WHAT A CONTRAST!

       What a contrast between the Republicans’ reaction to the second debate and the Democrats’ reaction to the first debate!
        Whereas Democratic sympathizers were the first to acknowledge the President’s disappointing performance and to concede that Mitt Romney was the winner that night, the Republicans are looking for all kinds of excuses to deny President Obama’s clear victory in Tuesday night’s heated debate.

Photo by Michael Phillips-
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        As expected they heaped much of the blame on the moderator, Candy Crowley, for correcting Mr. Romney’s misrepresentation of the President’s remarks in the Rose Garden on the day following the Benghazi attacks. Instead they should be relieved that she didn’t call attention to all the other misstatements by the Governor. Ms. Crowley moderated what for me was the most spirited televised presidential debate, and the most lively exchange of views ever.
        The Republicans and some of the commentators have faulted President Obama for not laying out his plans for the next four years. I disagree completely with that criticism, because his plans were inferred over and over again in his responses to the various questions.  He will work for the passage of the legislative acts that Republicans have blocked, such as the Dream Act, the American Jobs Act, the Farm Bill, the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Veterans’ Jobs Bill, the cost of living adjustment for veterans, continuation of the Bush tax cuts for those earning under $250,000 a year, the winding down of our involvement in Afghanistan, and continuing to push his policies regarding energy, education, rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, and the prevention of the outsourcing of American jobs. These are just a few of his most obvious commitments.

        While clearly identifying the differences between his own policies and those of Governor Romney, President Obama also skillfully dismantled his opponent’s repeated “five-point plan” by asserting, “He doesn’t have a five-point plan; he has a one-point plan,” which is all about giving tax breaks to the wealthiest one percent.
        One of the most exasperating things about the debates for me so far, is that more attention has not been paid to the obstructionism of the Republican congress. The President had every right to blame the Republicans for their total lack of cooperation. Their stated political objective was to make him a one-term President, so they opposed every piece of legislation from his administration, setting a record number of filibusters in the process. Mr. Obama, perhaps wisely, chose not to hammer on that theme, hoping that the Republicans will be more cooperative in his second term.
        That’s a reasonable expectation, since the Republicans’ main political objective will no longer need to be to keep “this President” from winning a second term.  That might be a good reason for undecided voters to lean his way in this election, especially if they consider how much President Obama has been able to accomplish, despite the persistent obstructionism of the Republicans!