The first Pre- US election publicly aired political debate took place last Wednesday with both President Obama and his Republican contender Mitt Romney having two separate visions for the economic future of the US. With an economic double dip recession looming in the backdrop of the next presidential cycle. The importance of these debates reflects not just the closeness of the race but the politics at stake. More than in most US presidential contests, the candidates embody clear alternatives, between a larger, more interventionist state and a stripped-down, market-oriented one.
In his manifesto pledge President Obama has unveiled a plan to cut the national debt by about $4tn over a decade. The strategy hinges on eliminating wasteful spending in government programmes like Medicare and generating revenue by ending some of the Bush-era tax cuts for high-income households and closing tax loop holes. The plan also includes troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, imposing spending caps for future overseas military operations, and a $32bn cut on direct payment to farmers over 10 years. In a nut shell Obama proposes the reduction of federal spending on the US armed forces and the more prudent budgetary control and a raising of taxes on the wealthy individuals and corporations.
Romney's proposed approach to creating jobs hinges upon less regulation, a balanced budget, more trade deals to promote growth, and cutting the corporate tax rate to 25 from 35 per cent. He has also proposed replacing unemployment benefits with an unemployment savings account, as well as repealing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law that gives the federal government new powers to regulate Wall Street after the financial meltdown of 2008 Romney says his private sector experience as CEO of Bain Capital makes him an ideal candidate for job creation. In response, the Obama campaign has accused Romney of heading a carpet-bagging corporation that destroyed domestic companies, sent jobs overseas, and forced bankruptcy onto a number of firms.
Glued to my television set in the UK and deprived of my early night sleep -from the very beginning of the 90 minute debate, Mitt Romney looked comfortable and prepared for the debate. He appeared relaxed someone totally in charge of his brief. President Barack Obama on the other hand looked exhausted and exasperated he was thrown onto the defensive throes for most of the encounter. He missed some open goals, at one point. Mitt Romney queried whether the President's assertion that companies get a tax break for shipping jobs overseas, saying that after 25 years in business: 'I don't know what you're talking about. I need to get a better accountant'.
President Obama failed to use the debate at that stage to highlight once more that his opponent is a multi-millionaire who last year paid a tax rate lower than most average Americans, so probably has a pretty good accountant. There was no mention of the '47 per cent' video which has damaged the Romney campaign so badly, and only a passing reference to the auto industry bail out. This was an insipid, uninspired and uninspiring performance from a sitting President who four years ago energized a country and a generation with his message of hope and change. That allowed Mitt Romney to appear calm and in control, even Presidential.
Realistically, the first political debate certainly won’t win Mitt Romney the US presidency. Political campaigns are about stealing momentum: and at the very least Obama’s has been checked. In the next two debates, he needs to come out fighting, and show not just the mastery of detail that he was at pains to convey at the debate with Mitt. The magical passion, zeal and charisma that won him 2008 election will have to return sooner than later. One thing is certain from listening to the debate-Mitt
Romney is right back in this race after a terrible month coloured by his 47% gaffe. But it’s far from over for President Obama as the polls still have him in the lead. The expectation by Democrats is that Mr. Obama will now doubtless practice more seriously for the second debate on October 16. Its more informal, “town-meeting” format will test both men’s ability to connect with real voters: Mr. Romney especially scores low in polls when voters are asked if he can empathise with their lives. So a word of advice to my jittery face book Democrats: tell your trounced candidate Obama –less showing of public affect with Michelle in Public outings. Advise him that he has to recapture the political fighting spirit of 2008.
Donovan Reynolds is a British based Jamaican Social Worker,Human Rights campaigner and Independent writer.He is a blogger with an interest in politics ,culture and International development issues.Feel free to give feedback on the space provided below.Alternatively you may respond by e-mailing him at dannygerm63@hotmail.co.uk ,dannygerm@twitter or on his facebook link
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