Romney, Obama Face Off In First Debate Of Election Season
In the 90-minute first of three debate tango, both U.S. President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney touted their plans on the economy, tax plans, government regulation and health care.
The debate, which took place on the University of Denver campus and moderated by Jim Lehrer, a veteran PBS anchor, began with both candidates being civil to one another even exchanging a handshake. After a Happy Anniversary to Michelle from Obama and a joke from Romney about the debate being less than romantic for the couple’s celebration, the pair began to attack one another without coming across as being aggressive.
The tax plans both men presented were sharply different with each one trying to convince the American public that theirs was the better option and that the rival had no real idea of what the plan entailed.
Romney said he was decrease income tax for all by 20 percent but dodge an undesirable revenue loss by getting rid of the present tax code’s undetermined deductions and preferences. Obama said this was a $5 trillion tax cut, aimed favorably toward the wealthy and would increase the country’s deficit.
Romney countered this figure was inaccurate, contending that his proposal would generate economic growth and revenue that stabilize the need for spending cuts like Obama claims to be unavoidable.
Romney suggested that Obama’s plan for a tax increase on wealthy Americans would lead to job loss. Obama denied this saying a significant number of small businesses would be unaffected. Romney said the tiny percentage affected would affect a bulk of the jobs.
Obama said his plans were similar to popular former President Bill Clinton’s rates, only the job picture then was healthier than when he took over after the Bush administration when the nation’s economic state was dismal even with a number of tax cuts.
Other topics in the debate were handled in much the same way including the topic of the Affordable Health Care Act or Obamacare. The act takes $710 billion that’s expected to come from payment to insurers and hospitals and gives it to the costs of this new law such as increasing seniors’ prescription coverage.
Obama defended the legislation saying Romney’s plan to partially move Medicare to a voucher plan for the younger generation would cause problems for seniors and lead to the demise of the conventional Medicare system as well as any private plans Romney sees in the future.
Before the debate, Obama held a narrow lead across the nation and a significant advantage to key states. After the debate, the pair is in a dead-heat with 47 apiece according to the National Journal.
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