President Obama took his campaign to Virginia this week, and while he was there, he did some major backpedaling on his promises from four years ago to run clean political campaigns. During an exclusive interview with WAVY.Com’s Andy Fox, the president took the opportunity to address the criticism his campaign has been directing at Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
The main subject of these attacks on Romney, is his tenure at Bain Capital, a private alternative asset management company. The president’s campaign has accused Romney of not only lying about his tenure at Bain Capital, but of possibly committing a felony, by falsifying statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The president’s deputy campaign manager told reporters that Romney was “misrepresenting his postion at Bain to the American people to avoid responsibility for some of the consequences of his investments.”
Romney’s campaign manager, Matt Rhoades, replied with a statement that said, “President Obama’s campaign hit a new low today, when one of its senior advisors made a reckless and unsubstantiated charge to reporters about Mitt Romney, that was so over the top, that it calls into question the integrity of their entire campaign. President Obama ought to apologize for the out of control behavior of his staff, which demeans the office he holds.”
The allegations directed at the Republican presidential nominee, came after a report, released by the Boston Globe, stated that Romney had remained at Bain Capital for three years longer than he had previously claimed. Bain Capital has since released a statement that supports Romney’s claims to have left in 1999.
In his interview with Andy Fox, Obama said, “No. We will not apologize. Mr Romney claims he’s Mr. Fix-it for the economy because of his business experience, so I think voters entirely, legitimately want to know what is exactly, his business experience.”
This statement is a stark contrast to the promises made in 2008, when Obama promised to “bring change to Washington”. He said there would be no more dirty politics, or smear campaigns. He promised that he could do it differently. However, now that he’s in office and stands a chance to lose it, the gloves have come off.
Mr. President, I ask you, the American people ask you: “When will you begin keeping the promises you have made?” Over and over again we have seen promises unkept, and issues tabled. I for one would like to see you truly do what you promised to do. You have taken every opportunity that could have made you great, and instead you have made choice after choice to compromise what you claim to believe in. I sir, would like a refund…you can keep your change.
