Second Obama ad responds to Romney auto charge
(CNN) - President Barack Obama's campaign is again responding to the claims leveled in an auto-themed ad by GOP nominee Mitt Romney with their own ad.
On Monday, Team Obama released a spot pushing back at the Romney spot, which was not announced by the Romney campaign but appeared on Ohio airwaves over the weekend and says, "Obama took GM and Chrysler into bankruptcy, and sold Chrysler to Italians who are going to build Jeeps in China."
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The Obama campaign has argued Romney's spot is inaccurate and pointed to statements on Chrysler's website. The parent company of Jeep, Chrysler has said it plans to produce Jeeps in China to expand its sales within that country.
In the Obama spot, the narrator says, "We know the truth, Mitt," and shows video of the GOP candidate repeating the title of a 2008 op-ed he wrote on the auto bailout, "Let Detroit go bankrupt."
Romney argued a managed bankruptcy process and privately funded capital should have been used to stabilize the automakers, rather than federal bailout loans.
Sergio Marchionne, the chairman of Fiat, which owns Chrysler, said in a Monday online posting, "Jeep production will not be moved from the United States to China."
Before the Romney ad released, the company's top spokesman blasted the charge saying in a separate posting that while the news article the campaign cited was clear it "has given birth to a number of stories making readers believe that Chrysler plans to shift all Jeep production to China from North America, and therefore idle assembly lines and U.S. workforce. It is a leap that would be difficult even for professional circus acrobats."
A spokesman for General Motors called the Romney ad "cynical campaign politics at its worst." Obama's campaign titled their latest ad "Cynical."
Obama's campaign has insisted Romney's ad is a sign his campaign sees trouble in Ohio, and convened a conference call with reporters on Thursday to send the message.
"What we've seen in this last week from Mitt Romney is a desperate act by a desperate man, a dishonest end to a dishonest campaign," former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said on the call. "Governor Romney knows Ohio is slipping further and further away and with that are his hopes for winning the White House."
"Desperate" was the word Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg used on Tuesday in response to the first Obama auto ad. Spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said the Obama campaign was making "desperate arguments."
In response to the Thursday ad, she said, "President Obama can't run from the facts. As a result of his handling of the auto bailout, American taxpayers stand to lose $25 billion and GM and Chrysler are expanding their production overseas. Unlike President Obama, Mitt Romney has a comprehensive plan to revive manufacturing, create millions of good-paying jobs, and deliver real change and a real recovery."
The Obama campaign has said the ad will run in Michigan and Ohio - two states where the auto industry is a significant portion of the economy - although it declined to give more specifics. The pro-Romney super PAC recently went up on Michigan TV with an ad spot, prompting Obama's team to respond with their own buy.
Obama is also scheduled to speak at several campaign events on Friday and will likely mention the Romney ad, auto bailout and jobs numbers then.
While Ohio is a toss up state on the CNN Electoral Map and key for both candidates, Michigan and its 16 electoral votes is considered to be leaning in Obama's favor. Two polls out Wednesday showed Obama with an advantage in Michigan as well.
What Romney actually said was accurate.
What Chrysler said, may be true for today.........but what happens after China gets production fully underway, with an inventory level reached? Do we REALLY believe they won't take advantage of the cost savings? I don't.
i think the fact that mitt can only get about 30 percent of the vote in mass speak volumes.
mitt has two home states and he loosing in both states because the peoples has gotten to know the real mitt.
Mitt the twit Bain-Capital, tax cheat, show this nation TEN YEARS TAXES MR. FEMA shut down!!! Yes, on OBAMA12.
What Romney actually said was accurate.
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No it was a lie. Plain and simple. His exact words in his speech were that he had "read a report saying Jeep was thinking of moving all production to China." Lie. Period.
