Vice President Joe Biden took up the attack on Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's record on job creation at a campaign event on Tuesday
Romney has made his experience in the private sector as head of the investment firm Bain Capital one of the central planks of his case to win the White House from President Barack Obama in November.
Recently, the Obama campaign and the White House have backed away from direct attacks on Romney's tenure at Bain, as past attacks were criticized by even some Democrats.
But a Washington Post report last week that claimed Romney invested in companies that were "pioneers" in outsourcing during his days as the head of Bain has prompted the Obama camp to renew the attack with more emphasis.
Obama launched the renewed assault Monday and Biden took up the task in remarks at a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, deploying some of the most pointed rhetoric yet.
"Here's the bottom line: Bain and their companies made a lot of money facilitating the outsourcing and offshoring of American jobs," Biden said, according prepared remarks. "Yeah, they made a lot of money, but in the process, they devastated American communities."
He added, "So give Mitt Romney credit: He is a job creator. In Singapore. And China. And India."
Biden, following Obama's lead from Monday, also sought to highlight how the economic philosophy the former Massachusetts Governor had shown at Bain had translated into policy decisions he had made or would make as an elected official.
"When the Massachusetts legislature passed a bill saying you couldn't outsource state contracts overseas...he vetoed it," Biden said. "His whole career, Mitt Romney has looked at the American worker as part of the problem."
Biden added, "The president and I see you -- the American worker -- as part of the solution."
The vice president also took direct aim at some of the criticism Romney and his aides have leveled at Obama.
"Romney called the President 'out of touch' for encouraging young people - you -- to try to get manufacturing jobs. … Out of touch?" Biden asked rhetorically. "[This is] a perspective president with a Swiss bank account and a retirement account in the Cayman Islands. Anyone here have a Swiss bank account? Did you ever think the nominee of a major political party running for President would have a Swiss bank account?"
Biden added, "Talk about out of touch."
The country, Biden said, will never achieve greatness by outsourcing its goals.
"The greatness of this nation is in the grit and determination of the American people," he said. "And it's because of you, our country is coming back."
by RTT Staff Writer
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