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Ed Pozzuli & Jehmu Greene on how Romney is responding to the president's comments on small business
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Well we let's get things going cost to great start because we have so much happening in the world politics let's get straight to our political panel joining me here -- -- Our contributor to move green she is the former president of women's media center and you could follow her on Twitter at -- move and I am doing it and Little -- whose former advisor John Huntsman presidential campaign.
And he's joining us as well from Florida thank you so much for being here appreciate you taking time out from your meetings scheduled to join us today.
Think it.
Let's start out with taking a look at a new ad that was just released this morning from the Romney camp and I want both -- to -- in.
After you take a look at it was here with.
Yeah.
You don't.
My father's hands that built this company my hands.
My -- Somebody else I don't belong on my father's house.
-- -- So the Romney camp all -- offensive not wasting any time to pound on what the president.
Said last week -- regarding their jobs and small businesses whether or not.
They built it on their own or they need the government to help out let me get your take on this didn't know how do you see it.
Well.
I mean as politics is it's -- pretty deliberate distortion.
Of what the president.
Was it was his intent was and what he actually said.
You know he clearly.
Gives credit to the pain in the past in the -- -- -- the into building their -- says.
But he doesn't take away and demonize the government's role.
In providing the space and and the resource is for businesses to thrive in this country that's it's one of the reasons that we're the best country on the planet.
It's because of how what.
The playing field that we lay out as a society for businesses to grow and you know the Romney campaign they're gonna do what they they have to do to distract from the fact that.
Everyone not just Democrats Republicans are calling on him to release his tax returns this is a distraction but it's also distortion.
Ed.
A number of small business owners of felt were quoted as say they felt insulted.
Via -- the remarks made by the president last week do you think this ad is effective at this point.
I think it's effective because it points out the president's.
Insensitivity.
And lack of understanding of what it's like.
Two.
Take a risk started business.
Create jobs.
-- your quick yourself in financial harms way so that you can try to grow.
Whatever business that you're trying to grow it rips at the heart of American entrepreneurship.
American of American exceptional listen which something that the president simply doesn't believe him.
And so I think it was an honest statement.
And and look.
Here's that here's the difference you wanna you wanna add a key difference Wall Street Journal had a great quote a quick great article.
And when it define the difference between what you get -- Mitt Romney and what you get from President Obama.
You get staples -- Mitt Romney a business that create.
That's -- to stay a business well financed creating jobs every day providing valuable service on the other hand the president -- -- He got so winter not only did they not take any risk think they used -- care act our taxpayer money and failed because that.
Governments simply isn't the position.
To pick winners and losers.
The marketplaces.
And on Chuck Norris who take the risk know that best.
-- he would give his take on this on this one point just before and one other subjects.
And that -- what do you see this as a turning point government Ronnie a lot of folks are saying that with.
There way things the events example -- last weekend.
Over the weekend.
And that.
Mitt Romney now has really found his voice that he's able to now go after the president in a way that he wants.
-- an effective way -- where Republicans are saying yes that's the kind of passion when you see out there on the campaign -- we've been waiting for.
Well -- only to find his voice and tell us what he's been hiding I don't think this is affected and I.
I've heard all of the different commentators -- Are trying to put words into the president's -- are trying to completely distort what he said but I have faith in the American people that they understand.
That when the president says what he said and they understand that.
The roads the laws like imminent domain copyright protections patents.
All of the ways that our tax dollars contribute to create a better place for businesses to thrive.
When they hear commentators saying that the president doesn't believe in American exceptional isn't something that is such a part of you know not just what he.
Delivers as president.
To the country but apart if his individual story.
Mean you look back I think maybe a year ago when he was in Hawaii and speaking -- Corporate leaders he told them that we had gotten lazy that they needed to go out there and continue.
To be really pushing American socialism and that was another opportunity that Mitt Romney and his supporters completely distorted and said oh he's now calling -- lazy.
I have faith in the American people that they see straight through this the face -- who cool legally.
Not -- going to be.
Confused by what the president was intending to say.
And at the same time they will continue to look at Mitt Romney and anything that comes out of his mouth.
With at a level of distrust because he is not trusting of the American people to share something that he's.
Quick a quick response from you -- -- -- move -- some new Fox News poll that we have out.
Well I I I agree with the faith that this -- puts in the American people.
And but the problem is that her president doesn't share that belief because if if he did.
He would not placed the responsibility.
And accountability on businesses and the reliance on the private enterprise system to create jobs.
Take two to provide for -- jump start for the economy.
Instead the president relies on government.
To do what it thinks is best for that people so you have faith in the American people.
You let them build their businesses and you held them.
And go ahead and go build -- -- -- -- -- -- your businesses you take the risks you take -- -- private entrepreneur and we appreciate you that's not what the president's messages and that's not what the president.
