In Ohio, Romney, Ryan cast Obama as soft on China
Youngstown, Ohio (CNN) - Republican running mates Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan sought to cast the current administration as soft on China on Saturday, blaming Democratic President Barack Obama for skipping another opportunity to label China a currency manipulator.
"Over the past several years, the president's failed to call China a currency manipulator," Romney said at a rally in Portsmouth, Ohio. "He had the occasion on Friday to come out with that official designation. Do you know what they said? We're not going to make any determination until after the election."
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"Let me tell you, on day one of my administration I will label China a currency manipulator, we gotta get those jobs back and get trade to be fair," he continued.
The comments from the Republican candidates come a day after the Treasury Department announced it will hold off publishing a twice-yearly report on foreign exchange, due October 15, that often contains criticism of China's currency policies.
"The administration had their eighth chance to label China a currency manipulator," Ryan said at a separate event nearly 300 miles away from Romney, in Youngstown. "That's eight opportunities to say, 'You know what, play fair with us, trade with us fairly.'"
According to the U.S. Treasury, the report will be released after global finance officials from the G-20 leading economies meet in early November.
"We've lost hundreds of thousands of jobs, according to one study, because of just this problem. Two million jobs we've lost, according to the International Trade Commission, because of one country, China, taking our intellectual property rights, meaning taking our patents, taking our goods that we make and copying them and selling them. That's not correct. That's not right. That's cheating," Ryan said in his opening remarks at a town hall meeting in this battleground state.
Ryan misstated data from the U.S. International Trade Commission report. The 2011 report does not assign a number of lost jobs to currency manipulation by China but asserts that the tightening of intellectual property rights could lead to the creation of 2 million jobs in the United States.
The presidential campaigns have accused one another of being weak on China and both candidates have included misleading or disputed information in their television ads on the subject.
Speaking in the hard-hit manufacturing area of Ohio's Mahoning Valley, Ryan emphasized the need to increase manufacturing jobs in order to build a stronger middle class.
Nearly 300 miles southwest of Ryan, Romney said currency manipulation means "that American companies that are making these same products, they go out of business if the Chinese products are so much cheaper than the real costs behind them."
Ryan stressed the need to hold China accountable for its artificially undervalued exchange rate, a practice that negatively affects American producers.
"We are going to stop this kind of cheating from occurring," Ryan said at Youngstown State University. "That's a big deal. That takes our jobs. You have to stand up for the American manufacturing system. Giving good speeches, you know, saying the right thing, that sounds good, but getting it done is what matters."
- CNN Political Producer Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report
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Another example that Romney doesn't get it in foreign affairs. China owns 1/3 our currency. And it is the US top trade partner. You can't behave like the CEO of BAIN to dictate to China. Obama has taken level -headed actions against china for which China can only respect.
Mr Romney, how about move the jobs you sent to China back here first? Oh, and maybe you could pay some license fee to Microsoft too!
I find this interesting how Mitt Romney calls out Obama on China and yet in Freeport, IL. rite now 170 workers are camped out protesting a Bain company Sensata taking their jobs to China. They took down American flag.put up Chinese flag even have the workers training Chinese to do their jobs. What a bunch of BS from Mittens and don't buy his story I don't control my blind trust.
Yeah because all the sanctions they placed on China are soft. Let's not also forget to mention ROmney owns major stocks through out China so who is really soft on China? Romney or Obama? I know who........
and this from the man that has and is profiting off Chinese investments and the fact HE help send jobs there and profited of this.
"Obama's soft on China!"
While his company flies the chinese flag at sanasata.
Romney invested in a Chinese Oil company that was buying from Iran.
Romney went against the sanctions most countries have on Iran in order to make money for Romney. He's Anti-American. He's pro $$$$$$$$$ for himself and his contributors - Rove, Kochs, Armey, Wall St, etc.
Romney loves China, how do you think he made so much money? He bought companies, fired all the workers, then moved them to China where 9 year old workers are paid $.25 cents a day. It is funny to hear him talk about how tough he is going to be on China considering how much dough he made moving companies there.
we already have a president in the white house for 4 more years Obama. he's just like the middle class fight to keep your home.
I dont care what you call China, the bottom line is, if it says MADE IN CHINA, or you buy that foreign car, YOU are the problem. If we didnt BUY the stuff, China would not be viable. The problem is US companies have been operating in China and 3rd world countries far longer than just 1 presidential term-its been going on for YEARS and the idiots we are-we buy the stuff. Stop blaming this president or that president, its US the US CITIZENS that are squarely to blame. Its our responsbility as US citizens to send messages loud and clear that we are not interested in these products. Yes, US products cost more but you have to make the decision not just for the immediate, but what your purchases do later on.
Mr. Send the Job to China Romney is calling Obama soft on China? The critical thinking skills of the American voters are next to non existent if these type of lies can make them vote for Romney.
Koch Brothers Industries is threatening to fire people if they vote against Romney.
So is Murray Coal in Ohio.
The FBI is investigating shady donations and coercion in a lot of these cases. Interesting.
Do Republicans think no one remembers how they borrowed $2 trillion from China to fight their pointless wars? Or how they enriched themselves by sending American jobs there? Debt and unemployment is the Republican legacy, and China is their accomplice.
Cowboy diplomacy. Shoot first, question later, does it sound familiar?
That's funny because Romney's done business with China for decades-very very profitable business.
I would not be surprised if the Romney campaign is getting Chinese money by the millions through private contributors.
China is BIG business in the U.S. and Romney LOVES BIG business.
Forget about voting for these two gop jokers, romney probably has more money invested in China then the Chinese and sure did a good job for the Chinese jobs bill .romney and the gop should have voted for the Obama jobs bill ,not increase the Chinese economy .thanks romney and the rest of the gop
Traitors ,romney, after you lose,leave the country ,
Your not wanted in our country. Ever !!!! Don't come back !!!!
Romney complains that Obama let's people like him take advantage of Americana workers.
so once the chinese currency rises,everything that says 'made in china' on it will immediately jump up in price for US citizens who have USD... this idea from the so called inflation/deficit hawks...good one!
Yeah, Ba-rack is soft on China because he simply doesn't have the balls or the skills to act as the Chief Executive of the United States . This is a guy that was only able to vote "present" while he was a Senator. And we're trusting him to resolve the most complex international situation that has ever occurred? A situation that involves our economic survival, geopolitical considerations that may affect our nation for years cannot be trusted to a man that believes appearing on David Letterman and The View is more important than showing up for intelligence briefings. Yeah, Ba-rack is soft on China, he's soft on Russia ("after my re-elections things will be a lot easier") a man who is endorse by Chavez and I could go on, but... If people don't understand that Ba-rack is nohing more than a smiling buffoon, devoid of concern for anything other than his ego, then our nation will be on the path to destruction.
Love it or hate it, the President isn't the Emperor. If fat greedy barons of business want to ship entire factory towns overseas you can't stop it. WalMart can't sue you if you want to shop elsewhere. If they try t bring jobs back then it means re building the factories, or rebuilding the factories that re tool the factories. It all started when Nixon lost the ping pong game with China.