Romney labels Obama economy 'moral failure'
St. Louis, Missouri (CNN) - Calling it a 'moral failure of tragic proportion,' Mitt Romney argued free enterprise has weakened under President Barack Obama in a speech Thursday.
"But sadly, it has become clear that this president simply doesn't understand or appreciate these fundamental truths of our economic system," he said before hundreds at Production Products, a small minority-owned business that provides ground support equipment to the United States military.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
- Follow Shawna Shepherd on Twitter: @ShepherdCNN
"This is not just a failure of policy, it is a moral failure of tragic proportion. Our government has a moral commitment to help every American help himself - him and herself - and that commitment has been broken."
The Republican Party's all-but-official presidential nominee touted the fundamentals of a free enterprise system as the answer to reviving the economy.
Romney charges that Obama not upholding these values has led to Americans losing their jobs, disappearing from the work force and living in poverty.
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
"That same system has helped lift more people out of poverty across the globe than any government program or any competing economic system. That success of our economic system, of our free enterprise system, has been a bright beacon of freedom for the people of the world. It has signaled to oppressed people to rise up against their oppressors, and it's given hope to the once hopeless."
Obama's campaign said in a statement to reporters that Romney "offered no new ideas and no new policies that would actually grow the economy and strengthen the middle class."
"Mitt Romney has promised to use his experience to turn around the economy, but all he has offered to date are negative and dishonest speeches tearing down President Obama," said Lis Smith, an Obama campaign spokeswoman. "And we know why- his focus in both the private and public sectors was never on creating jobs, it was on helping the wealthiest prosper by any means necessary, even if it meant undermining workers and middle class families."
Also see:
"Our government has an absolute moral commitment to help every American help themselves."
Uhhhhhh, that sounds an awful lot like a Democratic principle. I thought the Republican principle was "Our government has an absolute moral commitment to staying away from helping people because government screws everything up." Can't wait to hear the spin on this one, Romney needs to get his Etch-A-Sketch out...
If 4 million jobs created is a moral failure, what do you call a sucess Mittens? This guy is a complete clown and will never be president.
Moral Failure Hih??? How bout that little thing youre doing in Ohio, Fl , Colarado, Az... Etc. You Bishop Tabby Nackle Romney, You are funding all the Publican Governors in the Swing States on Youre Voter Surpressing Lobbing Caus without that Youre Tabby Nackle Ass cant win. Its that simple & you Know it. Stop being such A Slimeball & speak out on the Right , not Privlidge on Americans to Cast theie Voice & Votes. Yea again, You are a SEVERE SLIMEBALL for trying to CHEAT your way into the Oval Office, It Might of worked woit your 4 Differments to get Drafted, But it aint gonna work in The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 2012 ELECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Mitt....When they helped run our country's economy into a "Great Recession in 2008" I did not see these free enterprise companies say no to a bailout.
I almost live for the day this lying, filthy, draft dodger gets his feelings "hurt" and his butt "kicked" and that will happen the minute he has to ACTUALLY face the president on a national stage. Why would anyone outside of the bigots in this country want a man who is afraid of meeting the press and whose family is "privileged" and "MIA" when it comes to protecting this country? Your day is coming Willard and it's coming soon. The whole world will see what a selfish, imbecile you are and THIS TIME there won't be a country you can run to.
Obama 2012 for ALL Americans – not just the "privileged" ones.
As an expert on economic failure as governor, Mittens would know all about republicans and job losses. Even McCain and Palin knew the economy was cratering under Bush, and that 8 million jobs were lost in the last three years of the Bush error. What is morally tragic is that Mittens is a habitual liar, and basically quit his governorship half way through his term.
Rmoney's plan for the economy is to further enrich the wealthy. The same plan that has resulted in size of the budget deficit. It may not work for the middle class, but it works for those like himself.
Speak that truth, Mitt!!! Can't wait till you're in office – finally a president with morals
Romney is correct. Placing Obama in the White House was a moral failure.
