President Obama's reelection team released a new web video blasting Republican nominee Mitt Romney for saying Friday that the federal government shouldn't move forward with legislation that would give cash-strapped states money for teachers and emergency responders.
The video opens with a series of headlines about teacher, firefighter, and police layoffs nationwide.
"President Obama has a plan to help," on-screen text reads, cutting to excerpts from the president's press conference Friday at the White House.
"One of the biggest weaknesses has been state and local governments, which have laid off 450,000 Americans. These are teachers and cops and firefighters. Congress should pass a bill putting them back to work right now, giving help to the states so that those layoffs are not occurring," the president says.
That statement is contrasted with remarks Romney made Friday while campaigning in Iowa.
"He wants another stimulus, he wants to hire more government workers. He says we need more fireman, more policeman, more teachers. Did he not get the message of Wisconsin? The American people did. It’s time for us to cut back on government and help the American people," Romney says.
The ad concludes by claiming "Romney economics" would lead to fewer teachers, firefighters, and police officers.
"The last thing our country needs is to have fewer teachers in our schools," the campaign tweeted from its official account Saturday.
The Romney campaign said Saturday that Obama's team was attempting to "manufacture outrage after President Obama's disastrous comment yesterday when he said 'the private sector is doing fine.'"
Republicans immediately pounced on the statement during a White House press conference Friday, prompting the president to later walk the remark back and insist it was "absolutely clear" the economy was not "fine."
"While President Obama wants to stimulate government, Mitt Romney wants to stimulate the American economy. President Obama truly believes the economy is ‘doing fine,’ which is why he is doubling down on his failed policies that have impeded job creation and economic growth," said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul. "Americans know these ideas haven’t worked, which is why there’s a revolt inside the Democratic Party against President Obama’s outdated, big-government agenda. President Obama is not only on the wrong side of the Democratic Party, he’s also on the wrong side of history.”
