Smackdown! Romney v Obama

October 3, 2012 - Mitt Romney v. Barack Obama

It was Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama in a debate on domestic policy, and it was a smackdown. When the two men entered from opposite sides of the stage, from the beginning, Mitt Romney was tall, strong, confident and ready to lay it out for the American people. Barack Obama, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. Let's stop to consider for a moment. If you'd tanked America with everything you'd done, then gone on to tell lie after lie about your opponent, I'd think you'd be a little uneasy when you faced him for the first time. That was Barack Obama's dilemma last night. His demeanor, his lack of articulation, and his inability to look Governor Mitt Romney in the eye were blatantly obvious last night.

However, we were treated to some classic lines last night:

"Mr. President, you can have your own plane, your own house, but you can't have your own facts." Mitt Romney

“Look, I got five boys. I’m used to people saying something that’s not always true, but just keep on repeating it and ultimately hoping I will believe it.” Mitt Romney

"Mr. President, you gave $90 billion for green energy. $90 Billion would have given us 2,000,000 teaching jobs!" Mitt Romney

And the punches just kept on coming. Barack Obama would make a false statement and Mitt Romney would promptly counter with the facts. For ninety minutes Mitt Romney schooled Barack Obama on what America was really supposed to be like, and not Obama's vision of it. He spoke of American exceptionalism, the framework of the proper role of government, his belief in the American people and our spirit for entrepreneurship. Romney talked of cutting the federal budget until it was balanced and no longer using deficit spending, and he would do so using tax cuts, broadening the tax base, creating jobs, and turning the American people loose to succeed. It worked for Ronald Reagan, and it will work again.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, continued with the same old rhetoric. Government is best. Government can take better care of you than you can. Government, government, government. He quoted one study to prove his point, and Mitt Romney countered with six studies to prove him wrong. Obama talked of bipartisanship, Mitt Romney defined the word for him. Obama spoke of big dreams, Mitt Romney asked him why he hadn't delivered any of those in the last four years. Obama couldn't win for losing last night, and he lost. Big time.

Sean Hannity called it a "Rocky Mountain beatdown."

Chris Matthews was nearly reduced to tears.

Bill Maher reluctantly agreed that: "Obama made a lot of great points tonight. Unfortunately, most of them were for Romney."

Charles Krauthammer stated, "Romney won. Romney won big. Romney won by two touchdowns."

Last night's debate was the most talked about debate in recorded history with over 4,000,000 tweets, and Facebook was on fire. The reason for that is that we are at an historical point in history, and last night we saw the two visions of America.

Mitt Romney spoke of a booming American economy, a strong military, and a happy, productive American people. Energy Independence, appropriate tax cuts, business friendly atmosphere, fair trade agreements, and training of the American people for jobs that pay better and produce more were the hallmark of Romney's plan. Romney was strong, steady and very presidential.

‎"It is not the role of government to pick winners and losers in the private sector. The right answer for government is to make business and schools more effective and efficient." Mitt Romney

Barack Obama spoke of bigger government, more control, more regulation, more control over education, and, well, precisely what we have right now:

America suffering three credit downgrades;
America falling from #1 to #7 in world competitiveness;
America falling from #3 to #18 in free economies;
America's GDP falling below that of Pakistan and Cuba;
Nearly 50 million Americans on some sort of government welfare;
23 million Americans out of work;
Healthcare costs gone up by $2,000, and 21 new taxes await Americans on January 1, 2013, courtesy of Obamacare;
Gasoline, food, utility, school, and tax prices completely out of control;

and the beat goes on...

The choice is clear, and that choice last night was laid out for the American people. In a snap CNBC poll, Mitt Romney was declared the winner 67% to 29%. That, my friends, is huge, and accurate.

I invite you to watch the debate for yourselves, I've included it in its entirety below:

3 October 2012: Mitt Romney v. Barack Obama, 1st Presidential Debate 2012 (Part 1)

3 October 2012: Mitt Romney v. Barack Obama, 1st Presidential Debate 2012 (Part 2)

3 October 2012: Mitt Romney v. Barack Obama, 1st Presidential Debate 2012 (Part 3)

3 October 2012: Mitt Romney v. Barack Obama, 1st Presidential Debate 2012 (Part 4)

3 October 2012: Mitt Romney v. Barack Obama, 1st Presidential Debate 2012 (Part 5)

3 October 2012: Mitt Romney v. Barack Obama, 1st Presidential Debate 2012 (Part 6)

3 October 2012: Mitt Romney v. Barack Obama, 1st Presidential Debate 2012 (Part 7)

All in all, Mitt Romney walked away the clear winner last night. He was strong on the issues, his stances, the numbers, and what has gone on the last four years. He challenged Barack Obama on every single lie and misstatement, and countered with facts and statistics. It was a thing of beauty to behold.

Of course, there are those caught in a collective sore delusion that Barack Obama won last night. Pat, pat...you go right ahead and think that if it makes you feel better.

A word of warning, Barack Obama was shellacked last night, no question. However, the next presidential debate takes place in a townhall format, and I'm certain Barack Obama is going to come out swinging. Mitt Romney will be ready for him, but Obama will have a much stronger showing next time.

Here's the debate schedule for the remainder of the month:

October 11th: Paul Ryan vs. Joe Biden

October 16th: Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama (Foreign & Domestic Policy)

October 22nd: Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama (Foreign Policy)

I will have my popcorn at the ready, fresh baked homemade chocolate chip cookies and equal sizes of ice water and Diet Dr. Pepper. And all that is waiting for Ryan vs. Biden. It's going to be a metaphorical bloodbath.

Articles of Note on Last Night's Debate

Townhall: Actually Obama raised taxes on the Middle Class
National Review: The First Debate
Washington Post: Romney Goes on Offense
National Journal: Incumbent Debate Curse, Obama Falls to Romney
Daily Caller: Mitt Romney Came with a Chainsaw