Full VP Debate - Joe Biden and Paul Ryan - Vice Presidential Debate Full

[0:04] now as we welcome vice president Joe Biden and congressman Paul Ryan okay you [0:35] got your little wave to the families in that's great good evening gentlemen it [0:39] really is an honor to be here with both of you I would like to begin with Libya [0:44] on a rather somber note one month ago tonight on the anniversary of 9-11 [0:50] ambassador Chris Stevens and three other brave Americans were killed in a [0:55] terrorist attack in Benghazi the State Department has now made clear there were [1:00] no protesters there it was a pre-planned assault by heavily armed men wasn't this [1:06] a massive intelligence failure Vice President Biden what it was was a [1:11] tragedy Martha it Chris Stevens was one of our best we lost three other brave [1:16] Americans and I can make absolutely two commitments to you and all the American [1:21] people tonight one we will find and bring to justice the men who did this and [1:27] secondly we will get to the bottom of it and whatever wherever the facts lead us [1:32] wherever they lead us we will make clear to the American public because whatever [1:36] mistakes are made will not be made again when you're looking at a president Martha [1:40] it seems to me that you should take a look at his most important [1:44] responsibility that's caring for the national security of the country and the [1:48] best way to do that is take a look at how he's handled the issues of the day on [1:52] Iraq the president said he would end the war Governor Romney said that was a [1:56] tragic mistake we should have left 30 that he ended it Governor Romney said that [2:01] was a tragic mistake we should have left 30,000 troops there with regard to [2:05] Afghanistan he said he will end the war in 2014 Governor Romney said we should not [2:10] set a date number one and number two with regard to 2014 it depends when it came to [2:16] Osama bin Laden the president the first day in office I was sitting with him in [2:21] the Oval Office he called in the CIA and signed an order saying my highest [2:25] priorities to get bin Laden prior to the election prior to the him being sworn in [2:31] Governor Romney was asked the question about how he would proceed he said I [2:34] wouldn't move heaven and earth to get bin Laden he didn't understand it was more [2:37] than about taking a murderer off the battlefield it was about restoring [2:42] America's heart and letting terrorists around the world know if you do harm to [2:46] America we will track you to the gates of hell if need be and lastly the the [2:52] president United States has has led with a steady hand and clear vision Governor [2:59] Romney the opposite the last thing we need now is another war [3:03] congressman Ryan we mourn the loss of these four Americans who are murdered when [3:12] you take a look at what has happened just in the last few weeks they sent the UN [3:16] ambassador out to say that this was because of a protest and a YouTube video [3:20] it took the president two weeks to acknowledge that this was a terrorist [3:25] attack he went to the UN and in his speech at the UN he said six times he [3:30] talked about the YouTube video look if we are hit by terrorists we're gonna call it [3:35] for what it is a terrorist attack our ambassador in Paris has a marine [3:40] detachment guarding him shouldn't we have a marine detachment guarding our [3:45] ambassador in Benghazi a place where we knew that there was an Al Qaeda cell with [3:50] arms this is becoming more troubling by the day they first blamed the YouTube [3:57] video now they're trying to blame the Romney Ryan ticket for making this an [4:00] issue and with respect to Iraq we had the same position before the withdrawal [4:07] which was we agreed with the Obama administration let's have a status of [4:11] forces agreement to make sure that we secure our gains the vice president was [4:15] put in charge of those negotiations by President Obama and they failed to get [4:19] the agreement we don't have a status of forces agreement because they failed to [4:23] get one that's what we were talking about and when it comes to our veterans we [4:28] owe them a great debt of gratitude for what they've done for us including your son [4:32] Bo but we also want to make sure that we don't lose the things we fought so hard [4:38] to get and with respect to Afghanistan the 2014 deadline we agree with a 2014 [4:42] transition but what we also want to do is make sure that we're not [4:46] projecting weakness abroad and that's what's happening here this Benghazi [4:50] issue would be a tragedy in and of itself but unfortunately it's indicative [4:55] of a broader problem and that is what we are watching on our TV screens is the [4:59] unraveling of the Obama foreign policy which is making the more mark more [5:04] chaotic and us less safe I just want to talk to you about right in the middle of [5:08] the crisis governor Romney and you're talking about this again tonight talked [5:13] about the weakness talked about apologies from the Obama administration was that [5:19] really appropriate right in the middle of the crisis on that same day the Obama [5:24] administration had the exact same position let's recall that they [5:27] disavowed their own statement that they had put up earlier in the day in Cairo so [5:32] we had the same position but we will it's never too early to speak out for our [5:36] values we should have spoken out right away when the green revolution was up and [5:40] starting when the mullahs in Iran were attacking their people we should not have [5:45] called Bashar Assad a reformer when he was turning his Russian provided guns on [5:49] his own people we should always stand up for peace for democracy for individual [5:55] rights and we should not be imposing these devastating defense cuts because [5:59] what that does when we equivocate on our values when we show that we're cutting [6:04] our own defense here it makes us more weak it projects weakness and when we look [6:08] weak our adversaries are much more willing to test us they're more brazen in their [6:12] attacks and our allies are less willing to with all due respect that's a bunch of [6:15] malarkey and why that's because not a single thing he said is accurate first [6:19] of all be specific I will be very specific number one the this lecture on [6:25] embassy security the congressman here cut embassy security in his budget by 300 [6:32] million dollars below what we asked for number one so much for the embassy [6:36] security piece number two governor Romney before he knew the facts before he even [6:41] knew that our ambassador was killed he was out making a political statement which [6:46] was panned by the media around the world and this talk about this this weakness I [6:52] I don't understand what my friends talking about here we this is a president [6:57] who's gone out and done everything he has said he was going to do this is a guy [7:01] who's repaired our alliances so the rest of the world follows us again this is a [7:05] guy who brought the entire world including Russia and China to bring about the [7:10] most devastating most devastating the most devastating efforts on Iran to make [7:19] sure that they in fact stop with their look I I just I mean these guys bet [7:24] against America all the time can we talk about it let me go back sure what were [7:29] you first told about the attack why why were people talking about protests when [7:35] people in the consulate first saw armed men attacking with guns there were no [7:42] protest because why did that go on what we were told by intelligence community [7:47] the intelligence community told us that as they learn more facts about exactly what [7:52] happened they changed their assessment that's why there's also an [7:56] investigation headed by Tom Pickering a leading diplomat and from the Reagan years [8:01] who is doing an investigation as to whether or not there are any lapses what the [8:04] lapses were so that they will never happen again and they wanted more [8:08] security there well we weren't told they wanted more security again we did not [8:12] know they wanted more security again and by the way at the time we were told [8:17] exactly we said exactly what the intelligence community told us that they [8:22] knew that was the assessment and as the intelligence community changed their view [8:26] we made it clear they changed their view that's why I said we will get to the [8:30] bottom of this you know usually when there's a crisis we pull together we pull [8:34] together as a nation but as I said even before we knew what happened to the [8:38] ambassador the governor was holding a press conference was holding the press [8:42] conference that's not presidential leadership mr. Ryan I want to ask you [8:46] about the Romney campaign talks a lot about no apologies he has a book called no [8:51] apologies should the u.s. have apologized for Americans burning Quran in [8:56] Afghanistan should the u.s. apologize for u.s. Marines urinating on Taliban [9:02] corpses oh gosh yes burning on Taliban corpses what we should not apologize [9:08] runs immediately what we should not be apologizing for are standing up for our [9:12] values what we should not be doing is saying the Egyptian people while Mubarak [9:18] is cracking down on them that he's a good guy and then the next week say he [9:21] ought to go what we should not be doing is rejecting claims from for calls for [9:26] more security in our barracks in our marine we need Marines in Benghazi when the [9:32] commander on the ground says we need more forces for security there were [9:35] requests for extra security those requests were not honored look this was [9:40] the anniversary of 9-11 it was Libya a country we knew we had Al Qaeda cells [9:46] there as we know Al Qaeda and its affiliates are on the rise in northern [9:50] Africa and we did not give our ambassador in Benghazi a marine detachment of [9:55] course there's an investigation so we can make sure that this never happens [9:59] again but when it comes to speaking up for our values we should not [10:03] apologize for those here's the problem look at all the various issues out [10:07] there and it's unraveling before our eyes the vice president talks about [10:10] sanctions on Iran they got we've had to Iran I'd actually like to move to Iran [10:16] because there's really no bigger national security this country is facing both [10:20] President Obama and Governor Romney have said they will prevent Iran from [10:25] getting a nuclear weapon even if that means military action last week former [10:30] Defense Secretary Bob Gates said a strike on Iran's facilities would not work [10:34] and quote could prove catastrophic haunting us for generations can the two of [10:41] you be absolutely clear and specific to the American people how effective would a [10:47] military strike be congressman right we cannot allow Iran to gain a nuclear [10:53] weapons capability now let's take a look at where we've got come from when [10:58] Barack Obama was elected they had enough fissile material nuclear material to make [11:03] one bomb now they have enough for five they're racing toward a nuclear weapon [11:07] they're four years closer toward a nuclear weapons capability we've had four [11:10] different sanctions to the UN on Iran three from the Bush administration one [11:14] here and the only reason we got it is because Russia watered it down and [11:18] prevented the sanctions from hitting the central bank Mitt Romney proposed these [11:23] sanctions 2007 in Congress I've been fighting for these sanctions since 2009 the [11:27] administration was blocking us every step of the way only because we had strong [11:31] bipartisan support for these tough sanctions were we able to overrule their [11:35] objections and put them in spite of the administration imagine what would have [11:39] happened if we had these sanctions in place earlier you think Iran's not [11:42] brazen look at what they're doing they're stepping up their terrorist attacks [11:46] they tried a terrorist attack in the United States last year when they try to [11:50] blow up the Saudi ambassador at a restaurant in Washington DC and talk [11:54] about credibility when this administration says that all options are on the [11:58] table they send out senior administration officials that send all [12:01] these mixed signals and so in order to solve this peacefully which is [12:06] everybody's goal you have to have the ayatollahs change their minds look at [12:11] where they are they're moving faster toward a nuclear weapon it's because [12:15] this administration has no credibility on this issue it's because this [12:18] administration watered down sanctions delayed sanctions try to stop us from [12:22] putting the tough sanctions in place now we have them in place because of [12:24] Congress they say the military options on the table but it's not being viewed as [12:28] credible and the key is to do this peacefully is to make sure that we have [12:33] credibility under Romney administration we will have credibility on this issue [12:37] Vice President Biden it's incredible look imagine had we let the Republican [12:44] Congress work out the sanctions you think there's any possibility the entire [12:49] world would have joined us Russia and China all of our allies these are the most [12:55] crippling sanctions in the history of sanctions period period when Governor [13:01] Romney's asked about it he said we got to keep these sanctions when you say well [13:05] you're talking about doing more what do you are you you're going to go to war is [13:08] that what you want to do now we want to prevent war and I the interesting thing is [13:11] how they're going to prevent war how they're going to prevent war they say [13:14] there's nothing more that we that they say we should do than what we've already [13:19] done number one and number two with regard to the ability of the United States to take [13:24] action militarily it is it is not in my purview to talk about classified [13:29] information but we feel quite confident we could deal a serious blow to the [13:34] Iranians but number two the Iranians are the Israelis in the United States our [13:40] military intelligence communities are absolutely the same exact place in terms [13:45] of how close how close the Iranians are to getting a nuclear weapon they are a [13:52] good way away there is no difference between our view and theirs when my [13:57] friend talks about fissile material they have to take this highly enriched uranium [14:02] get it from 20% up then they have to be able to have something to put it in there [14:08] is no weapon that the Iranians have at this point both the Israelis and we know [14:13] we'll know if they start the process of building a weapon so all this bluster I [14:19] keep hearing all this loose talk what are they talking about are you talking about [14:24] to be more credible what work and the president do stand before the United [14:28] Nations tell the whole world directly communicate to the Ayatollah we will not [14:33] let them acquire a nuclear weapon period unless he's talking about going to war [14:38] Martha let's just let's look at this from the view of the Ayatollahs what do [14:45] they see they see this administration trying to water down sanctions in [14:48] Congress for over two years they're moving faster toward a nuclear weapon [14:53] they're spinning the centrifuges faster they see us saying when we come into the [14:58] administration when they're sworn in we need more space with our ally Israel they [15:03] see President Obama in New York City the same day Bibi Netanyahu is and he's [15:07] instead of meeting with him goes on it on a daily talk show they see when we say [15:13] that these options are on the table the Secretary of Defense walk them back they [15:19] are not changing their mind that's what we have to do is change their mind so [15:24] they stop pursuing nuclear weapons look you you both saw Benjamin Netanyahu hold [15:30] up that picture of a bomb with a red line and talking about the red line being in [15:35] spring so can you solve this if if the Romney Ryan ticket is elected can you solve [15:43] this in two months before spring and avoid nuclear nuclear week we can debate the timeline we can [15:49] debate the timeline whether there's it's that short a time or longer I agree that [15:53] it's probably longer number two it's all I don't agree with that bomb and what the Israelis [15:59] might do we both I don't want to go into classified stuff but we both agree that to do [16:05] this peacefully you got to get them to change their minds they're not changing their minds and [16:09] look at what this what do you do let me tell you what the Ayatollah sees his economy being crippled [16:16] the Ayatollah sees that there are 50 percent fewer exports of oil he sees the currency going into the [16:24] tank he sees the economy going into free fall and he sees the world for the first time totally united [16:30] in opposition to him getting a nuclear weapon now with regard to BB has been my friend for 39 years [16:36] the president has met with BB a dozen times he's spoken to BB Netanyahu as much as he's spoken to [16:42] anybody the idea that we're not I was in a just before he went to the UN I was in a conference call [16:48] with the with the president uh with him talking to BB for well over an hour in in in in stark relief [16:55] in detail about what was going on this is a bunch of stuff look here's the deal what does that mean a [17:00] bunch of stuff well it means it's simply inaccurate it's Irish it's Irish we Irish call it malarkey [17:06] thanks for the translation no we Irish call it malarkey but last thing the secretary of defense [17:12] has made it absolutely can't walk anything back we will not allow the Iranians to get a nuclear weapon [17:20] what BB held up there was when they get to the point where they can enrich uranium enough to put into a [17:27] weapon they don't have a weapon to put it into let's all calm down a little bit here Iran is more [17:34] isolated today than when we took office it was on the ascendancy when we took office it is totally [17:40] isolated I don't know what world these guys thank heavens we have these sanctions in place it's in [17:46] spite of their opposition oh god they've given 20 waivers of this sanction and all I have to point to [17:52] the results they're four years closer toward a nuclear weapon I think that case can you tell [17:58] the American what's worse another war in the Middle East they're they're closer to being able to get [18:05] enough fissile material to put in a weapon if they had a weapon you're acting a little bit like they [18:10] don't want one oh I didn't say no I'm not saying that's the facts matter Martha you're a foreign policy [18:16] expert facts matter all this loose talk about them all they have to do is get to enrich uranium in a [18:22] certain amount and they have a weapon not true not true they are more and if we ever have to take [18:30] action unlike when we took office we will have the world behind us and that matters that matters what [18:37] about Bob Gates statement let me read that again could prove catastrophic haunting us for generations he [18:45] is right it could prove catastrophic if we didn't do it right and what it does is it undermines our [18:51] credibility by backing up the point when we make it that all options are on the table that's the point [18:57] the Ayatollahs see these kinds of statements and they think I'm gonna get a nuclear weapon when when we [19:05] see the kind of equivocation that took place because this administrative station wanted a precondition policy [19:11] so when the Green Revolution started up they were silent for nine days when they see us putting [19:16] desperate desperate they see us putting daylight between ourselves and our allies in Israel that [19:23] gives them encouragement when they see Russia watering down any further sanctions the only reason we got [19:29] a UN sanction is because Russia watered it down and prevented these central bank sanctions in the [19:33] first place so when they see this kind of activity they are encouraged to continue and that's the [19:38] let me ask you what's worse war in the Middle East another war in the Middle East [19:44] I'll tell you a nuclear armed Iran I'll tell you what's worse a nuclear armed Iran which triggers [19:49] a nuclear arms race in the Middle East this is the world's largest sponsor of terrorism they've [19:55] dedicated themselves to wiping an entire country off the map they call us the great Satan and if they [20:00] get nuclear weapons other people in the neighborhood will pursue their nuclear weapons as well Vice [20:05] President Biden we can't live with that war should always be the absolute last resort that's why [20:12] these crippling sanctions with Bibi Netanyahu says we should continue which if I'm not mistaken [20:18] Governor Romney says we we should continue if I may be mistaken he changed his mind so often I could [20:25] be wrong but the fact of the matter is he says they're working and the fact is that they are being [20:31] crippled by them and we've made it clear big nations can't bluff this president doesn't bluff [20:38] gentlemen I want to bring the conversation to a different kind of national security issue the [20:42] state of our economy the number one issue here at home is jobs the percentage of unemployed just fell [20:50] below eight percent for the first time in 43 months the Obama administration had projected that it would fall [20:58] below six percent now after the addition of close to a trillion dollars in stimulus money so will [21:04] both of you level with the American people can you get unemployment to under six percent and how long will [21:11] it take I don't know how long I take we can and we will get it under six percent let's look at let's [21:17] take a look at the facts let's look at where we were we came to office the economy was in freefall we [21:24] had the great recession hit 9 million people lost their job 1.7 1.6 trillion dollars in wealth lost [21:33] in equity in your homes and retirement accounts for the middle class we knew we had to act for the [21:38] middle class we immediately went out and rescued General Motors we went ahead and made sure that [21:43] we cut taxes for the middle class and in addition to that when that happened and when that occurred what [21:48] did Romney do Romney said no let Detroit go bankrupt we moved in and helped people refinance [21:54] their homes governor Romney said no let foreclosures hit the bottom but it shouldn't be surprising for [21:59] a guy who says 47 percent of the American people are unwilling to take responsibility for their own [22:05] lives my friend recently in a speech in Washington said 30 percent of the American people are takers [22:10] these people are my mom and dad the people I grew up with my neighbors they pay more effective tax than [22:16] governor Romney pays in his federal income tax they are elderly people who in fact are living off of [22:22] Social Security there are veterans and people fighting in Afghanistan right now who are quote [22:26] not paying any taxes I've had it up to here with this notion that 47 percent it's about time they take [22:33] some responsibility here and instead of signing pledges to Grover Norquist not to ask the wealthiest [22:39] among us to contribute to bring back the middle class they should be signing a pledge saying to the [22:44] middle class we're going to level the playing field we're going to give you a fair shot again we are [22:49] going to not repeat the mistakes we made in the past by having a different set of rules for Wall [22:55] Street and Main Street making sure that we continue to hemorrhage these tax cuts for the super wealthy [23:01] they're pushing the continuation of a tax cut that will give an additional 500 billion dollars in tax [23:08] cuts to a hundred and twenty thousand families and they're holding hostage the middle class tax cut [23:14] because they say we won't pass we won't continue the middle class tax cut unless you give the tax cut [23:21] for the super wealthy it's about time they take some responsibility mr. Ryan Joe and I are from [23:27] similar towns he's from Scranton Pennsylvania I'm from Jamesville Wisconsin you know what the [23:32] unemployment rate in Scranton is today I sure do it's 10 percent yeah you know it was the day you [23:37] guys came in eight point five percent yeah that's how it's going all around America look you don't [23:43] read the statistics that's not how it's going it's going down this two-minute answer look did they come [23:50] in and inherit a tough situation absolutely but we're going in the wrong direction look at where [23:56] we are the economy is barely limping along it's growing at 1.3 percent that's slower than it grew [24:02] last year and last year was slower than the year before job growth in September was slower than it was in [24:07] August and August was slower than it was in July we're heading in the wrong direction 23 million [24:13] Americans are struggling for work today 15 percent of Americans are living in poverty today this is [24:21] not what a real recovery looks like we need real reforms for a real recovery and that's exactly what [24:27] Mitt Romney and I are proposing it's a five-point plan get America energy independent in North America [24:32] by the end of the decade help people who are hurting get the skills they need to get the jobs they want [24:37] get this deficit and debt under control to prevent a debt crisis make trade work for America so we [24:42] can make more things in America and sell them overseas and champion small businesses don't raise taxes on [24:47] small businesses because there are job creators he talks about Detroit Mitt Romney's a car guy they [24:54] keep misquoting him but let me tell you about the Mitt Romney I know this is a guy who I was talking to a [25:00] family in Northboro Massachusetts the other day Cheryl and Mark Nixon their kids were hit in a car crash four of [25:08] them two of them Rob and Reed were paralyzed the Romney's didn't know them they went to the same [25:13] church they never met before Mitt asked if he could come over on Christmas he brought his boys his wife [25:19] and gifts later on he said I know you're struggling Mark don't worry about their college I'll pay for [25:26] it when Mark told me this story because you know what Mitt Romney doesn't tell these stories the [25:30] Nixon's told this story when he told me this story he said it wasn't the help the cash help it's that he [25:36] gave his time and he has consistently this is a man who gave 30 percent of his income to charity more [25:42] than the two of us combined the Romney's a good man he cares about a hundred percent of Americans in [25:48] this country and with respect to that quote I think the vice president very well knows that sometimes the [25:54] words don't come out of your mouth the right way but I always say what I mean everybody succeed we [26:05] want to get people out of poverty in the middle class under a license self-sufficiency we believe in [26:10] opportunity and upward mobility that's what we're going to push for in a Romney administration [26:14] Vice President I have a feeling you have a few things to say here the ID if you heard that that [26:21] little soliloquy on 47 percent you think he just made a mistake then I think you're I I I think I [26:28] gotta bridge it to sell you look I don't doubt his personal generosity and I understand what it's like [26:34] when I was a little younger than the congressman my wife was in an accident killed my daughter and [26:44] and my wife and my two sons survived I have sat in the homes of many people have gone through and I [26:51] get through because the one thing you can give people solace is to know if they know you've been [26:55] through it that they can make it so I don't doubt his personal commitment to individuals but you know [27:03] what I know he had no commitment to the automobile industry he just let he said let it go