Obama tries to run over Romney's auto claims
Hilliard, Ohio (CNN) - In auto manufacturing heavy Ohio Friday, President Barack Obama took on recent attacks from Mitt Romney over his efforts toward that industry, saying the charges prove the former governor is attempting to scare Americans into supporting him.
"You don't scare hard working Americans just to scare up some votes," Obama told a crowd of 2,800 in small town Hilliard, Ohio. "That's not what being president is all about, that's not leadership."
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
"Trying to massage the facts, that's not change, that's just…" And, while the president didn't use the word, the crowd needed no cue yelling "lying!"
As a result of Romney's recent ad, Obama said employees at Jeep are calling their bosses, worried their jobs will be shipped overseas, a claim in the ad that "everybody knows is not true."
"The car companies themselves have told Gov. Romney to knock it off," he added.
The Romney commercial, which accused Jeep of shipping jobs overseas, resulted in two response spots from Team Obama. The president said the attack proves his opponent is attempting to run away from past positions because he is "having a tough time in Ohio."
Obama expectedly defended the steps he took to "rescue the auto industry," despite their unpopularity at the time.
"It was the right thing to do," Obama said. "That bet paid off right here in Ohio."
Friday morning's fairground event was the first of three Buckeye State stops in small cities as attention from both campaigns remains largely focused on the battleground state.
The candidate's closing arguments coincided with the release of the October jobs numbers Friday, which showed 171,000 jobs were added while the unemployment figure rose to 7.9%.
"We learned companies hired more workers in October than at any time in the last eight months," Obama told the crowd. "The American auto industry is back on top."
A Romney campaign spokeswoman said Obama’s remarks were “false and misleading” and emphasized losses in manufacturing jobs as evidence of Obama’s failed record.
White House Producer Adam Aigner-Treworgy contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
- 9 days that could rock the Democratic race for president February 24, 2020 12:18 pm
- Trump wants fewer people on his team -- but more loyalists February 24, 2020 02:38 pm
- Analysis: A shady Russian spy tale that is splintering US democracy February 24, 2020 12:31 pm
- Sotomayor issues scathing dissent in Supreme Court order that could reshape legal immigration February 24, 2020 12:51 pm
- Supreme Court takes up religious liberty dispute on foster care and same-sex marriage February 24, 2020 04:45 pm
- Trumps cherish an iconic moment -- touring the Taj Mahal February 24, 2020 03:39 pm
cali girl: Right from Robmeys own mouth, "Let Detroit go Bankrupt"
Sorry the New York Time progressive liberal headline doesn't fly anymore unless you are an Obamabot. Try reading what UDidntBuildThat posted above and quit trying to spread your progressive lies.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose support in Iowa has withered after riding on top of the polls, on Tuesday called former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney a liar who would mislead the American people if elected to the White House
Oh Yeah! Obama the truth teller right.
Close Gitmo,
Marrige s/b only between man and woman
Cut deficit in half
Bring down the debt only to increase more than any other b/4
Unemplyment will be 5.8% in 4yrs it is more than when he took office
Will be post partisan & work togehter with Republicans
Was against the surge then was for it.
Voted against General Petreus
Will bring down energy – gas prices more than doubled
Obamacare will reduce health care cost it has increase
Stimulus would give us plenty of shovel ready jobs
Dodd/Frank regulation would keep WS in check and rescue the housing market -it is worse.
Income down $4500
Cost of everthing else is up.
Yes lets have 4 more yrs of this.
So the Mitt's team says that Obama saying more jobs were created is "false and misleading." and yet they don't comment on the flat out lie about Jeep? Does Mitt hate American auto plants so much that he is out to destroy them now, by having americans turn away from Jeep products? Does this go back to his daddies days of running AMC?
Canadians are watching with amazement...where is the Libyan reporting...terrorism against the US affects us all!?!?!
Someone confront the president...PLEASE.
Let Detroit go bankrupt. I will remember when I vote.