Orlando, Florida (CNN) - Battling in an increasingly close primary fight in Florida, Mitt Romney kept his focus squarely on Barack Obama Wednesday, saying the president's State of the Union address showed he was "detached from his own reality."
"His words and his actions are so different, it's sometimes hard to believe," Romney said as he scanned notes he had taken during Obama's speech.
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The GOP candidate charged in the president's address to Congress, Obama's rhetoric had contradicted his actions in office on issues such as China policy, regulations, taxes and energy policy.
"This is a president who talks about deregulation, even as he regulates. He talks about lowering taxes, even as raises them. He talks about developing all of our energy resources, even as he tries to shut them down," Romney said. "The detachment between reality and what he says is so extraordinary, I was just shaking my head as I watched the TV last night."
Diagnosing the president with a "legislator's lethargy," Romney scoffed at the president's call to Congress to shake off a partisan deadlock and "send me a bill."
"Aren't you the leader of the free world?" Romney asked Wednesday. "Why don't you draft some legislation?"
His speech – given to an audience of about 100 voters seated on folding chairs in a metal fabrication plant – was Romney's second set of formal remarks in two days in which he took on the president. The GOP candidate was seeking to position himself as the best Republican to beat Obama in a general election.
Though Obama did not mention Romney by name Tuesday night, at several points he seemed to nod to differences in policy between the two leaders.
Meanwhile, Romney's chief rival Newt Gingrich rallied larger, more freewheeling crowds at two events Tuesday, capitalizing on the momentum from his big win in South Carolina.
The two men will join Sen. Rick Santorum and Rep. Ron Paul onstage Thursday for a CNN/Republican Party of Florida in Jacksonville, Florida.
–CNN Political Producer Shawna Shepherd contributed to this report.
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Detachment is an excellent description. I called his speech completely insincere. It was freaky. He goes off on the Republican Congress for not falling in line passing round 2 of his failed attempts at stimulus spending. And then he turns around in the same speech and talks about " turning down the heat in Washington". He tries to take credit for the debt ceiling reduction spending decreases when he publicly fought this from start to finish. Did he think we were not paying attention?!?! Remember his words. He wanted a ," Clean Bill. No spending cuts". Now he wants credit for the spending cuts. Huh?
Talk about double talk?...Romney, Why do you have 8 million dollors in an offshore bank in the Cayman Islands? ? is dirty money, haven't laundered yet? just what all kind of bussiness are you into?.....hmmmmm. GO OBAMA
romney is just mad hes gonna have to start paying real taxes
Obviously Romney has been so self-absorbed for three years he hasn't paid attention to what's gone on in Washington. First off, Presidents set a tone and ask for legislation- not write it. Fact Check has already verified what the President said last night on specifics accomplished, like deregulation and less than from Bush. Taxes have not gone up- ony becuase Congress hasn't allowed it, but they still have not gone up. He doesn't lie about it, he wants higher taxes! We're in debt! We need revenue to pay it. I know in Mitt World you just dismantle and selloff to aise money, but i like all 50 states, so we don't have anything here to sell.
Of course Mitts would say that. He's GOP. That means he lies all the time. Obama tells the truth backed up with facts. Does anyone actually expect anyone in the GOP to understand the word "facts?"
The RomneyBot 3000 talking about detachment.... This is the guy who can't summon a real emotion unless he's talking about capitalism.
Go Mitt !!!! You are correct.
Nobody can relate to Mr. Stiff As A Board. Why does he always look like a deer caught in the headlights? You're gonna lose, Dude.
Mitt is the one detached from regular folks, flip flopper!
President Mitt Romney!?!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
Detachment: Mitt Romney thinking he understands Middle Class America. Maybe if he paid 39% income taxes, like during the Clinton Economy, & any of his 5 healthy sons were in the military preparing to fight the war against Iran that he's pining for, he'd have a little cred.
Mittens should read how the president ordered the Navy Seals to rescue the hostages held by the Somali pirates. Mittens does not have the backbone nor brains to be president.
"detached from his own reality."
Mitt , five sons , all of worn avoided military service. Maybe they needed to help with there Fathers campaign and be stay at home parents to Mitts 16 grandchildren .
Detachment? $10,000 bet?? Anyone, anyone???
Did he think we were not paying attention?!
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Clearly you are not given the misinformation that you are spouting. Now please go back to Fox News and leave the talking to the adults in the room.
Mitt talks about the President trying to make this country European but he hides his money in Europe. Just wait until he has to release more tax returns.
Even republicans don’t care what Romney says, local reports says no enthusiasm in his meetings
Mr. Romney, I will bet $10,000 that Obama is not as detached from reality as you are
After about 45 minutes, I completely lost interest in what Obama was trying to sell. Obama rambled on FAR TO LONG and said nothing of importance. When he advocated an "all of the above" energy policy I burst out laughing!! Right, just as long as you don't have to drill for anything!! How many new government agencies to watch ove rus? Three I believe. How many thousands of union bureaucrats will now be hired?
Just more of the same baloney we have heard over the last 3 years. Reality is that NONE of it will come to pass. Nothing but another useless media event.