Mittens has promised the right wingnuts he will end socialism. Say 'good bye' to social security and medicare, VA benefits, public schools, libraries, national guard, parks, public highways, post offices, fire departments, police, and programs for those who need help. At least, the Koch brothers will see a reduction of taxes under Mittens.
Free enterprise has weakened? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Corporate America has become more powerful and influential during Obama's first term than it has ever been before thanks to the GOP/Bush recession, Citizens United and the shrinking of the middle class.
""That same system has helped lift more people out of poverty across the globe than any government program or competing economic system. "
Yeah, and because of the influence we've given the richest and largest corporations, that very same system has spent the last 40 years trying to put us all back into poverty. "You want your jobs back from China? Start taking the same pay and standards of living and we'll think about it."
for some reason I don't see how the Ryan Budget plan which Mitt supports and plans to enact if elected is going to help lift ANYBODY out of poverty. Heck even the Catholic Church has issues with it. But never fear because like the rest of the GOP I'm sure Mitt is banking on an economy NOT improving or even getting worse as a pathway to the White House. I notice the GOP is no longer talking about gas prices, I wonder why that is?
Mittens wil always be a rich moronic failure of the 'new' GOP plutocracy.
Speak the truth Mittens, it will be a new experience for you.
This is such a farce.This man goes around the country just criticizing the president , and he hasn't put one, concrete jobs proposal on the table; and he takes a position on nothing because he stands for nothing.If he wants to criticize someone for not being proactive in fixing the economy, he needs to criticize the Republicans in Congress who are really to blame for helping Bush destroy the economy; and then doing nothing to fix it.
Wow they will save anything sell there mother to get ahead Republicans eat there own if they become a burden pretty sad to see like a bunch of Hyenas.
"moral failure"? The hyperbole just keeps getting worse. Is there ever going to be a Common Sense election in this country? Common Sense (2012 Version) doesn't seem to think so. Romney just keeps painting Obama in whatever bad words will stick–how's that for moral? Obama isn't much better. Neither one has a moral fiber in their bodies.
“Did it help us in the short run with health care and education and spending to balance the budget? Yes." Gov. McDonnell -aka- Gov. TVP
-------------------------------------------------------
That's one of Willard's top surrogates and potential running mate. Anyway, the DOW has rebounded from 6,000 to 13,000 thanks to policies put in place by this President. Men lie, women lie, numbers don't. My Roth is looking alot healthier than it did 4 years ago.
These Romney's are "Moral Failures", every military none serving generation including he and his five(5) sons.
wait till mittens get done with the middle class –you,ll be lucky if you can still vote
Obama seems to understand or appreciate these fundamental truths of our system thus he wants to put in regulation over the banking systems that have brought us to the brink of disaster. The banks that have created derivatives which produce no product and does harm to our banking system. It is funny to hear Romney talk about how the government has a 'moral' duty to help every American help themselves as his party bring forth proposals to slash social programs while increasing spending on military.
These are the guys that screams about government doesn't create jobs, private sector does.! The teabsggers are growing very weary of this Guy. Mitten solution is to give the rich more money to trickle on china and India, just like his compadre bush, who started two wars, and instead of raising taxes to pay for them he cut taxes twice leaving us in a death spiral. Mitten not only wants to keep the current bush taxes, but he wants to cut even more ..I guest the rich gets richer and china and India Wil get our trickle , because there is no ways American middle class compete
with china slave workers for America jobs.
TomTom....Moral leadership begins when you sign up for and go to war when you support it. Mitt supported the Vietnam War as a student at Stanford University. At the same time he did everything he could to avoid being drafted and serving. That is not moral leadership. We have another name for that, Coward.
cutting programs for the poor and elderly whiich include women and children and giving more tax breaks to the wealthy is not very moral according to the principals I was brought up with. But let's not pick hairs shall we Mitty.
Your CHARACTER is a moral failure Willard. Cutting a kids hair off because he's gay. Yeah, you're such a great role model.(*add sarcasm here*) You shouldn't throw stones when you live in a glass house.