U.S. President Barack Obama continued his attack on the tax proposals put forward by his Republican rival Mitt Romney on Monday.
Speaking at a pair of high-profile fundraisers in Connecticut, Obama invoked an iconic folklore hero to continue his charge that Romney's tax plans would hurt middle and working-class Americans in order to benefit the rich.
"The entire centerpiece of Mitt Romney's economic plan is a new $5 trillion tax cut," Obama said. "Governor Romney's plan would effectively raise taxes on middle-class families with children by an average of $2,000 -- to pay for this tax cut.
"He'd ask the middle class to pay more in taxes so that he could give another $250,000 tax cut to people making more than $3 million a year," Obama added. "It's like Robin Hood in reverse. It's Romney Hood."
Obama, who held the fundraisers the same day it was revealed that the Romney campaign and the Republican National Committee had outraised the president and the Democratic National Committee for the third month in a row, also derided Republican claims that the plan would stimulate large economic growth.
"They have tried to sell us this trickle-down, tax cut fairy dust before. And guess what -- it does not work," Obama said. "It's not a plan to create jobs. It's not a plan to reduce our deficit. And it is not a plan to move our economy forward."
He added, "We need tax cuts for working Americans. We need tax cuts for families who are trying to raise kids, and keep them healthy, and send them to college, and keep a roof over their heads."
While at the first fundraiser, a reception for roughly 500 people with tickets starting at $500 per person, Obama acknowledged the role that money would likely play in the campaign.
"Over the course of the next three months, the other side is going to spend more money than we have ever seen on ads that basically say the same thing you've been hearing for months … which is: The economy is not where it needs to be and it's Obama's fault," the president said. "That's basically their message."
He added, "Now, that may be a plan to win the election, but that's not a plan to create jobs. That's not a plan to grow the economy or revive the middle class."
Obama then went on to a second fundraiser held at the home of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein for roughly 60 additional donors, each contributing the maximum $35,800 combined donation to Obama's campaign and the DNC.
Among those donors were actresses Anne Hathaway and Joanne Woodward, writer and producer Aaron Sorkin, Vogue magazine chief Anna Wintour and former Cincinnati mayor Jerry Springer, better known for his famous tabloid television show.
Obama told the donors at the second event that the nation faces a stark choice between his priorities and those of Romney in issues ranging from health care and education to foreign policy and the economy.
"The good news is that you guys are the tie-breaker. You and the American people," Obama said. "When you cast your ballot, you will have the opportunity to determine the course of this country's direction not just tomorrow, or next year, or five years from now, but probably for decades to come."
by RTT Staff Writer
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