The President is detached? That's funny. This coming from the guy who is proposing a tax plan that would allow those who make as much as him to pay even lower taxes than those who earn the median income in this country.
Sorry Mitt - Epic Fail. Obama has it right - you have it wrong. The GOP's continuing clown car of falsehoods, outright lies, and woeful lack of logic, reason and sense of where the Nation stands in the 21st century, is seriously sad. The Newt and the lack credibility. Santorum promotes his version of the Christian Taliban fo the country. And, poor Paul is trying to build a 18th century Utopia. Sorry dudes - anyone with half a brain ain't buying the snake oil you're selling.
The President gave an excellent address with many constructive points. Perhaps Mr. Romney would like to give his views up or down on what the President recommended.
Never forget that long held tax plan of conservatives and Republicans is to do away with the capital gains tax altogether. If I am not mistaken that would give Romney about a ZERO percent tax bracket. Just what we need is to give multi millionaires and billionaires a tax break like that. Where do you think those unpaid taxes are going to come from? You and me folks, the hard working middle class which the rich have been and are going to continue screwing us over. We need to learn to stop voting against our best interests. Trickle down economics does not and never has worked and as President Bush I said is "voodoo economics." Even rabid conservative John Stockton said, it is a failure and a fraud. Wake up middle America, Republicans are not for you.
He authorized the mission in Somalia tow hours before SOTU. Operation is under way
He was giving speech to the nation
Only Obama can do both get real Romney
No, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black. The man who cannot even connect with his own party enough to beat Newt Gingrich, one of the worst politicians of my lifetime. When a man who has been convicted of an ethics violation AND was forced by his own party to resign the speakership–the ONLY time it has happened in the history of the country–AND whose marital infidelities is widely known trounces you in a primary in a state that claims to be on the high ground when it comes to morality & family values, you have NO ground to talk about someone else being detached.
Uh Oh -- Mitt's reality check bounced.
Since charges of falsehood are no light manner, I would invite Mr. Romney to point out one specific point during the last four years where Obama raised my taxes. As far as I can recall, he cut my taxes in the stimulus bill, kept the Bush middle class cuts intact, and ensured an extension of the payroll tax. Hint: I'm not in the top two tax brackets.
"Aren't you the leader of the free world?" Romney asked Wednesday. "Why don't you draft some legislation?"
Is Romney for real? He isn't a stuffed shirt but a stiff one.
Loved last nights speech and love listening to Mittens pretend to be less of a limp noodle than he really is. (Goes without saying that I'm including Gingrich and Santorum in the limpy-noodle category as well.)
Obama/Biden 2012
There's an elephant in the room, and I don't mean Romney. I mean Bush/Cheney. Everything they did to us leaps out every time Mittens or Nut talks about jobs or the economy, because Bush/Cheney put us in this predicament, and you can't ignore that. If a Repugnant candidate wanted to really be honest and transparent, he would acknowledge the disaster that was Bush/Cheney everytime he mentioned the economy or jobs. Such a candidate would gain credibility.
I want to know how Mittens or Nut would be different from Bush, not how they would differ from President Obama! If they are no different from Bush, then why would anyone want them in Washington?
Mitt Romney is simply taking words out of context again. Surprised by that?
Romney wants to continue to sustain the failed policies that have been in place for over a decade, and which led to financial crisis. In fact, all Republican aspires to a "free for all" economy where the only rule is "survival of the fittest." No thanks. What seperates modern civilization from ancient cavemen are rules of conduct and social order, AT ALL LEVELS.
A wingnut said they listened to the presidents speech for about 40 minutes and lost interest. We used to label those with short attention spans as ADD. Explains a lot, don't you think?
Boy Mitt your just throwing anything up there now and hoping it sticks. That was a great speech that outlined a great plan and put the do nothing Republican on notice. As I watched his speech I tried to imagine you in his place. Impossible. You will never be President, Mitt. You are a terrible candidate and not a leader. Obama is a leader. And he will be President again in 2012.
Detached from Reality! The one who doesn't get it is Mitt "I like to fire people" holding a rally Tuesday morning in a SHUT DOWN FACTORY WAREHOUSE! Seemed like the best location for the guy who likes to fire people!
Great image – extracting money from factories and bank loans and sending it off to the Temple or to his boys or to Swiss banks and to the Cayman Islands! Now Romney's mission vision and values are clear!
The
I had to laugh when Obama talked about the Hoover Dam. Oh really, Obama??? Face the facts... in today's world, you would NEVER be able to build a Hoover Dam. Your environmental base would rebel against you and would tie it up in court for decades to save some spotted frog or something. GET REAL.
Detached from Reality! The one who doesn't get it is Mitt "I like to fire people" Romney holding a rally Tuesday morning in a SHUT DOWN FACTORY WAREHOUSE! Seemed like the best location for the guy who likes to fire people!
Great image – extracting money from factories and bank loans and sending it off to the Temple or to his boys or to Swiss banks and to the Cayman Islands! Now Romney's mission vision and values are clear!