Illegally -- -- -- -- very different visions about how the country should go forward from two different candidates and on that note Fox News has some new polls.
That have just been released and if the election were held today.
If we could put them up on a full screen if they're far -- folks to see the election were held today.
Barack Obama is leading the president at this point by a few points.
That you -- being beating Mitt Romney at this point or held today.
Very interesting -- to note that and it seems that he's been holding steady -- that with that lead for the last few months for the summer.
And now moving and then the other question was asked if they.
Shows.
It's the throes of running mate that she's -- sorry I asked if has a -- administration may -- kind better or worse I mean that's a question like hearkens back to.
While Reagan's time are you better off -- you were you know today you're four years ago.
Today we're seeing that if you put up there you see.
People -- -- same -- 49% feel worse than they did.
Before that that the economy and 37%.
Say they feel better.
-- what's your response to that -- to those two polls -- first off.
Well I think -- exactly what the president has been saying for many months now even though the economy has been slowly ticking in the right direction.
There are many people out there who are still suffering and that's why he he puts his hands out to congress and has asked them invade them.
-- even past the point of Nadine and you through executive orders doing everything that he can.
To make sure that small businesses have the support they need to make sure that you know we -- support being.
Arab public school teachers are firefighters.
Giving you a wave for that local governments and state governments that have been hit so hard.
One of the reasons -- -- reason why the unemployment numbers haven't moved as significantly as we all would've hoped.
Is it because public employees are being laid off into magic numbers across the country.
And the president is out there fighting to try to get resources to local governments and state governments so that they don't have to ask.
Continue to if -- also presume that.
But it's also true that businesses.
Are having a hard time figuring out what.
That the forecast is gonna look like down the road in the Derek I'm reticent to hire anyone at this point is well because they're not sure.
-- -- their businesses of an affair going forward even for the next six months.
I I think there is.
And truth to that and especially as we saw with the health care debate and you know when you've got different states suing the federal government over Obama care and I I can understand that uncertainty but.
The Supreme Court stepped in pretty -- effectively to say that this lies constitutional.
And that we're going to move forward with this being the law of the land and hopefully that will take some of the uncertainty.
Away because as we move forward and ask obamacare really comes -- -- -- You're going to start to see health care become less a percentage of our GDP and that's going to help everyone healthy economies.
-- -- and I know you're itching to get an honest -- well ahead.
Lot you know previews you know the first statement that ms.
green may -- -- she was gonna say -- reiterate what the president said that the that his perception is that private industry was doing just fine it was that it was the government workers that we're being laid off.
Because that was her argument.
Very interest thing.
You know 49% of the people have said that -- that they're not happy with the economy and in fact there's another poll that shows.
They now trust Mitt Romney more than the president when it comes to.
Economic affairs.
That's what this race is going to be about.
So let's talk about that this person.
What we had this a president who who with much ballyhoo established that jobs council they have met one time.
One time in January and they have now met since now since that time the president.
Has had a number up untold number of fund -- so let's understand.
So when the president says that he's in favor of having the economy jump -- and jobs is is number one issue.
While the one thing that we.
From the Supreme Court and Obama care is declaring all Obama care.
-- tax and in fact it's the largest tax on American business in history and soulful all all due respect to the president.
We understand what his priorities are and they're not creating jobs and that's why can't -- -- -- six months.
You know Jay Carney his spokesperson said that the president's been very busy that is agendas -- you know pretty solidly booked over the last several months and that's one reason why.
He hasn't brought the council together again and removing.
How does that fly right now knowing that jobs are such a priority and that he did put this council together.
They are supposed to be there to find new answers new avenues to help jumpstart the economy with with more jobs and things like that -- let you know.
How do you think that's gonna play out when when they don't White House is that kind of response.
Well I think you have to be realistic and look at.
The dynamic -- there were 52 recommendations that the jobs council put together when they first started meeting.
At just because they haven't had a public meeting doesn't mean that the president hasn't been having one on one conversations one on one meetings with.
These leaders from the council and that.
His employees that that aren't you don't staffing in the agencies are working on these 62 recommendations because they happened.
It's you can look -- a lot of political situation say that hasn't been a meeting and so nothing has -- -- but that's just not.
Every -- in the White House -- -- -- -- -- -- he's working one on one with some of these individuals on their -- have these.
Different efforts hundred wanted to say that rather than say the president's busy busy well I think he was talking specifically about a public company eating and what goes into that.
And there are lots of different dynamics that are making it even harder for some of this many of the CEOs who -- on the jobs council.
-- in the middle of an election year and it is it's extremely unfortunate that the tenor of the debate.
And -- you know the way you corporations.
Really don't want to be seen.
Taking a society in any way shape or form and that creates a dynamic that makes it harder for these public meetings for the jobs council there are lots of factors in there.
