On Wednesday night, Americans will watch the first of three presidential debates between President Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney. Because of the crises we face, the country deserves an honest debate, focused on issues and solutions.
But here’s a spoiler alert: The debate Americans deserve is not the debate President Obama wants. With neither a successful record nor a serious plan, he is desperate to distract from the real issues.
President Obama is a gifted speaker and won every debate in 2008. He will surely offer an impressively polished performance once again, but as we’ve learned the last four years eloquence alone will not solve our nation’s problems.
The president has added $5.4 trillion to the national debt. The unemployment rate has been above eight percent for 43 straight months. Twenty-three million Americans are struggling for work. More Americans are living in poverty than when he took office; more are reliant on food stamps as they see their wages shrink.
Unable to defend this record, President Obama will make excuses. And he’ll spend the debate dishonestly attacking Gov. Romney — exactly what he’s been doing at campaign rallies and on the airwaves for months now.
In addition, he will surely make more promises to the American people. But voters must remember: he hasn’t kept the promises he made for his first term. Why would he be able to keep his promises for a second term?
President Obama promised to fix the economy “in three years,” lest he face a “one term proposition.” He promised unemployment would be below 5.5 percent by now. He promised to cut the deficit in half. All of these promises have been broken.
In the 2008 debates against Sen. John McCain, then-candidate Obama promised to “to lower the cost of your [health insurance] premiums by up to $2,500 a year.” But under the Affordable care Act, premiums continue to rise — and studies show they will rise well into the future.
President Obama has no credibility. He also has no plan to fix the economy in a second term. His only serious policy proposal is a tax increase, which would indisputably hurt job creation. With no new ideas, the president is offering more of the same. But if there’s anything Americans can agree on, it’s that we cannot afford four more years like the last four.
In stark contrast to the president stands Gov. Romney, a leader with a plan for the economy and a record to back up his promises.
Gov. Romney has spent his life turning around difficult situations — and getting results. As a businessman he helped start successful companies — like Staples and Sports Authority — and save failing ones. When the 2002 Winter Olympics were in trouble, Mitt Romney took the helm and made the Games a tremendous success and a source of pride for the country.
When he was elected governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney found a state with a $3 billion shortfall. By working across the aisle, he was able to cut spending and cut taxes, while balancing the budget every year. When he left office the state had $2 billion in its Rainy Day Fund. On top of that, he oversaw a decrease in the state’s unemployment rate to 4.7 percent as the economy grew and created jobs.
We can expect similar results when Mitt Romney is president. The five-point Romney-Ryan Plan for a Stronger Middle Class will pursue North American energy independence to create jobs and lower energy costs. It will ensure Americans have access to the education and skills training needed to succeed in the modern workforce. It will make trade work in the interest of America, cut the deficit to protect our investments, and champion small businesses, the engine of our economy.
The Romney-Ryan Plan is expected to create 12 million new jobs over the next four years. That kind of growth and opportunity is exactly what America needs.
Voters deserve a president with a plan and the proven leadership capabilities to implement it. President Obama doesn’t have this, and no amount of soaring rhetoric or empty promises on Wednesday night can change that.
Reince Priebus is chairman of the Republican National Committee.