bankrupt [27:09] period let it drop out all this talk we saved a million jobs two hundred thousand people are [27:16] working today and I've never met two guys who are more down on America across the board we're told [27:21] everything is going badly 5.2 million new jobs private sector jobs we need more but 5.2 million if [27:28] they'd get out of the way if they get out of the way and let us pass the tax cut for the [27:33] middle class make it permanent they get out of the way and pass the pass the jobs well if they [27:38] get out of the way and let us allow 14 million people who are struggling to stay in their homes [27:43] because their mortgages are upside down but they never missed a mortgage payment just get out of [27:47] the way stop talking about how you care about people show me something show me a policy show [27:54] me a policy where you take responsibility and by the way they talk about this great recession if it [28:00] fell out of the sky like oh my goodness where did it come from it came from this man voting to put [28:06] two wars in a credit card to at the same time put a prescription drug benefit in the credit card a [28:12] trillion dollar tax got very wealthy I was there I voted against them I said no we can't afford that [28:18] and now all of a sudden these guys are so seized with the concern about the debt that they created [28:25] let's not forget that they came in with one party control when Barack Obama was elected his party [28:33] controlled everything they had the ability to do everything of their choosing and look at where [28:36] we are right now they passed the stimulus the idea that we could borrow eight hundred and thirty one [28:42] billion dollars spend it on all these special interest groups and that it would work out just [28:46] fine that unemployment would never get to eight percent it went up above eight percent for 43 months [28:50] they said that right now if we just passed the stimulus the economy would grow at four percent it's [28:55] growing at 1.3 when could you get it below six percent that's what our entire premise of our pro [29:01] growth plan for stronger middle class is all about getting the economy growing at four percent creating 12 [29:06] million jobs over the next four years look at just the 90 billion dollars in stimulus and the [29:11] vice president was in charge of overseeing this 90 billion dollars in green pork to campaign [29:16] contributors and special interest groups there are just at the Department of Energy over 100 criminal [29:22] investigations that have been launched just how stimulus spends are being spent Martha look his [29:28] colleague runs an investigative committee spent months and months and months going into this [29:33] this is the inspector general months and months they found no evidence of cronyism and I love my [29:39] friend here I'm not allowed to show letters but go on our website he sent me two letters saying by the [29:45] way can you send me some stimulus money for companies here in the state of Wisconsin we sent millions of [29:52] dollars you know why he said he did ask for stimulus sure he did by the way on two occasions we had we [29:58] advocated for constituents who are applying for grants that's what we do we do that for all [30:03] constituents were I love that I love that this is such a bad program and he writes me a letter [30:08] saying writes the Department of Energy a letter say the reason we need this stimulus it will create growth [30:13] and jobs his words and now he's sitting here looking at me and by the way that program again [30:20] investigated what the Congress said was it was a model less than four-tenths of one percent waste [30:27] or fraud in the program and all this talk about cronyism they investigated investigate did not find one [30:34] single piece of evidence I wish he would just tell be a little more can was it a good idea to spend [30:41] taxpayer dollars on electric cars in Finland or on windmills in China look was it a good idea to borrow all [30:48] this money from countries like China and spend it on all these various different interest groups let [30:53] me tell you it was a good idea it was a good idea Moody's and others said that this was exactly what [30:57] we needed to stop us from going off the cliff it set the conditions to be able to grow again we have [31:02] in fact four percent of those green jobs didn't go under went under it didn't work it's a better batting [31:09] average investment bankers have they have about a forty percent right where are the five million [31:13] green jobs that were being I want to move on here to to Medicare and entitlements I think we've gone [31:18] over this quite enough and by the way any letter you send me I'll entertain I appreciate that you let's [31:26] talk about Medicare and entitlements both Medicare and Social Security are going broke and taking a [31:31] larger share of the budget in the process will benefits for Americans under these programs have to [31:38] change for the programs to survive Mr. Ryan absolutely Medicare and Social Security going [31:43] bankrupt these are indisputable facts look when I look at these programs we've all had tragedies in [31:49] our lives I think about what they've done for my own family my mom and I had my grandmother move in [31:55] with us who was facing Alzheimer's Medicare was there for her just like it's there for my mom right now [31:59] who's a Florida senior after my dad died my mom and I got Social Security survivors benefits helped me [32:05] pay for college it helped her go back to college in her 50s where she started a small business because [32:11] of the new skills she got she paid all of her taxes on the promise that these programs would be there [32:16] for her we will honor this promise and the best way to do it is reform it for my generation you see if you [32:23] reform these programs for my generation people 54 and below you can gear the NT they don't change for [32:29] people in or near retirement which is precisely what Mitt Romney and I are proposing look look what Obamacare [32:34] does Obamacare takes 716 billion dollars from Medicare to spend on Obamacare even their own [32:42] chief actuary at Medicare backs this up he says you can't spend the same dollar twice you can't claim [32:47] that this money goes to Medicare and Obamacare and then they put this new Obamacare board in charge of [32:53] cutting Medicare each and every year in ways that will lead to denied care for current seniors this [32:59] board by the way it's 15 people the president's supposed to appoint them next year and not one of [33:03] them even has to have medical training and Social Security if we don't shore up Social Security when [33:08] we run out of the IOUs when the program goes bankrupt a 25 percent across the board benefit cut kicks in on [33:14] current seniors in the middle of their retirement we're gonna stop that from happening they haven't [33:20] put a credible solution on the table he'll tell you about vouchers he'll say all these things to try [33:26] and scare people here's what we're saying give younger people when they become Medicare eligible guaranteed [33:33] coverage options that you can't be denied including traditional Medicare choose your plan and then [33:39] Medicare subsidize your premiums not as much for the wealthy people more coverage for middle-income [33:44] people and total out-of-pocket coverage for the poor and the sick choice and competition we would [33:48] rather have 50 million future seniors determine how their Medicare is delivered to them instead of [33:53] 15 bureaucrats deciding what if where when they get it Vice President Biden you know I heard that death [33:59] panel argument from Sarah Palin it seems every vice president debate I hear this kind of stuff about [34:03] panels but let's talk about Medicare what we did is we saved 716 billion dollars and put it back [34:12] applied it to Medicare we cut the cost of Medicare we stopped overpaying insurance companies when doctors [34:19] and hospitals the AMA supported what we did AARP endorsed what we did and it extends the life of Medicare to [34:27] 2024 they want to wipe this all out it also gave more benefits any senior out there ask yourself do [34:34] you have more benefits today you do if you're near the donut hole you have eight hundred six hundred [34:39] dollars more to help your prescription drug costs you get wellness visits without co-pays they wipe all [34:45] of this out and Medicare goes becomes insolvent in 2016 number one number two guaranteed benefit it's a [34:52] voucher when they first proposed when the congressman had his first voucher program the CBO said it would [34:59] cost six thousand four hundred dollars a year Martha more for every senior fifty five and below when they [35:07] got there he knew that yet he got it all the guys in Congress and women in the Republican Party to vote for it [35:14] Governor Romney knowing that said I I would sign it were I there who you believe the AMA me a guy who's [35:24] fought his whole life for this or somebody would actually put in motion a plan that knowingly cut [35:29] six added six thousand four hundred dollars a year more to the cost of Medicare now they got a new plan trust [35:37] me it's not going to cost you anymore folks follow your instincts on this one and with regard to Social [35:43] Security we will not we will not privatize