President Obama, speaking at the NATO Summit in Chicago on Monday, doubled down on his recent criticism of Mitt Romney and his time as CEO of Bain Capital. Obama had to say something after Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker called the attacks on Bain “Nauseating” . Booker has since tried to walk back the comments.
Obama speaking to reporters first addressed Booker by name then turned his attention to Romney and Bain saying,
“First of all, I think Cory Booker is an outstanding mayor. He’s doing a great job in Newark and helping to turn that city around.I think it’s important to recognize that this issue is not a, quote, distraction — this is part of the debate that we’re going to be having in this election campaign about how do we create an economy that everybody, top to bottom, folks on Wall Street and folks on Main Street, have a chance at success.”
Then speaking directly about Romney he said,
“You know, he’s not going out there touting his experience in Massachusetts. He’s saying, I’m a business guy and I know how to fix it, and this is his business,” he said. “When you’re president, as opposed to the head of a private equity firm, your job is not simply to maximize profits,”
Mitt Romney has been quick to respond to the President’s charges as of late. He reacted with the following statement about President Obama,
“President Obama confirmed today that he will continue his attacks on the free enterprise system, which Mayor Booker and other leading Democrats have spoken out against. What this election is about is the 23 million Americans who are still struggling to find work and the millions who have lost their homes and have fallen into poverty. President Obama refuses to accept moral responsibility for his failed policies. My campaign is offering a positive agenda to help America get back to work.”