Live Blog: Barack Obama and Mitt Romney Presidential Debate at Hofstra University
Follow along as we verify, dissect, and add context to the candidates' arguments.
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Gutsy and probably smart move by #Romney to - FINALLY - bash GW Bush. #Debate2012by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 1:48:14 AM -
Except now this qn is a softball for #Obama - differentiate yourself from GW Bush. Uh, okay. #Debate2012by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 1:49:47 AM
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Oil Production Dropped 14 Percent on Federal Lands
U.S. oil production reached a record high in 2011, with the United States producing more than 5 million barrels of oil a day according to the Energy Information Administration. That's up 5 percent from 2010, but according to some critics those gains came from development on private—not public—lands.
According to a report released by the EIA this spring, oil production on federal lands actually dropped 14 percent from around 726 million barrels in 2010 to 626 million barrels in 2011, a decline Romney argues is due to the Obama administration drastically cutting permits for oil and gas exploration on federal lands.
But while Romney might be right in pointing out the decrease in production on public lands, the figure needs more context. The 14 percent drop just represents the past year and doesn't adequately capture the overall trend in domestic oil production, experts say.
Furthermore, the decrease in permitting isn't exclusively due to President Obama's policies as Romney has argued. Instead, "it is the result of decades and policies that have systematically reduced energy production on federal lands," according to CNN.
—Meg Handley -
Man I doubt the questioner was thinking about TRADE POLICY and cheap tires when she asked how are you different from GW Bush. #Debate2012by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 1:51:07 AM
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#Obama defends policies of #GW Bush! Oh, the irony. #Debate2012by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 1:51:30 AM
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Obama takes smart hit on Romney citing GWB support for comprehensive immigration reform (Latino voters critical)by Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 1:51:50 AM -
And knocks Romney again, saying GWB never proposed cutting all funding for Planned Parenthood (women voters!)by Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 1:52:21 AM
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Meanwhile, Romney's knock on Obama for taking GWB's debts and doubling down on them also is an effective, valid blowby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 1:53:07 AM
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3 of the top 5 trending @google search queries in the first 20 minutes of the #debate are related to fact checkingby Google Politics via twitter 10/17/2012 1:54:13 AM -
Community Colleges to Retrain Workers
A report released last week from investigative journalism nonprofit ProPublica found that while job retraining is one area that both candidates agree will help to create jobs, it may not necessarily help laid off workers find jobs.
The report studied laid-off workers that were retrained at Blackhawk Technical College, a small two-year college in janesville, Wis., and compared them to their laid-off peers who were not retrained. It found that the retrained workers were in fact less able to find jobs than their counterparts.
The report lays out several potential reasons for this—it could be that the best workers chose not to be retrained and instead continued on the job search. It may be that those workers who were not retrained took the available jobs while the other workers were being retrained. Or it could be that there is a lag between retraining and when those retrained workers find jobs.
One expert says that retraining might help, but there is yet another curb that will keep some even well-trained workers in one industry out of the workforce.
"Retraining could help, but the long term trend in manufacturing employment is down, and it will be difficult to reverse, largely as a result of technological improvements that replace workers with machines," says Gad Levanon, director of macroeconomic research at The Conference Board.
—Danielle Kurtzleben -
Romney's claim that unemployment down simply because of people stopping looking for work is a partial truthby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 1:57:55 AM
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Both President Obama and Governor Romney did a good job of explaining their own tax plans but a poor job of describing each other's plans. The statistics cited were close to accurate but not completely.
For 2011, the top 3.8% of the taxpayers earned 25.4% of the income in the country and paid 57% of all the income taxes. The average income tax rate paid by all taxpayers for 2011 was 8.8%. Those earning $200,000 to $500,000 paid an average tax rate of 16.6%, $500,000 to $1 million paid an average tax rate of 22.2% and those earning more than $1 million paid an average tax rate of 22.2%.
The primary reason the average rate goes down for those earning more than $1 million is due to the fact that more of their income comes from capital gains and dividends both of which are taxed at 15%.
David J Kautter
Managing Director, Kogod Tax Center
Kogod School of Business
American University -
True for unemployment drop a few months ago, but not true of most recent drop from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent, experts have saidby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 1:58:33 AM
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Immigration questions completely absent in 1st presidential and the only vice presidential debatesby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 1:59:13 AM
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Lots of perspective and info on our @USNews #Debate2012 liveblog: live.usnews.comby Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 1:59:32 AM
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Romney staked out most conservative position among all GOP cand. - said illegal immigrants in US should "self-deport" before getting in lineby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:00:10 AM
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Body Language
Jeff Thompson, a nonverbal communication researcher at Griffith University, tells U.S. News that both candidates are using “strong pointing gestures” to emphasize their key points. On Twitter, Thompson noted that the president is also using a wide variety of tone and pitch, which experts say is an effective method of communication if used at the right time.