it if we had listened to Romney the governor Romney and [35:49] the congressman during the Bush years imagine where all those seniors would be now if their money had [35:55] been in the market their ideas are old and their ideas are bad and they eliminate the guarantee of [36:02] Medicare here's the problem they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar turning Medicare into a [36:08] piggy bank for Obamacare their own actuary from the administration came to Congress and said [36:14] one out of six hospitals and nursing homes are going to go out of business as a result of this [36:19] it's not what they 7.4 million seniors are projected to lose the current Medicare Advantage coverage they [36:24] have that's a $3,200 benefit cut that we're saying more people saw these are from your own actuaries [36:30] more people signed up for Medicare Advantage after the change what there's no nobody is Mr. Vice President [36:36] I know I know you're under a lot of duress to make up but I think people will be better served if we [36:44] don't keep interrupting each other well don't take all the four minutes then we're not we're saying [36:49] don't change benefits for people 55 and above they already organized their retirement around [36:54] let me ask you this what what is your specific plan for seniors who really can't afford to make up the [37:01] difference in the value of what you call a premium support plan and others call a voucher 100% coverage [37:08] for what what it will cost so we're saying income adjust premium support payments by taking down the [37:14] subsidies for wealthy people look this is a plan by the way that $6,400 number it was misleading then [37:20] it's totally inaccurate now this is a plan that's bipartisan it's a plan I put together with a [37:26] prominent Democrat senator from Oregon there's not one Democrat who endorses it not one Democrat who [37:32] our partner is a Democrat from Oregon and he said he does we no longer support we put it we put it [37:37] together with the former Clinton budget director who this idea this idea came from the Clinton Commission [37:44] to save Medicare chaired by Senator John Broke here's the point Martha which was if we don't if we [37:49] don't fix this problem pretty soon then current seniors get cut here's the problem 10,000 people [37:55] are retiring every single day in America today and they will for 20 years that's not a political [38:00] thing Martha if we just did one thing if we just if they just allow Medicare to bargain for the cost of [38:06] drugs like Medicaid can that would save a hundred and fifty six billion dollars right off the bat and [38:12] would deny seniors choices all seniors are not denied absolutely they are not denied look folks all you [38:21] seniors out there have you been denied choices have you lost Medicare advantage because it's working [38:25] well right now signed up because vice president Biden let me ask you if it could help solve the [38:30] problem why not very slowly raise the Medicare eligibility age by two years as Congressman Ryan [38:37] suggest look I was there when we did that with Social Security in 1983 I was one of eight people [38:43] sitting in the room that included Tip O'Neill negotiating with President Reagan we all got together and [38:50] everybody said as long as everybody's in the deal everybody's in the deal and everybody is making some [38:55] sacrifice we can find a way we made the system solvent to 2033 we will not though be part of any voucher plan [39:05] eliminating the voucher says mom we are 50 when you're 65 go out there shop for the best insurance [39:12] you can get you're out of Medicare you can buy back in if you want with this voucher which will not keep [39:17] pace will not keep pace with health care costs because if it did keep pace with health care costs there [39:23] would be no savings that's why they go the voucher they we will be no part of a voucher program or the [39:31] privatization of Social Security a voucher is you go to your mailbox get a check and buy something [39:36] nobody's proposing that hit Barack Obama four years ago running for president said if you don't have [39:43] any fresh ideas you stale tactics to scare voters if you don't have a good record to run on paint your [39:50] opponent as someone people should run from I think a big a lot of lawmakers to stand with President Bush [39:57] when he was seeking to partially privatize Social Security for younger people what we said then [40:01] and what I've always agreed is let younger Americans have a voluntary choice of making their money work [40:08] faster for them within the Social Security system so that's not what Mitt Romney's proposing what [40:12] we're saying is no changes for anybody 55 Mitt Romney is proposing then the kinds of changes we're [40:18] talking about for younger people like myself is don't increase the benefits for wealthy people as fast as [40:23] everybody else slowly raise the retirement age over time it wouldn't get to the age of 70 until the one year [40:29] 2103 according to the actuaries now here's quickly quickly Vice President quickly the bottom line here is that [40:36] all the studies show that if we went with Social Security proposal made by Mitt Romney if you're 40 in your 40s now [40:42] you'll pay $2,600 a year more you get $2,600 a year less than Social Security if you're in your 20s now you get [40:49] $4,700 a year less the idea of changing and change being in this case to cut the benefits for people [40:57] without taking other action you can do to make it work is absolutely the wrong way these look these guys [41:03] haven't been big on Medicare from the beginning their party's not been big on Medicare for the beginning [41:08] and they've always been about Social Security as little as you can do look folks use your common [41:14] sense who do you trust on this a man who introduced a bill that would raise it 40 60 400 a year knowing [41:23] it and passing it and Romney saying sign it or me and the president that statistic was completely [41:29] misleading but more importantly that's what they're the facts right this is what politicians do when [41:32] they don't have a record to run on try to scare people from voting for you if you don't get ahead [41:39] of this problem it's going to attack Medicare beneficiaries and more but we're not we're [41:43] going to we're going to move our very simple question to Medicare and Social Security did so [41:47] much for my own family we are not going to jeopardize this program but we have to save it [41:52] you are jeopardizing the program you're changing the program from a guaranteed benefit to premium [41:58] support whatever you call it the bottom line is people are gonna have to pay more money out of [42:01] their pocket and the families I know the families I come from they don't have the money to pay more that's [42:07] why we're saying more for lower income people and less for higher income people I would like to [42:11] move on to a very simple question for both of you and something tells me I won't get a very simple [42:17] answer but let me ask you this I gave you a simple answer he's raising the cost of Medicare okay on to [42:22] taxes if your ticket is elected who will pay more in taxes who will pay less and we're starting with [42:29] Vice President Biden for two minutes the middle class will pay less and people making a million dollars [42:34] the more we'll begin to contribute slightly more let me give you one concrete example the continuation [42:39] of the Bush tax cuts we are arguing that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy should be allowed to expire [42:44] of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy eight hundred million billion dollars of that goes to people [42:50] making a minimum of a million dollars we see no justification in these economic times for those [42:56] and they're patriotic Americans they're they're not asking for this continued tax cut they're not [43:01] suggesting it but my friends are insisting on it a hundred and twenty thousand families by continuing [43:08] that tax cut will get an additional five hundred billion dollars in tax relief in the next 10 years [43:14] and their income is an average of eight million dollars we want to extend permanently the middle [43:19] class tax cut for permanently from the Bush middle class tax cut these guys won't allow us to you [43:26] know what they're saying we say let's have a vote let's have a vote on the middle class tax cut and [43:30] let's have a vote on the upper tax cut let's go ahead and vote on it they're saying no they're [43:35] holding hostage the middle class tax cut to the super wealthy and on top of that they got another tax cut [43:42] coming that's five trillion dollars that all the studies point out will in fact give another two [43:48] hundred and fifty million dollars or two hundred fifty thousand dollars a year to those hundred twenty [43:53] thousand families and raise taxes for people who are middle income with a child by two thousand [44:00] dollars a year this is unconscionable there is no need for this the middle class got knocked on their [44:07] heels the Great Recession crushed them they need some help now the last people who need help are a hundred [44:14] twenty thousand families for another another five hundred billion dollar tax cut over the next ten years [44:21] our entire