Obama Accuses Romney of 'Twisting My Words' on Small Businesses - East Idaho News
Politics

Obama Accuses Romney of ‘Twisting My Words’ on Small Businesses

  Published at

Getty 020112 PresidentObama?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1343120080696Alex Wong/Getty Images(SAN FRANCISCO) — For the past week, Mitt Romney has slammed President Obama for saying of small business owners, “you didn’t build that.”  On Monday night, Obama fired back, accusing his GOP rival of “splicing and dicing” his words for political gain.

“Earlier today, Governor Romney was at it again, knowingly twisting my words around to suggest that I don’t value small businesses,” the president told supporters in Oakland, Calif.

“In politics we all tolerate a certain amount of spin.  I understand these are the games that get played in political campaigns.  Although, you know, when folks just like omit entire sentences of what you said — they start kind of splicing and dicing — you may have gone a little over the edge there,” he said.

Obama was referring to recent attacks by Romney that suggest the president has denigrated small business owners and their pursuit of the American Dream.

Speaking in Roanoke, Va., 10 days ago, the president said: “If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help…Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive.  Somebody invested in roads and bridges.  If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that.  Somebody else made that happen.”

“The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together,” he said at the time.

Republicans and the Romney campaign have since seized on Obama’s “you didn’t build that” line.

Earlier on Monday, Romney, also in California, convened a roundtable of business leaders beneath a banner bearing the slogan “We did build it!” — a mocking reference to Obama.

“I hear it time and again, people say as you did, that they think business is the enemy or that business is getting a free ride.  And there’s a sense that some of you are bad guys,” Romney said alluding to the president.  “I see you as the good guys.  You’re employing people and hiring people.”

On Monday night, Obama tried to clarify.

“I believe with all my heart that it is the drive and the ingenuity of Americans who start businesses that lead to their success.  I always have and I always will,” he said.

What makes small businesses successful is a strong and growing middle class, he said, accusing Romney of pursuing policies that only look out for the wealthy.

“Mr. Romney’s plan is to gut these investments just so that he can give more tax breaks to millionaires and companies that are shipping jobs overseas.  He thinks that’s the best way to grow the economy.  He thinks that’s the best way to help small businesses.  And I’ve got to tell you he is dead wrong.  We did not build this country from the top down.  We built this country together,” Obama concluded.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION