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Ben LaBolt, Andrea Saul react to controversial remarks from both sides making the media rounds
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Jamie thank -- hours away from the first presidential debate with me now Andrea -- Press Secretary for the Romney campaign.
And venerable national Press Secretary for Obama for America -- I wanna start -- you just like the president goes.
First later tonight governor Romney gets the final word you get the first forward -- gets the last.
What does the campaign say about the speech from 2007.
June of that year.
Well I gotta tell you Mitt Romney's.
Allies in a desperate attempt to change the subject from.
A video in which Mitt Romney wrote -- half of the American people.
Are circulating a video that was covered up by the campaign press corps at that time.
And in its the president talks about but what happens in inner city communities.
When people have given up hope.
I don't think anybody out here you think -- is -- government's response this is Romney's fault.
Well I certainly think that his allies thought that this would be helpful.
And I gotta tell you the Romney campaign thinks that this is what Americans are looking for tonight.
In place of plans for the middle class there in person so you're saying this speech is no big deal that.
Well I don't think anybody thinks that the government's response to you Katrina was sufficient governor Romney himself.
Called it in embarrassment this is something that the president spoke about on the senate floor you spoke about.
In front of the press corps at that time he took action to improve disaster relief.
In the United States senate.
And so I think this is a desperate attempt to change the subject for Mitt Romney's comments writing off half the population saying they wouldn't take personal responsibility for their -- what do you think -- Joseph Barton's comments then about crushing the middle class over the past four years.
Was that a mistake well -- You know I I think that the Romney campaign loves to take a remarks out of context this is the same campaign that started.
But taking the president out of context and an advertisement when the president was quoting John McCain never saying that the president was quoting somebody else in the first advertisement that they ran.
In this campaign -- -- -- was clearly talking about the fact.
-- -- -- -- Clear it's not clear that he was talking about anything other than the fact that.
Middle class Americans have suffered tremendously over the past four years.
And you as a result on the very dominant right on -- vote policies that I don't on second down to -- my question you know Americans.
Have been struggling so hard over the past four years just to keep their heads above water.
Now they're still swim it but man they had to work hard for.
And what Joseph Biden said is that the middle class has been crushed over the last four years and the question then is is that because of the policies.
Of this administration.
And the comment -- -- he made just to clear question here was that a mistake.
Yes or no will will -- the next couple of sentences the vice president tributes this.
To passing tax cuts for the wealthiest to stripping back oversight.
From Wall Street and these are the same sorts of policies that Mitt Romney would -- now they led to the economic crisis in the first place.
Why would we return to them we've started to dig out we're was an 800000 jobs a month.
Businesses have created more than five point one million jobs manufacturing is resurgent GM is coming back.
Why would we return to the same sorts of policies incredibly confident that it's weird middle class and the first thing we're out there correct the crushing -- it was not a mistake.
It was a specific reference to the policies.
That crashed the economy and devastated the middle class and we certainly can't return to that -- do you stand by it.
Do we think that the middle class was buried as a result stand up -- Constance and Larry comment Agile I think Charlotte okay all right I got to learn I hear you.
What is the most difficult question.
That President Obama has to answer him.
Well I will I'll leave that to the moderator -- here's our goal tonight it sounds like Mitt Romney has prepared a bunch of singers.
We'll leave that to David Letterman I don't think that's what the American people.
Are looking for we view the debates like we -- the convention millions of Americans tuning in for the first time who want to hear about the economic choice in this election and the president will talk about.
The need to continue to build the economy from the middle class out invest in things like education and manufacturing.
And research and development instead of building it.
From the top down and away at his plans for a BitTorrent and other security would -- -- my question about the stimulus 7% unemployment not higher than that.
It's been 8% for how many months now.
Trillion dollar deficits for four years now what about those questions -- Well we're overcoming.
What was the worst recession since the Great Depression we've made a lot of progress -- was an 800000 jobs a month.
And obviously we've -- more than five million jobs but better off.
It isn't good enough.
We need to do more than that we need to restore economic security for the middle class and that's why the president is invested in areas like education where -- doubled funding.