premise of these tax reform plans is to grow the economy and create jobs it's a plan that's estimated to [44:30] create seven million jobs now we think that government taking 28 percent of a family and businesses income is enough [44:38] president Obama thinks that the government ought to be able to take as much as 44.8 percent of a small businesses income [44:46] look if you taxed every person in successful small business making over 250 thousand dollars at a hundred percent [44:54] it only run the government for 98 days if everybody who paid income taxes last year including successful small businesses [45:00] double their income taxes this year we'd still have a 300 billion dollar deficit you see there aren't enough rich people [45:08] and small businesses to tax to pay for all their spending and so the next time you hear them say don't worry about it [45:16] we'll get a few wealthy people to pay their fair share watch out middle class the tax bill is coming to you [45:22] that's why we're saying we need fundamental tax reform let's take a look at it this way eight out of ten businesses [45:29] they file their taxes as individuals not as corporations and where I come from overseas which is Lake Superior [45:35] the Canadians they drop their tax rates to 15 percent the average tax rate on businesses industrialized world [45:43] is 25 percent and the president wants the top effective tax rate on successful small businesses to go above 40 percent [45:50] two-thirds of our jobs come from small businesses this one tax would actually tax about 53 percent of small business income [45:59] it's expected to cost us seven hundred and ten thousand jobs and you know what it doesn't even pay for 10 percent [46:06] of their proposed deficit spending increases what we are saying is lower tax rates across the board [46:12] and closed loophole is primarily to the higher income people we have three bottom lines don't raise the deficit [46:18] don't raise taxes on the middle class and don't lower the share of income that is borne by the high income earners [46:24] he'll keep saying this five trillion dollar plan I suppose it's been discredited by six other studies [46:30] and even their own deputy campaign manager acknowledged that it wasn't correct [46:34] well let's let's talk about this 20 percent you have refused and again to offer specifics [46:40] on how you pay for that 20 percent across the board tax cut [46:45] do you actually have the specifics or are you still working on it and that's why you won't tell voters [46:52] different than this administration we actually want to have big bipartisan agreements you see I understand [46:58] do you have the specifics do you have the math you know exactly what you're doing [47:01] look at what look at what Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill did they worked together out of a framework [47:07] to lower tax rates and broaden the base and they worked together to fix that [47:11] what we're saying is here's our framework lower tax rates 20 percent we raise about 1.2 trillion dollars through income taxes [47:19] we forego about 1.1 trillion in loopholes and deductions [47:23] and so what we're saying is deny those loopholes and deductions to higher income taxpayers [47:28] so that more of their income is taxed which has a broader base of taxation [47:32] Can I translate? [47:33] so we can lower tax rates across the board now here's why I'm saying this [47:36] what we're saying is here's a framework [47:38] I hope I'm going to get time to respond to this [47:40] You'll get time [47:41] We want to work with Congress on how best to achieve this that means successful [47:45] look no specific again [47:48] what we're saying is lower tax rates 20 percent start with the wealthy [47:52] work with Congress to do it [47:53] and you guarantee this math will add up [47:54] absolutely [47:55] six studies have guaranteed six studies have verified that this math heads up [47:58] but here's the other point [47:59] Vice President Biden [48:00] let me translate let me have a chance to translate [48:03] I'll come back in a second then right [48:04] first of all I was there when Ronald Reagan tax rates [48:06] when he gave specifics to what he was going to cut [48:09] no number one in terms of tax expenditures [48:12] number two 97 percent of the small businesses in America pay less [48:16] make less than 250,000 dollars [48:19] let me tell you who some of those other small businesses are [48:21] hedge funds [48:22] that make six, eight hundred million dollars a year [48:25] that's what they count as small businesses because they're pass-through [48:29] let's look at how sincere they are [48:31] Ronald, excuse me, Governor Romney on 60 Minutes [48:34] I guess it was about 10 days ago [48:36] was asked Governor you pay 14 percent on 20 million dollars [48:40] someone making fifty thousand dollars [48:42] paid more than that [48:43] do you think that's fair [48:44] he said oh yes that's fair [48:45] that's fair [48:46] this is [48:47] and they're going to talk about [48:48] you think these guys are going to go out there and cut those loopholes [48:51] the loophole [48:52] the biggest loophole they take advantage of is the carried interest loophole [48:55] and capital gains loophole [48:57] they exempt that [48:58] now there's not enough [48:59] the reason why the AEI study [49:02] the American Enterprise Institute study [49:04] the Tax Policy Center study [49:06] the reason they all say [49:07] it's going to tax them to go up in the middle class [49:09] the only way you can find five trillion dollars in loopholes [49:14] is cut the mortgage deduction for middle class people [49:17] cut the health care deduction for middle class people [49:19] take away their ability to get a tax break [49:22] to send their kids to college [49:23] that's why they arrive [49:25] is he wrong about that? [49:26] he is wrong about that [49:27] how's that? [49:28] you can cut tax rates by 20 percent [49:30] and still preserve these important preferences for middle class taxpayers [49:33] not mathematically possible [49:35] it is mathematically possible [49:37] it's been done before [49:38] it's precisely what we're proposing [49:39] it has never been done before [49:41] it's been done a couple of times [49:42] it has never been done before [49:43] Jack Kennedy lowered tax rates increased growth [49:45] Ronald Reagan [49:46] oh now you're Jack Kennedy [49:47] Ronald Reagan [49:48] Republicans and Democrats [49:51] Republicans and Democrats [49:52] have worked together on this [49:53] that's right [49:54] I understand you guys aren't used to doing bipartisan deals [49:55] but we've told each other what we're going to do [49:57] when we did it with Reagan [49:58] Republicans and Democrats [49:59] he said here are the things we're going to cut [50:00] here's the framework [50:01] let's work together to fill in the details [50:02] that's exactly [50:03] fill in the details [50:04] that's how you get things done [50:05] you work with Congress [50:06] look let me say it this way [50:07] that's coming from the Republican Congress [50:10] working bipartisanly [50:12] Mitt Romney [50:13] 7 percent rating [50:14] Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts [50:16] where 87 percent of the legislators he served with were Democrats [50:19] he didn't demonize them [50:21] he didn't demagogue them [50:22] he met with those party leaders every week [50:24] he reached across the aisle [50:25] he didn't compromise principles [50:27] he found common ground [50:28] and he balanced the budget [50:29] he balanced the budget [50:30] if he did such a great job [50:31] if he did such a great job [50:32] he balanced the budget four times [50:33] without raising taxes [50:34] why isn't he even contesting Massachusetts [50:36] Vice President [50:37] what would you suggest [50:39] what would you suggest [50:40] beyond raising taxes on the wealthy [50:41] that would substantially reduce the long-term deficit [50:43] just let taxes expire like they're supposed to [50:46] on those millionaires [50:48] we don't [50:49] we can't afford $800 billion [50:52] going to people making a minimum of $1 million [50:54] they do not need it Martha [50:57] those 120,000 families make $8 million a year [51:01] middle-class people need the help [51:04] why does my friend cut out the tuition tax credit for them [51:07] why does he go after the child care care [51:09] can you declare anything off limits [51:10] why do they do that [51:11] can you declare anything off limits [51:12] yeah we're saying closed loophole [51:14] on high interest people [51:15] home mortgage deduction [51:16] for higher income people [51:17] can you guarantee that no one [51:19] making less than $100,000 [51:21] have a mortgage [51:23] this mortgage deduction impacted [51:24] this taxes a million small businesses [51:27] he keeps trying to make you think [51:28] that it's just some movie star [51:30] hedge fund guy [51:31] 97% of the small businesses [51:33] make less than $250,000 a year [51:37] would not be [51:38] you know it hits a million [51:39] this taxes a million people [51:41] a million small businesses [51:43] does it tax 97% of the American businesses [51:45] it taxed a million small businesses [51:47] who are our greatest job [51:49] I wish I could get it [51:50] the greatest job [51:51] and you're going to increase [51:52] the defense budget [51:53] and you're