How can a total liar like Mitt Romney be this close in such an important election? This man should be 15 – 20 points behind at least? How is he allowed to get away with these blatent lies, misstatements, and fabrications? Is the American electorate so messed up that things like honesty, character, and trust doesn't enter into the qualifications for the the job of President of the United States? Do people hate President Obama so much that they would put this country in jeopardy by electing a completely unqualified person for this office? Mitt hasn't been clear or specific on anything. He's been on every side of every issue multiple times that it's no telling what his stance on anything is!
Please people. Think what's best for this country. A president that has stopped the job losses, has put us on the road to recovery, provided necessary health care for those unable to afford health care for themselves and their families, has ended 1 war and is in the process of ending a second, has re-built the respect and admiration for our country around the world, and I can go on and on and on. There is only 1 sane choice for America and that is to re-elect President Barack Obama.
Obama/Biden 2012
Obama is desperate for pointing out Romney's lies? Mitt's campaign would be hysterical if this wasn't so serious!
Rick McDaniel-
So, what you're saying we can't believe the corporate executives of Chrysler and Fiat "beyond today". Hmmmm. This sounds like Romney.
The Republicans will spare no methods to their madness in trying to win the election......it isn't gonna work. We know of the lies, the flip flops, the downright dirty methods Rove and Co are using......Romney and Ryan....just
Volkswagen has been the first manufacturer to establish an assembly line in China. Today , Volkswagen is one of the top performing car manufacturers globally, which a significant job increase in Germany producing all the parts required for the China production. Sometimes other companies may learn from that -as well as should we.
So, for you righty types saying we can't trust corporate executives in this Jeep thing.... Do you see the logistical problem you've created for youselves? Romney is a sociopathic corporate type- but you'll let him ship YOUR jobs to China, and put his profits in off-shore banks!
Vote Republican and vote against yourself!
I think Romney could feel Ohio slipping away from him........so he felt he had nothing to lose by throwing a real "whopper" out there on the airwaves. Someone might believe it.........it tells you a lot about the character of the man......or lack there of.
Robme and Lyan Ryan's entire campaign has been based on inaccuracy and out-and-out lies. Why stop now. Some people are actually buying this swill.
Overby I guess you have the right wing selective reading sindrome, I am sorry for your abnormal condition but please try to go back and read THERE WERE NO OTHER BANKS OR PRIVATE EQUITY COMPANIES TO DO IT THE MITT WAY. I know he wished BAIN could of been part of it so they could take them through BK then layoff all the employees and leave the federal gov to pay all the pentions. It is the history of what Mitt is good at. By the way not so sure there is a cure for your condition until next Tuesday when you see there is no hope for MItt. Super Sorry
Romney is really desperate. This latest mislead is yet more evidence he will say ANYTHING to get a vote.
and Obama tells the truth???
I have never made a dishonest statement in my life. You can trust me.
Okay let me get this straight:
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If this is the case, why does CNN continue to post Romenys outrageous claims, slanders and lies
For Romney to criticize one company for doing what he himself has done many times and most of his donors do is disgusting (especially since they are actually adding more US jobs). How can someone whose private business experience often involved shipping jobs to China pick on a different company for doing this to a far lesser degree, he undermined his own outsourcing defense.
and Obama speaks the truth! Please!!!!
Mr. Romney will never back down. That is a flaw of his. Why is he getting so worked up over China. Gee we import tons and tons of goods from China. The companies that he helped sent work to China and laid off our workers. Their ceo's and upper management people had retained their jobs and benefits. He helped to arrange for call centers our of the country. No one has even questioned his involvement. He has gotten a free pass.
The Jeeps are being made in this country. Should Chrysler change their plans they will hear from the American people. We did not make enough noise last time. We need to stop buying things made in China and start buying local or buying goods made in the USA. If we don to then we are contributing to the problem and China will continue to hold the upper hand.
Both men have nothing to be proud of on this issue.
Why couldn't GM go through bankruptcy like all the airlines over the years?
What Romney actually did was NOTHING !
Obama did the right thing with helping the Auto Industry get on there feet . And it also put them in a position to make good fuel efficient cars .
Something Romney doesn't understand.
When was the last time he personally filled up his car with gas.
Car Elevator going Down , Basement !