic plan — his additional trillions proposed in expenditures, tax cuts, and pledge to cut the deficit and debt nonetheless.
Moderator Bob Schieffer, who has been pretty hands-off so far in his handling of the candidates, leading to a shocking amount of drift from the debate’s ostensible topic: foreign policy. Romney and Obama have been speaking about debt, economics, and education for the last ten minutes or so, and after Schieffer’s intervention the pair steamrolled him for a further exchange on education.
Mitt Romney, standing against the defense cuts proposed by President Obama, which are approved of in some military circles, as well as by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He doesn’t have different ideas, because we’re doing exactly what we should be doing [in Syria].
President Obama, trying to turn the areas that he and Mitt Romney agree on into a validation of his own policies. He also mentioned Romney’s support of the Libyan intervention, a rare moment of deference to his opponent’s judgment.