going to increase [51:54] the defense budget [51:55] we're just not going to cut [51:56] the defense budget like they're [51:57] they're proposing [51:58] two billion dollars [51:59] that's not accurate [52:00] more than that [52:01] so no massive [52:02] defense increase [52:03] no we're saying [52:04] you want to get into defense now [52:05] yes I do [52:06] I do [52:07] because that's another math question [52:08] right okay [52:09] how do you do that [52:10] so they proposed a $478 billion cut [52:13] to defense to begin with [52:14] now we have another $500 billion cut [52:17] to defense that's lurking on the horizon [52:19] they insisted upon that cut [52:21] being involved in the debt negotiations [52:23] let's [52:24] let's put the automatic defense cuts aside [52:26] right [52:27] okay [52:28] let's put this aside [52:29] no one wants that [52:30] but I want to know [52:31] how you do the math [52:32] and have this increase [52:33] in defense spending [52:34] two trillion dollars [52:35] you don't cut defense by a trillion dollars [52:37] that's what we're talking about [52:38] and what national security issues [52:40] justify an increase [52:42] we're going to cut 80,000 soldiers [52:46] 20,000 marines [52:48] 120 cargo planes [52:51] we're going to push the joint strike fire out [52:52] drying down [52:53] we're cutting a missile defense [52:54] and one more [52:55] if these cuts go through [52:56] our navy will be the smallest [52:58] the smallest it has been [52:59] since before world war one [53:01] this invites weakness [53:04] look [53:05] do we believe in peace through strength [53:06] you bet we do [53:07] and that means you don't impose [53:08] these devastating cuts on our military [53:10] so we're saying [53:11] don't cut the military by a trillion dollars [53:13] not increase it by a trillion [53:15] don't cut it by a trillion dollars [53:16] quickly [53:17] Vice President Biden [53:18] I want to move on [53:19] we don't cut it [53:20] and I might add [53:21] this so-called [53:22] I know we don't want to use the fancy word [53:23] sequester this automatic cut [53:25] that was part of a debt deal that they asked for [53:27] and let me tell you what my friend said [53:29] at a press conference [53:30] announcing he supported the deal [53:32] he said [53:33] and I'm paraphrasing [53:34] we've been looking for this moment [53:35] for a long time [53:37] can I tell you what that meant [53:39] we've been looking for bipartisanship [53:40] for a long time [53:41] and so the bipartisanship was what he voted for [53:44] the automatic cuts in defense if they didn't act [53:46] and beyond that they asked for another [53:48] look [53:49] the military says [53:50] we need a smaller leaner army [53:53] we need more special forces [53:55] we need [53:56] we don't need more M1 tanks [53:58] what we need is more UABs [53:59] some of the military [54:00] I know that's something you support [54:01] not some of the military [54:02] that was the decision of the joint chiefs of staff [54:05] recommended to us [54:07] and agreed to by the president [54:08] who answered to a civilian leader [54:11] they made the recommendation first [54:13] okay let's move on to Afghanistan [54:15] can I get into that for a second? [54:16] I'd like to move on to Afghanistan please [54:18] and that's one of the biggest expenditures [54:20] this country has made [54:21] in dollars [54:22] and more importantly [54:23] in lives [54:24] we just passed the sad milestone [54:26] of losing 2,000 U.S. troops there in this war [54:29] more than 50 of them [54:31] were killed this year [54:32] by the very Afghan forces we are trying to help [54:35] now we've reached the recruiting goal for Afghan forces [54:39] we've degraded Al Qaeda [54:41] so tell me why not leave now [54:44] what more can we really accomplish? [54:47] is it worth more American lives? [54:49] we don't want to lose the gains we've gotten [54:51] we want to make sure [54:53] that the Taliban does not come back in [54:55] and give Al Qaeda a safe haven [54:57] we agree with the administration on their 2014 transition [55:00] look when I think about Afghanistan [55:03] I think about the incredible job that our troops have done [55:07] you've been there more than the two of us combined [55:09] first time I was there in 2002 [55:12] it was amazing to me what they were facing [55:14] when I went to the Argandab Valley in Kandahar [55:16] before the surge [55:18] I sat down with the young private in the 82nd [55:20] from the Menominee Indian Reservation [55:22] who would tell me what he did every day [55:23] and I was in awe [55:24] and to see what they had in front of them [55:27] and then to go back there in December [55:28] to go throughout Hellman with the Marines [55:30] to see what they had accomplished [55:31] it's nothing short of amazing [55:33] what we don't want to do [55:36] is lose the gains we've gotten [55:38] now we've disagreed from time to time on a few issues [55:41] we would have more likely taken into account [55:43] the recommendations from our commanders [55:45] General Petraeus, Admiral Mullen [55:47] on troop levels throughout this year's fighting season [55:50] we've been skeptical about negotiations with the Taliban [55:53] especially while they're shooting at us [55:55] but we want to see the 2014 transition be successful [56:00] and that means we want to make sure [56:02] our commanders have what they need [56:05] to make sure that it is successful [56:07] so that this does not once again become a launching pad for terrorists [56:10] Vice President Biden [56:11] Martha, let's keep our eye on the ball [56:13] the reason I've been in Afghanistan and Iraq 20 times [56:17] I've been up in the Konar Valley [56:19] I've been throughout that whole country [56:21] mostly in a helicopter [56:22] and sometimes in a vehicle [56:24] the fact is we went there for one reason [56:28] to get those people who killed Americans [56:32] Al Qaeda [56:33] we've decimated Al Qaeda Central [56:35] we have eliminated Osama bin Laden [56:38] that was our purpose [56:41] and in fact in the meantime what we said we would do [56:43] we would help train the Afghan military [56:47] it's their responsibility to take over their own security [56:52] that's why with 49 of our allies in Afghanistan [56:56] we've agreed on a gradual drawdown [56:59] so we're out of there by the year 20 [57:02] in the year 2014 [57:04] my friend and the governor say it's based on conditions [57:07] which means it depends [57:09] it does not depend for us [57:12] it is the responsibility of the Afghans [57:15] to take care of their own security [57:17] we have trained over 315,000 mostly without incident [57:22] there have been more than two dozen cases of green on blue [57:26] where Americans have been killed [57:28] if we do not [57:29] if the measures the military has taken do not take hold [57:33] we will not go on joint patrols [57:36] we will not train in the field [57:38] we'll only train in the army bases that exist there [57:43] but we are leaving [57:45] we are leaving in 2014 period [57:48] and in the process we're going to be saving over the next 10 years [57:52] another 800 billion dollars [57:55] we've been in this war for over a decade [57:57] the primary objective is almost completed [58:02] now all we're doing is putting the Kabul government in a position [58:06] to be able to maintain their own security [58:09] it's their responsibility not America's [58:13] what conditions could justify staying Congressman Ryan? [58:17] we don't want to stay [58:18] look [58:19] one of my best friends in Janesville [58:21] a reservist [58:22] is at a forward operating base in eastern Afghanistan right now [58:25] our wives are best friends [58:26] our daughters are best friends [58:27] I want him and all of our troops to come home [58:33] as soon and safely as possible [58:35] we want to make sure that 2014 is successful [58:37] that's why we want to make sure [58:39] that we give our commanders what they say they need [58:41] to make it successful [58:42] we don't want to extend beyond 2014 [58:44] that's the point we're making [58:45] you know [58:46] if it was just this [58:49] I feel like we would be able to call this a success [58:53] but it's not [58:54] what we are witnessing as we turn on our television screens [58:57] these days [58:58] is the absolute unraveling of the Obama foreign policy [59:02] problems are growing at home but jobs [59:05] problems are growing abroad [59:06] but jobs aren't growing here at home [59:09] let me go back to this [59:10] he says we're absolutely leaving in 2014 [59:15] you're saying that's not an absolute [59:17] but you won't talk about what conditions would justify [59:19] do you know why we say that [59:20] do you know why we say that [59:21] because we don't want to broadcast to our enemies [59:23] put a date on your calendar [59:25] wait us out and then come back [59:27] but you agree with the timeline [59:28] we do agree with the timeline and the transition [59:31] but what we what any administration will do in 2013 [59:36] is assess the situation to see how best to complete this timeline [59:41] what we do not want to do [59:43] what we do not want to do [59:45] is give our allies reason to trust us less [59:49] and our enemies more [59:51] we don't want to embolden our enemies [59:53] to hold and wait out for us [59:55] and then take over the [59:56] Martha