The
Everytime Mitt opens his mouth it reassures us of how much out of touch this guy really is!!!!
mk1
Never forget that long held tax plan of conservatives and Republicans is to do away with the capital gains tax altogether. If I am not mistaken that would give Romney about a ZERO percent tax bracket. Just what we need is to give multi millionaires and billionaires a tax break like that.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
You do realize that everyone is eligible for the Capital Gains tax rate, not just muliti-multi-millionaires and billionaires. Right?
But aside from that, it is clear you object to the wealthy holding public office. Did you know that when Mitt Romney becomes President he will not be as wealthy as the greatest American President was when he held office? That's right. George Washington was much wealthier in real terms when he was President than Mitt Romney. George Washington's wealth would be equivalent to a billionaire in today's economy. And can you complain about what he did for America?
Am I missing something? Isn't legislation supposed to come from Congress? Look Mr. $42 million, you are the one detached. Most Americans do not make enough money to have offshore accounts. Most Americans do not get their income from investments, they get their income from WORKING. You sir, are the one who is detached. Speaking of rhetoric, yours is getting quite old. We all get you want President Obama's job – earn it instead of constantly flapping your jaws about the President, prove you are worthy – stop lying. Taxes are the lowest they've been in upteen years.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!!!
Mitt - We know you don't see eye-to-eye with Obama. But how do you differ from Bush? Do you differ from Bush? Or are you more of the same?
Mitt Romney Has a PERSONALITY problem and he envies President Obama to his bones. Money cannot buy TRUTHFULNESS LOVE and PERSONALITY but we all know money is the root of all evil .
Foreplay or the Door:
You do realize that everyone is eligible for the Capital Gains tax rate, not just muliti-multi-millionaires and billionaires. Right?
–
Sure, we're eligible. Just as soon as we have a bazillion dollars to invest.
The President is detached, this coming from a guy with the personality of lint, whose opinions change with the breeze.
@"Truth", let me guess you listened to the President last night, and then thought about your island of mis-fit candidates and lost hope in their ability to be elected in November. Take a deep breath, it will be okay. The Republicans can look forward to 2016. Barack is back.
"Sure, we're eligible. Just as soon as we have a bazillion dollars to invest."
------
You don't need a "bazillion" dollars. You don't even need a hundred. But you do have to have the discipline to save SOMETHING. If you don't, you've no one to blame but yourself.
v_mag
You do realize that everyone is eligible for the Capital Gains tax rate, not just muliti-multi-millionaires and billionaires. Right?
–
Sure, we're eligible. Just as soon as we have a bazillion dollars to invest.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
All investments. 15%. Of course, if you wanted to make that your primary source of income you might want to invest big or get big returns. Either way, you are helping the American economy with your money instead of just spending it on boats and trips and stuff, so consider the 15% tax rate encouragement to help us all with your money.
Mitt would not recognize middle class issues if he fell over them. He is so detached from reality....How much money are you making today ?? most people in this country will make about $200 today (if they have a job) Mitt is making $56k/day......
I liked President Obama's address. President Barack Obama is in touch with middle class Americam families and the bad economy. He has a well thought out plan on how to get Americans educated and ready for work. Mitt Romney says lies and talks bad about President Obama maybe Mitt does not like Obama's fair tax proposal. Maybe Mitt Romney does not want to pay his fair share of taxes. Dear Mitt Romney, it is you who is out of touch with what middle class American families are going through.
john
Mitt would not recognize middle class issues if he fell over them. He is so detached from reality....How much money are you making today ?? most people in this country will make about $200 today (if they have a job) Mitt is making $56k/day......
________________________________________________________________________________________________
...and at least 10,000 people are making their $200 a day instead of collecting their 99 weeks of unemployment because Bain Capital saved their company from going out of business. We need a bunch more people like Mitt Romney and our economy would be in great shape. Government revenues would be higher, we could afford entitlement programs better and we could do those things to help our population. See how that works?
Four and Fair –
So let me get this right. I can invest $100 and only pay 15% on the interest? Wow, I could make, say $5 on that $100 in a year and 15% of $5 is peanuts. But, so is $5.
The point is, most people earn wages, taxed at a higher rate. You can't save enough on most people's wages to make investing worthwhile. It is a tax loophole designed for the rich. That's why Romney and other 1%ers configure their income to be so-called capital gains. I can't tell my boss I want him to pay me as capital gains instead of ordinary income. He is not allowed to do that. But Romney can set up his income that way.
Rich guys wrote the laws so that rich guys can get richer. Is that so hard to understand?
"Aren't you the leader of the free world?" Romney asked Wednesday. "Why don't you draft some legislation?"
--------------–
If the President has to do the job the House is PAID TO DO, why bother paying them? Send them home and cut a lot of waste.
(Or maybe some people don't really know what the House of Representatives is supposed to do - certainly not "work one week - Tues to Thurs - then take two weeks off under Boehner).
Really Mittens "Obamas detachment" talk about pot calling the kettle, I will bet you $10,000 you are off your rocker.
Romney you are the one that is detached for what the republicans did to the economy before Obama even took office in 2008. And why would you care about the economy in the USA when your money is in the cayman islands and a Swiss bank. What are you hiding.