-- and I mean yes sometimes it takes a longer time today to really explain the -- In the situation but we only talked about things that -- like black and white that's not realistic and -- and that's where again I have faith in the American people the vacancy.
Through these distractions and distortions of the president's record.
Well -- let's take Jake let's take.
And and I can see I could see how that is because he's visited Ohio several -- visited Florida several times he's out on the campaign trial.
Raising a record amount of money.
And look he's coming to visit Florida.
You know it -- be here next next couple days the three of four day swing -- Florida and then that's a very busy political schedule.
Yeah I mean he's an election year it's in the presidential I didn't hear these campaigns but no one should -- you that I have at all the way if -- -- the situation if governor Romney.
Was the incumbent president just like it was when George -- -- the incumbent president.
Let's not sit here and pretend.
That.
Because of Citizens United and the hundreds of millions of dollars that they're going to be sites and then from individuals and corporations who want.
Favors from governor Romney this -- -- be the first time that an incumbent president is probably.
Out raised and of course -- duty his responsibility to the people who believe in his democratic values.
We want him to get reelected and we wanted to do everything possible to get reelected so he's gonna campaigns.
Sandra -- -- but certainly having a cat five times.
The Obama campaign is not hurting her safe from buddy and the obvious it's it is now looking -- though that Mitt Romney will be outspending here is raising more money at this moment but.
The campaign certainly is you know -- situation where they're not having their coffers filled at this point and it.
The Democrats know that so I mean why why talk about these Hilo -- making it.
Got over and you've.
We'll wealthy individuals who are going to be contributing millions of there's not there's dollars.
To defeat a president who is against maybe a policy that would hurt them financially.
They don't want to see their taxes go up.
Did they are trying to buy influence with governor Romney.
That -- flood of negative acts campaigning.
-- it the president would be irresponsible not to be fundraising as extensively as he has he'd be irresponsible to the middle class that is going to get.
Extremely hurt if not wiped out by the Romney.
Budget and vision for where he would like to go.
Argument that had -- them -- there hasn't been wiped out ahead.
-- -- -- -- -- -- You know that's absolutely wrong the middle class actually be will be energized because most small businesses.
Are in the middle class and no small businesses feel not only insulted but impacted.
By the greatest tax there ever was in all -- -- and Obama care.
And anything else -- been and that that priority wise the president has decided to put his political fortunes as a priority.
First is creating jobs the fact of the matter is that this president has had.
Ten times the -- a political fundraisers during the same period of time that George W.
Bush had in his reelection campaign.
And that 1020 times more than Ronald Reagan has in his reelection campaign.
And and ten times more than Bill Clinton had in his reelection campaign.
So look when you have a president whose priority is to try to keep his job he simply said -- -- I wanna keep my job so badly.
I don't have to do my job and he cannot say that.
Jobs are -- priority.
That what that only job that's a priority to the president is keeping his own job let me not let nobody else's.
Are there any a couple of comments from our.
From our folks have been watching our conversation right now this comet comes from Charley Reese who says the government is functioning today because of the private sector.
Ms.
green no where does the government get the money to pay for entitlements.
Comes from taxes that's one comment and I -- -- -- I don't care what he did with his money but I do care what it.
He doesn't mind so those are couple responses to.
The conversation going on right now I want to move the discussion on a little bit further.
Talking more about the convention right now -- and Nancy Pelosi making the interesting comments -- a Democrat should skip the convention.
What's that all about why is she urging Democrats to -- and skip the convention -- -- In what would it.
Actually -- a coronation for the incumbent president.
And in -- field and an arena filled with.
Quarters but it's -- because she's been too many conventions and she understands that when we're in a situation where Democrats she she wants Democrats when the house back.
And so the amount of time and effort and distraction that these conventions I was just a lot they've already -- -- -- already down by a day.
But this is still -- are going to get.
You know a member who's in a tight race in the district.
In you know taxes at Berkeley to get them elected or get them reelected in -- she's prioritizing.
I think -- a really Smart way of course.
You know.
I'm going to be at the conventions of media will be at the convention.
Activists will be at the convention but when you have.
As close of races that we have across the country in the -- TV I think.
For Democrats to win back the house that's where her priority as President Obama if he was still challenger candidate Obama.
That would be one thing where you know I think it would be more all hands on deck all hands on deck this time around.
Means stay in your districts take care of business because clearly the Republicans in congress have.
You basically -- the government to.
A -- sorry and -- we need to try to get a couple quick seconds left here -- up for your final thoughts on this point.
Look politically I understand it the house from a democratic perspective the house races that they're in trouble.
And they can't afford to be in North Carolina and to -- don't worry I I probably will not be in North Carolina with you a but but but I understand why and Nancy -- to take her advice and probably not go.
Another Tampa will -- back up a probably yeah absolutely all right folks great to see both of you thanks so much for weighing in -- comments always a pleasure to have you on thank you so much and that.