—Elizabeth Flock -
Good luck, #MittRomney, getting employers to sign up for an immigration verification system. Labor costs would go up too much.by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 2:00:41 AM
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He criticized Gov. Rick Perry who said "I don't think you have a heart" if you think we shouldn't edu kids brought illegally by parentsby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:01:58 AM
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Mitt Romney speaks as Barack Obama listens during the town hall style debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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RT @ananavarro: I had a hard time following what Romney is proposing to address the 11 million undocumented people already here.by Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:03:45 AM
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Built Enough Oil Pipeline to Wrap Around Earth
When pressed on why he wouldn't sign the Keystone XL Pipeline into law, Obama said that the country has build enough new oil pipelines to wrap around the earth.
The president used the visual to explain his energy policy to a middle-school science class earlier this year, and while it sounds outlandish, PolitiFact says that it's true.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, there were 2,519,861 miles of gas and oil pipelines in 2010. NASA says that it is 24,874 miles around the earth meaning you could wrap that pipe around the earth a few times.
—Lauren Fox -
But Obama has been criticized for not following through on promise of passing DREAM act or comprehensive immigration reformby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:04:28 AM
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Businesses in Alabama, where strict immigration laws put in place, have complained about vanished workforceby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:05:28 AM
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Do the Numbers Add Up?
It seems appropriate to point out that running a business, or running the Olympics, is completely different from running—or trying to run—the U.S. government. Romney still hasn’t spelled out how he would cut taxes at a time when the national debt is already alarmingly high, without making that problem worse.
By saying, "of course the numbers will add up" then touting his business experience, he's basically saying that he'll run the government the way he has run a business.
To give Romney the benefit of the doubt, here's one scenario in which his tax plan, as he has outlined it so far, might be a starting point for how his plan might lead to some kind of tax reform.
But as they say in the military, no plan survives first contact with the enemy, and nowhere is that more true than in Washington. At a minimum, any tax reform Romney proposed would be thoroughly revised and mutated before it became law, which would most likely take years.
—Rick Newman -
Romney now has said he's not in favor of amnesty for those here, and also not in favor of rounding up all illegals. #sowhatsthesolutionby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:07:10 AM
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Romney mentioned that one key difference between his presidency and George W. Bush's is that he will focus on trade with Latin America. It's important to note that the Bush administration actually initiated, signed, and got Congress to ratify free trade agreements with Peru, Columbia, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. If a Romney administration seeks to increase trade with Latin America, I don't see how it could be any different from the Bush administration's policy.
David Bell Mislan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of International Service
American University -
Romney promises he will get comprehensive immigration reform passed in his first yearby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:09:18 AM
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100 Years Worth of Natural Gas Under American Soil
With the rise of hydraulic fracturing, the doors to previously inaccessible reserves of oil and gas have been flung open. But is the United States really sitting on 100 years' worth of natural gas?
Despite the grand claims, drill down and the details get a little fuzzy. A lot it of it has to do with proven reserves versus potential resources. The 100-year stockpile is based on a broad estimate of "proved," "probable," "possible," "speculative," and "coalbed" gas sources, all with varying levels of certainty.
"By the same logic, you can claim to be a multi-billionaire, including all your 'probable, possible, and speculative resources,' " a Slate article quipped.
Just considering "proved" resources and the nation's current gas consumption rate, only an 11-year supply of natural gas is certain, according to the article. The other 89 years or so has either not been shown to exist or might not be recoverable.
—Meg Handley -
RT @NonverbalPhD: RT @VisualEmotionNJ: Micro distress and big swallow from Romney during Obamas deficit argument #debate FYI @lizflock @ ...by lizflock via twitter 10/17/2012 2:13:48 AM -
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Who's winning? The Twitterverse weighs in: www.usnews.com -
#Romney looking shaky on this terrorism labeling issue. #Obama winning the Battle of Disgusted Looks.by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 2:17:34 AM
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Another good question, this one on assault weapons. #Debate2012by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 2:18:05 AM
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Gun control! Lost issue of these debates, this campaign, with the exception of Batman shootingby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:18:08 AM
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Just surpassed 3.5 million tweets since the start of the 2nd Presidential Debate. This is more than entire VP Debate last week. #debatesby Twitter Government via twitter 10/17/2012 2:18:09 AM -
580K Jobs Lost by Women in the Past Four Years
Mitt Romney claimed that 580,000 jobs were lost by women in the past four years. The labor department performs two surveys that measure employment—the establishment survey and the household survey.
According to the establishment survey, in which the department surveys employers, there were 283,000 fewer women employees in the U.S. as of September than in January 2009. That establishment figure also does not reflect the Labor Department's recent revision to 2011 payroll figures, which preliminarily added 386,000 jobs to last year's figures.
According to the household survey, there were 253,000 more women employees (age 16 and older) in the U.S. as of September than in January 2009. However, there were 118,000 fewer women working full-time last month than in January 2009.
—Danielle Kurtzleben
UPDATE: It should be noted that in the above comments, Romney was talking about job losses over "the last four years." The above figures reflect job changes over the course of the Obama presidency. -
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Also - gun owners have been PETRIFIED of what the Obama admin would do, to the extent that there have been runs on ammoby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:20:35 AM
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Romney's response to the question about pay equity for women has gone viral on social networks. Describing how he searched for women to fill his cabinet when he was the governor of Massachusetts, Romney told the assembled audience he was brought "binders full of women." In the minutes that followed, the phrase "Binders Full of Women" began trending on Twitter nationwide, and the account @RomneyBinders had gained almost 30,000 followers.
—Elizabeth Flock -
Oil Imports Lowest in 16 Years
Oil imports may indeed be at a 16-year low but that also reflects diminishing American consumer demand over the same period. Much of that is attributable to the fact that the vehicles we are driving are more fuel efficient. And, over the same period, when consumers traded in a vehicle for a new one, more often than not it is for a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
—Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst, Gasbuddy.com -
Presidential challengers often bash China before assuming office, then the game changesby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:28:36 AM
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Candy Crowley just fact-checked a candidate's statement in real-time. As part of a discussion on the recent attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya, Mitt Romney questioned the president's assertion that he described the incident as a terror attack a day later.
"He did," Crowley told Romney.
What Obama said the day after the attack, according to Politico: "No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation."
—Elizabeth Flock -
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Romney and the Arizona Immigration Law
In a February debate, Romney did say that Arizona's immigration law was a model for the nation. However, Romney embraced the E-Verify system specifically.
"I think you see a model here in Arizona," Romney said. "They passed a law here that says that people who come here and try to find work, that the employer is required to look them up on E-Verify. This E-Verify system allows employers in Arizona to know who's here legally and who's not here legally. And as a result of E-Verify being put in place, the number of people in Arizona that are here illegally has dropped by some 14 percent."
—Lauren Fox -
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Obama talks of cutting tax cuts for businesses who invest overseas, last debate Romney said he was unaware of this policyby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:34:35 AM
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RT @MrDanZak: Ah! CNN's EKG is showing the undecideds have flatlined! Code blue! Code blue! NOT TODAY, UNDECIDEDS! BREATHE! #hofdebateby lizflock via twitter 10/17/2012 2:35:47 AM
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Romney says Obama campaign paints himself as uncaring, adds he cares about 100% of people - but R actually 'built that' myth with 47% videoby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:36:03 AM
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Is this the first time #MittRomney has ever mentioned his church? #Debate2012by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 2:36:14 AM
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I think that guy in the front row (blue polo shirt) is nodding off.... #Debate2012by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 2:38:59 AM
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#Obama's best move: Finishing up without forcing #CandyCrowley to interrupt him. #Debate2012by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 2:40:41 AM
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An ABC snap poll finds President Obama is winning the debate so far, 2178 votes to Romney’s 1016.
Snap polls must be taken with a massive grain of salt, however. CNN's snap poll of the first presidential debate, for example, showed Romney winning by an incredible 42 points, before acknowledging later that its sample was weighted toward Republican voters.
—Elizabeth Flock -
#Obamanauts seem thrilled their man was better than before. They should raise the bar. He needs to be better still. #Debate2012by Rick Newman via twitter 10/17/2012 2:48:16 AM
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So Obama obviously did better than last time but this will not be a 'game-changer' to the extent the 1st one was. You just don't get redosby Rebekah Metzler via twitter 10/17/2012 2:49:48 AM
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InTrade has Obama winning the debate at 91%by Anthony De Rosa via twitter 10/17/2012 2:55:26 AM -
Check out our roundup of photos of tonight's debate.
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News sites and partisan blogs have put up their post-debate headlines. Some of the best:
Drudge Report: FIGHT!
Huffington Post: BARACK IS BACK!
Washington Post: Obama, Romney aggressive...
New York Times: Tense encounters...
Breitbart: Battle Royale
Fox News: Obama, Romney Turn Up the Tension
Daily Beast: Sullivan: Obama Won Every Exchange
—Elizabeth Flock