For college scholarships.
Were on track to double renewable energy productions that were creating the jobs of the future.
Right here in America -- talk about both the progress we've made in lay out a roadmap.
To create those good paying sustainable jobs from the middle and -- Looking forward to tonight I know you are to Ben thank you for coming back here right -- -- from.
The Obama team good -- later tonight thank you -- sure thing thanks Andrea saw now from the Romney team press secretary of Mitt Romney Andrea good morning to you -- know you're looking for him tonight as well.
Look at a Wall Street Journal -- day you're down three points.
Are concerned are you.
-- this straight is going to be -- until the theory and I think the Obama campaign would agree that this is going to be class but did -- have an -- choice in this election.
We can not afford four more years like the last four years at least in and that this president.
As used as you netted his and vice president said the middle class has been -- -- under his policies.
And so what we need is governor -- come in and deliver our.
Real recovery for the American people -- what is the most difficult question do you believe governor Romney has to answer tonight Andrea.
Well again -- hits and governor Romney's that this is talking directly to the -- about what his fans are.
To strengthen the middle class and get this economy back on track.
With President Obama you just -- team they'd like to pretend that they want chart for the past four years.
We've seen record unemployment at 43 consecutive putts about 8%.
47.
Million Americans on its stance one and six and poverty if that's progress.
I hate to see what the next four years look like.
What about the -- what about the question regarding the videotape.
And the 47%.
Comment is that the most difficult question.
He has to address.
Governor Romney's address that the 47%.
Question was a politically it's our.
About the fact that you know -- -- you'll see start with about a 47%.
Baseline.
And they need -- you know he looks at that talk to that's in the middle.
But that broader point is governor Romney wants to help all Americans he said time and again -- -- that President Obama and I care about the American people.
But I'm not only one has policies and plans that can actually help -- Just to be clear that 47% comment doesn't hurt you that's where you are arguing -- stand by that.
-- governor Romney's address that and you know he's talking about his broader plans to fix this nation and help a 100% of Americans -- you referred to Joseph Biden's comments will that come up tonight.
I can I get that'll -- yet to the moderator but -- -- governor Romney President Obama in -- pointing it out.
I think it's an important white president -- and teen has admitted that the middle classes and theory under his public -- You know it it was a slip of the tongue perhaps -- Joseph Biden but it's what every American RD NASA's.
They're 23 million Americans struggling for work so it -- as no surprise today and that they're struggling -- had been theory.
But you know it's it was just interesting to see -- being a bomb that campaign wouldn't.
Just yesterday too we saw a study come out this says middle class theme plays because of President Obama -- -- this thing.
Are gonna face -- 4000.
Dollar tax burden -- -- there perfect light.
Said this is just not anything.
We can afford for four more -- -- I -- -- mobile about this does the Romney campaign have an official response sir.
What are you saying about this speech from June of 2007 with the presidents and.
This is -- that the American people have to be themselves and father and inflation.
That you have president -- his views are shaped by his beliefs.
And we've seen what his policies have -- and -- front is he's and they devastated our economy and devastate our middle class you know.
-- is that the final word on that video -- Again American people have to watch it for themselves and brother and completions and how good -- debater as your man.
You know we look forward to tonight obviously president have -- -- this'll be his -- one on -- presidential debate it'll be governor Romney's first.
101 presidential debate.
And you with President Obama coming -- with the office of the presidency behind him as one of the nice gift it's speakers that would -- and you know I'm sure it's gonna be hard outshine camp.
But governor -- that's that's our hottest.
Land game of expectations -- I remember a year ago talking to governor Romney and he was talking about debate number one and now it is here.
That is the campaign have a sense that they must score very well tonight.
-- order to turn the poll number that I just mentioned around down three points out Wall Street Journal number.
We have a little over a month to -- every debate and every day honestly is imported between now and then and communicating our message.
Of governor Romney's play ends T get this country back on track that that's going to be really expected it.
I think Andrea -- thank you for your time and again -- -- before you thanks to him as well we are all waiting for -- later tonight.
Thank you thank in Denver today came.
