(CNN) – The latest ad from Mitt Romney's presidential campaign hits President Barack Obama for his stance on China, which the ad characterizes as devastating to the American manufacturing sector.
"Under Obama, we've lost over half a million manufacturing jobs," a narrator in the ad says. "And for the first time, China is beating us."
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The spot cites figures showing China becoming the world's top manufacturing country in 2011, which that narrator casts as a result of Obama refusal to "stop China's cheating."
That's a reference to decisions made by the U.S. Treasury not to label China a "currency manipulator," a designation that would allow the U.S. to more directly confront China over actions that have cheapened their exports, undercut the prices of American goods and produce economic growth rates several times that of the U.S.
Some critics warn that labeling China a currency manipulator could risk triggering a trade war. China could retaliate by launching tariffs of its own.
In a statement responding to the ad, Obama campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith said, "President Obama has always stood up for American workers, regardless of politics. He's filed seven trade complaints against China, bringing cases at twice the rate of the Bush Administration."
"The job losses that his new ad references occurred in the first months after the President took office," Smith said. "Now, American manufacturers have added half a million jobs since January 2010 – the fastest manufacturing job growth since the 1990s."
The claims in the television ad were echoed by the candidate on the trail Thursday in Virginia, when Romney told a crowd of supporters "If a nation cheats like China has cheated, we call them on the carpet and don't let it continue."
"The president has had the chance year after year to label, to label China a currency manipulator, but he hasn't done so and I will label China the currency manipulator they are on the first day," he continued.
Similar criticism from Romney has been met with sharp rebukes in the past from the White House. In May, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, "Despite his tough talk now, Gov. Romney wasn't always for enforcing trade laws against China."
"In his book, Gov. Romney attacked the president for standing up for American workers and businesses by enforcing trade law against China, even calling it 'bad for the nation and our workers,'" Carney told reporters.
CNN Money's Annalyn Censky and CNN's Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
This idiot is something else but that's the playbook–accuse your rival of the exact same thing that you are doing.
Eww-What's that foul odor emanating from Romney's campaign HQ? Must be the stench of lies and sheer desparation! Give it up, Mitt-wit!!!
Whats the matter... was my complaint a ilttle stong for you REPUBS???...can't you control that guy....he's already killed his chances!!
While Romney was pre-recording his hissy-fit the other night BEFORE THE ATTACKS IN LIBYA, President Obama was in top-secret briefings and meetings getting the facts.
Which do you want with the finger on the NUKES?
Obama/Biden 2012-2016 for a calm-steady, intelligent way forward.
I read on Romney and it was opposite of what is being said in this article in regards to trade with China: "I will not continue an economic relationship that rewards China’s cheating and penalizes American companies and workers.
I also read Romney pushing for Obama to label China a "Currency Manipulator".
I found his book in Amazon, how is it that when we go looking and read the actual statements they always end up different from this articles????????
Mittens made millions off of breaking up American companies and shipping American jobs overseas – many to China. I would also like to remind everyone that a REPUBLICAN by the name of Nixon "opened" China to American companies to betray their own people by shipping jobs over there.
What can I say? Prexel, Prexel, Prexel .... Twisted Facts
Yep! We did lose manufacturing jobs. Romney helped ship them overseas. Now they want to blame Obama? Classic Republican Ignorance!
Mitt Romney's election buttons made in China. President Obama's election buttons made in the USA. I wonder if Mitt can explain that.
And CEO Mitt is going to stop his fellow CEO's from outsourcing american jobs!!!. Right.
@myviewis
I read on Romney and it was opposite of what is being said in this article in regards to trade with China: "I will not continue an economic relationship that rewards China’s cheating and penalizes American companies and workers.
I also read Romney pushing for Obama to label China a "Currency Manipulator".
I found his book in Amazon, how is it that when we go looking and read the actual statements they always end up different from this articles????????
What he said in his book has chained like the weather !
You might enjoy this reading then.
Known and Unknown,” former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's memoir of his political career, mixes the policy and the personal.
Such honesty and realisam ?
This from the mouth of THE MAN WHO IN YEARS PAST MADE BAIN DECISIONS TO SEND THE JOBS TO CHINA about the President who continues (sometimes unsuccessfully) to stop other companies from following BAINS PIONEERING PATH!!!!
This IDIOT does not want to go there. He bought Companies, broke them (while making a profit for Bain). He then broke up the companies, and shipped the jobs overseas (THEN HE HAS THE NERVE TO BLAME OBAMA) The E.T.C.H. canidate did it again!
I love it! Romney attacking Obama for letting jobs go overseas!
Hilarious. Are the republicans that stupid?
Romney should know all about jobs in China – that's were the outsourcer in chief sends any US job he gets his hands on. He outsources American jobs and offshores his billions so that he doesn't have to pay his fair share of taxes. Romney wants to cut his tax rate and that of other billionaires even more – because 13% is too much for him (when he pays taxes that is). Adelson would be getting a windfall of over $200 billion dollars in extra tax cuts – well worth his investment of a mere $100 million dollars. The working class will be paying for these billionaires tax cuts – but don't worry, Romney plans on getting rid of the minimum wage too.
Obama/Biden 2012
New England Independent
Mitt Romney's election buttons made in China. President Obama's election buttons made in the USA. I wonder if Mitt can explain that.
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Let's ask President Obama's friend and campaign donor Ralph Lauren and while we are at it let's ask Ralph Lauren why he had the Olympic uniforms MADE IN CHINA
"Well it happened in England just fourty years ago, but we lost out to India and their neighbours. I can show you proof that 90% of Textiles was lost!!!!"
"Muslims again talking tro other muslims on CNN Now at 12:32 Pacific time!!!!"
Holy cats. Mr. Double-down on Dumb does it again.
Somebody needs to try and reason with the Mayor of Bozo City (if that is possible) and get him to drop out before he either:
A) Embarrasses himself to the point where his name, like that of George W. Bush, is never again mentioned in polite society, or
B) Starts World War III.
"To hate those that 'Cut Heads off' is not permitted in the USA!"
You can't polish a turd. ( ROMNEY )
"Just how Barbaric do these Muslims have to be, to get rid of yet another Muslim??? 'Barack-Barbaric Hussein Obama!!""
We've discovered that Obama is not intelligent enough for a second term.
Romney send jobs over to China and India.Obama is bringing jobs back to america
Mitt, blah, blah, blah! …talking of cheating – time to show your tax returns, Mitt!!!