RUTHFULLY YOURS

For those following the campaign, the Townhall is mostly repeat of talking points. For those who haven’t, the collection of talking points may be informative. The questions come from the 82 uncommitted voters from the NY area chosen by Gallup. Their questions reflect a NY perspective. If it were a slugfest, it goes by slight points to Obama, but Obama fails to score big, still has no second term agenda, and Romney holds own well. Each’s supporters got what they wanted. The undecideds? Undecided. — If it were a snooze, we needed more colorful NY-type characters. Probably the most injurious moment to Obama was when a black man who voted for him in 2008 says he has doubts now. Probaly the other most injurious moments to Obama was the number of NY accents and the slant of their questions, a turn off to most of the rest of the country.
Round One, Jobs: Both promise jobs in the future. Romney has experience creating jobs. Obama has had 4-years not doing so.

Round Two, Energy: Obama says oil imports lowest in 20-years. Doesn’t mention depressed economy uses less. Romney points out that all increases in production on private land and despite federal interference and opposition. Obama interrupts Romney repeatedly, showing his inner-Biden. Finally, Romney tells Obama to let him finish speaking. Obama lies and lies.
Round Three, Taxes: Romney will not raise taxes on middle class, and will broaden tax base. Obama channels his inner Occupy, and his Big Bird. Romney says Obama takes US on road to Greece. Candy Crowley keeps interrupting, expected.

Romney asks why Obama administration says now it didn’t know what happened, when there was evidence almost immediately. Why did Obama go to Las Vegas instead of to the American people with facts. Cites catastrophes throughout Middle East, “unraveling” Obama policies. Crowley asks Obama if buck stops with Hillary or him. Obama, “I’m always responsible.” I greeted the caskets. “The suggestion thast anybody on my team…would play politics or mislead is offensive…” Romney: It took long time for administration to say it was a terrorist act.

Round Eight, Assault Weapons: Obama, keep them out of hands of abusers. Does not mention Fast and Furious. Romney says improve conditions for those in poverty. Romney says Fast and Furious is where thousands of assault weapons were given to drug lords as a policy of this administration. The administration has claimed executive provilege to keep all the info coming out. Crowley interrupts. Surprise. Romney talks about getting Reps and Dems together in Mass. about assault weapons. Obama’s turn: no mention of Fast and Furious. It’s all about culture of violence, says Obama, without mention that violent crime is down since the ’60s and Hollywood (his bundlers) glorifies violence. Everyone gets a chance to succeed, esp. via education, claiming gains that came from Bush initiatives for No One Left Behind standards.Round Nine, Outsourcing Jobs: Romney targets China’s currency manipulation to keep its currency artificially low. Key to bringing back jobs to US is to make US more attractive for investment. US corporate tax rate highest in world, regs have “quadrupled” under Obama. business “feels under attack”, Obamacare is a deterrent to hiring. Obama says he agrees that corporate tax rate should be lowered, but reduce tax benefits from going offshore. Obama wants to double exports. (Devalued dollar helps that!) Crowley asks about cheaper labor in China. Romney says we can compete on level playing field, properly valued currency, no hacking into or stealing our tech, US more attractive. Obama says some jobs can’t come back because they’re low pay/low skill. We need high value production. Invest in training. Romney says, “government does not create jobs.”Round Ten, Biggest Misperception About You: Romney’s passion flows from beliving in G-d and caring for each other. Cites his personal and public accomplishments. “We don’t have to settle”..,. for litany of present bad conditions. Obama denies that government creates jobs, says he believes in free enterprose, but everyone should have a fair shot. I was thinking that the Townhall is almost over and Obama has not trotted out the 47%. Wrong.
That’s all folks, for the Townhall. But, not for the commentators. Surprise, network heads give the slight decision to Obama. Not the knockout Obama needed. On the other hand, there was nothing likable about Obama’s behavior, so likely this didn’t help him with women. I think the undecideds will not be decided by this Townhall.