Reflecting on Presidential Debate #1

Dear America,

Here we are, just over thirty days to go until Election Day 2012 and leaving the first Presidential Debate behind us. I did expect this debate to be the hardest one for President Obama because it was very much focused on the US Economy and the state of our economy is hard to defend. No matter what party with which you are affiliated, or who you support in the upcoming election, I think we all agree that our economy is still not well. Over 8% unemployment, individuals as well as small businesses struggling to make ends meet, and banks continued refusal to lend money leave a lot to improve upon.

However I do believe that the current administration has done a good (not great) job thus far, recreating jobs and reviving an economy that was on the brink of total collapse.  I do believe that current political strategies that the Obama administration has employed have mitigated the many economic problems we faced four years ago, and have helped to avoid the abyss.  The economy is starting to show positive signs of recovery. Realistically that was all that could be expected over a four year term considering the enormous crisis we faced (by the way that was a production of eight failed years of Republican economic and foreign politics).

Let's talk about last night’s debate.  It's hard for me to admit, but Romney came across as the more confident, self-assured candidate in last night’s televised debate. I am not referring to the content of his speeches, but rather his body language and the intensity that he showed when talking. If you listened carefully you actually realized that body language and intensity was all he had to offer.

A commitment to the Middle Class even if repeated over and over seems hardly believable when remembering his recently published video on the 47% of lazy Americans. Tax Relief for all including the middle class (by the way Mr. Romney, Tax Relief - Tax Cuts equals the same: less income) is a recipe that is as old as the Republican Party and always benefits top earners more than the middle class.  Covering the suggested 20% deduction of personal federal income tax across the board by closing tax loop holes which haven't been detected and defined by Mr. Romney, and reducing tax deductions for the wealthy are not getting anywhere close to doing the math of breaking even.  No worries though, getting rid of Public Broadcasting Services, an institution that is almost as old as Mr. Romney and helped millions of Americans to stay current with national and international news, will clearly help cutting the deficit (seriously?).  In reality lowering income by tax relief and spending more money on our Military (more than the Generals ask for) lead to more debt not less, and lead to severe cuts in the public service sector. Big Bird is certainly not the only one going away.  Along with him, cuts will have to be made in the public education sector, the public health sector and the public safety sector. Why? Because we all know, Big Bird alone can't do it. Which services are being cut? All those that Mr. Romney deems unworthy of borrowed fund from China. Don't you worry, Mr. Romney knows best what you need or don't need. Who are the ones most negatively affected by such cuts?  Low and middle income Americans.  Mr. Romney has nothing in common with middle class Americans, never has and never will. His loyalty and interests are strictly with those financing his campaign; Big Corporate America, Wall Street and America's richest families.

Last night Mr. Romney took advantage of his role as the Challenger. He told Americans what most wanted to hear, lower taxes, more money in your pocket book and all of us back at work. Promises made by many previous Republican Presidents but never kept. President Obama on the other hand is telling us what needs to be done to solve our economic crises, to reduce our debt and close our increasing gap between the rich and the poor.  He is asking for sacrifice, he is asking to increase taxes (nearly all renown US Economists agree) and to invest in our childrens’ future by strengthening public education. These aren't popular words, these are uncomfortable and painful words of truth, but never the less they need to be spoken. Is it really too much to ask that those more fortunate sacrifice a little more than those less fortunate?  I think not. Great wealth should come with a greater sense of responsibility.

The other hot topic last night was Health Care. "Obamacare" also known as the "Affordable Care Act" and Medicare, the federal health care program for seniors, were subjects of a heated debate.  I myself am a 45 year old male, and ride my road bike for about 120 miles per week, hit the gym 2-3 days per week, am not overweight and am certainly in better shape than 80-90% of my peers.  I am also a self-employed small business owner working roughly 65-75 hours per week and pay taxes (belong to the 53% non lazy Americans and still vote for Obama).  I can't get health coverage.  I applied to six different major Health Insurance companies and was rejected every time.  I am borderline hypertensive (genetics) for which I take a blood pressure pill, and had a bout with severe Sciatica seven years ago.  These pre-existing conditions make it impossible to get private health coverage.  I can't wait to be able to get "Obamacare" and rest more peacefully at night. Private Health Insurance Carriers have no interest in covering those with pre-existing conditions as they aren't good for the profit margin. Turning Medicare into a voucher system will take just enough money out of the federal program shifting it to the private insurance carriers and ultimately lead to the collapse of Medicare as we know it. Who benefits?  Those seniors who have been cherry picked by the private Insurance Companies (the healthiest and wealthiest) leaving the unlucky rest to live without any coverage.

Mr. Romney promised to put the $716 billion that the current administration took out of Medicare right back into it. Does that happen in agreement with Running Mate Ryan or without since Mr. Ryan proposed the exact same $716 billion to be removed from Medicare as the President did. Oh I forgot, Mr. Ryan is just running to appease the right wing of your party.

In addition, you should have used fact check before accusing "Obamacare" of adding to the deficit.

"But for claims about deficits, we consider the Congressional Budget Office, often called the CBO, to be the standard by which we fact-check claims.
The CBO said this about the health care law back in 2010: It lowers the deficit, by about $124 billion over 10 years.
And in 2011, when Republicans offered a bill to repeal the health care law, the CBO said that increased the deficit, by about $210 billion over 10 years." (politfact.com)

Here are a few other lies that were told last night:

• ·                   "Romney claimed a new board established by the Affordable Care Act is “going to tell people ultimately what kind of treatments they can have.” Not true. The board only recommends cost-saving measures for Medicare, and is legally forbidden to ration care or reduce benefits.
• ·                   Romney accused Obama of doubling the federal deficit. Not true. The annual deficit was already running at $1.2 trillion when Obama took office" (FactCheck.org) (today’s deficit: $1.4 trillion)

After last night’s debate I am convinced Romney's stature as a media savvy governor and presidential candidate has grown, his stature as a politician and leader of this great country remains the same, unqualified!  I think Mr. Romney was once a very good politician, a man that was seeking compromise and getting the job done.  However today's Romney is about making empty promises to anyone willing to listen and finance his campaign.  He has abandoned his identity and compromised his integrity only to win.

Thank you for taking time to read my blog. Please feel free to comment, I will eagerly respond to positive dialog and constructive criticism.

Hartmut

P.S.: Great news for ALL Americans, unemployment dropped %.5