that's a bizarre statement [59:57] that's why we want to make sure [59:58] no that's why we want to make sure [59:59] that this is [1:00:00] 49 of our allies [1:00:01] hear me [1:00:02] 49 of our allies [1:00:04] signed on to this position [1:00:07] and we're reading that they want to [1:00:08] 49 [1:00:09] 49 of our allies said out in 2014 [1:00:13] it's the responsibility of the Afghans [1:00:16] we have other responsibilities [1:00:18] which is what we agree with [1:00:20] we have soldiers and marines [1:00:22] we have Afghan forces murdering our forces over there [1:00:27] the Taliban is [1:00:28] do you think taking advantage of this timeline [1:00:32] the Taliban [1:00:33] what we found out [1:00:34] and we you saw it in Iraq Martha [1:00:37] unless you set a timeline [1:00:39] Baghdad in the case of Iraq [1:00:41] and and Kabul in the case of Afghanistan [1:00:45] will not step up [1:00:46] they're happy to let us continue to do the job [1:00:49] international security forces to do the job [1:00:51] the only way they step up [1:00:54] is say fellas [1:00:55] we're leaving [1:00:56] we've trained you [1:00:57] step up [1:00:58] step up [1:00:59] let me let me go [1:01:00] that's the only way it works [1:01:01] let me go back to the the surge troops [1:01:04] that we put in there [1:01:05] and and you brought this up Congressman Ryan [1:01:07] I have talked to a lot of troops [1:01:09] I've talked to senior officers [1:01:11] who were concerned [1:01:12] that the surge troops [1:01:14] were pulled out [1:01:15] during the fighting season [1:01:17] and some of them saw that as a political as a political move [1:01:21] so can you tell me Vice President Biden [1:01:23] what was the military reason for bringing those surge troops home [1:01:27] the military reason for bringing those [1:01:29] by the way when the president announced the surge [1:01:31] you'll remember Martha [1:01:33] he said the surge will be out by the end of the summer [1:01:38] the military said the surge will be out [1:01:41] nothing political about this [1:01:43] before the surge occurred [1:01:45] so you'll be a little straight with me here too [1:01:47] before the surge occurred [1:01:49] we said they'll be out by the end of the summer [1:01:52] that's what the military said [1:01:53] the reason for that is [1:01:55] the military follows orders [1:01:57] they I mean they're [1:01:58] trust me there are people [1:01:59] sure they're concerned about pulling out [1:02:01] there are people that are concerned [1:02:03] but not the joint chiefs [1:02:05] that was their recommendation in the Oval Office [1:02:07] to the president of the United States of America [1:02:10] I sat there [1:02:11] I'm sure you'll find someone who disagrees with the Pentagon [1:02:14] I'm positive you'll find that within the military [1:02:17] but that's not the case here [1:02:19] and secondly the reason why the military said that is [1:02:22] you cannot wait and have a cliff [1:02:25] it takes you know months and months and months [1:02:29] to draw down forces [1:02:31] let me try and illustrate the issue here [1:02:34] because I think this can get a little confusing [1:02:36] we've all met with General Allen and General Scraparati [1:02:39] in Afghanistan to talk about fighting seasons [1:02:42] here's the way it works [1:02:43] the mountain passes fill in with snow [1:02:45] the Taliban and the terrorists [1:02:47] and the Akani and the Kedeshura [1:02:49] come over from Pakistan [1:02:51] to fight our men and women [1:02:54] when it fills in with snow they can't do it [1:02:55] that's what we call fighting seasons [1:02:57] in the warm months [1:02:58] fighting gets really high [1:02:59] in the winter it goes down [1:03:01] and so when Admiral Mullen [1:03:03] and General Petraeus came to Congress [1:03:05] and said [1:03:06] if you pull these people out before the fighting season is end [1:03:10] it puts people more at risk [1:03:12] that's the problem [1:03:13] yes we drew 22,000 troops down last month [1:03:16] but the remaining troops that are there [1:03:18] who still have the same mission to prosecute [1:03:21] counterinsurgency [1:03:22] are doing it with fewer people [1:03:24] that makes them less safe [1:03:27] we're sending fewer people out [1:03:29] in all these hot spots [1:03:31] to do the same job that they were supposed to do a month ago [1:03:34] because we took 22,000 people out for them to do it [1:03:37] we turned it over to the Afghan troops [1:03:39] we trained [1:03:40] no one got pulled out that didn't get filled in [1:03:43] by trained Afghan personnel [1:03:46] and he's conflating two issues [1:03:50] the fighting season that Petraeus was talking about [1:03:53] and Admiral Mullen was the fighting season this spring [1:03:58] that's what he was talking about [1:04:00] we did not pull them out [1:04:03] the calendar works the same every year [1:04:05] it does work the same every year [1:04:07] spring, summer, fall [1:04:09] it's warm or it's not [1:04:12] they're still fighting us [1:04:13] they're still coming over the passes [1:04:15] they're still coming in to Zabul [1:04:17] to Kunar [1:04:18] to all of these areas [1:04:19] but we are sending fewer people to the front to fight them [1:04:22] and that makes them more safe [1:04:23] that's right [1:04:24] because that's the Afghan responsibility [1:04:26] we've trained them [1:04:27] not in the east [1:04:28] let's move to another war [1:04:30] not in the east [1:04:31] RC East [1:04:32] RC East [1:04:33] the most dangerous place in the world [1:04:34] that's why [1:04:35] that's why we don't want to send fewer people to the job [1:04:36] that's why we should send Americans in to do the job [1:04:38] instead of the [1:04:39] you'd rather Americans be going in to do the job [1:04:41] instead of the train [1:04:42] we are already sending Americans to do the job [1:04:43] but why doesn't the same [1:04:45] that's right [1:04:46] we're sending in more Afghans to do the job [1:04:48] Afghans to do the job [1:04:50] let's move to another war [1:04:53] the civil war in Syria [1:04:54] were there estimates that more [1:04:57] estimates that more than 25,000 [1:04:59] 30,000 people have now been killed [1:05:01] in March of last year [1:05:03] President Obama explained the military action taken in Libya [1:05:07] by saying it was in the national interest to go in [1:05:10] and prevent further massacres from occurring there [1:05:13] so why doesn't the same logic apply in Syria [1:05:17] Vice President Biden [1:05:18] it's a different country [1:05:19] it's a different country [1:05:20] it is five times as large geographically [1:05:23] it has one-fifth the population [1:05:26] that is Libya [1:05:27] one-fifth the population [1:05:28] five times as large geographically [1:05:30] it's in a part of the world [1:05:31] where you're not going to see [1:05:33] whatever would come from that war [1:05:35] it seeped into a regional war [1:05:38] you are in a country that is heavily populated [1:05:41] in the midst of the most dangerous area in the world [1:05:44] and in fact [1:05:46] if in fact it blows up [1:05:48] and the wrong people gain control [1:05:50] it's going to have impact on the entire region [1:05:53] causing potentially regional wars [1:05:55] we are working hand and glove [1:05:57] with the Turks [1:05:58] with the Jordanians [1:05:59] with the Saudis [1:06:00] and with all the people in the region [1:06:03] attempting to identify the people [1:06:05] who deserve the help [1:06:06] so that when Assad goes [1:06:08] and he will go [1:06:09] there will be a legitimate government [1:06:11] that follows on [1:06:12] not an Al Qaeda sponsored government [1:06:15] that follows on [1:06:16] and all this loose talk [1:06:18] of my friend Governor Romney [1:06:20] and the congressman [1:06:21] about how we're going to do [1:06:23] we could do so much more in there [1:06:25] what more would they do [1:06:26] other than put American boots on the ground [1:06:29] the last thing America needs [1:06:31] is to get in another ground war [1:06:33] in the Middle East [1:06:34] requiring tens of thousands [1:06:36] if not well over a hundred thousand American forces [1:06:39] that they are the facts [1:06:42] they are the facts [1:06:44] now every time the governor is asked about this [1:06:46] he doesn't say anything [1:06:48] he goes up with a whole lot of verbiage [1:06:52] but when he gets pressed [1:06:54] he says no he would not do anything different [1:06:56] than we are doing now [1:06:58] are they proposing putting American troops [1:07:00] in the ground? [1:07:01] putting American aircraft in the airspace? [1:07:03] is that what they're proposing? [1:07:04] if they do they should speak up and say so [1:07:06] but that's not what they're saying [1:07:10] we are doing it exactly like we need to do [1:07:14] to identify those forces [1:07:16] who in fact will provide for a stable government [1:07:20] and not cause a regional Sunni Shia war [1:07:24] when Bashar Assad falls [1:07:27] Congressman Ryan [1:07:28] nobody is proposing to send troops to Syria [1:07:31] American troops [1:07:33] now let me say it this way [1:07:34] how would we do things differently? [1:07:36] we wouldn't refer to Bashar Assad as a reformer [1:07:39] when he's killing his own civilians [1:07:42] with his Russian provided weapons [1:07:44] we wouldn't be outsourcing our foreign policy [1:07:47] to the United Nations [1:07:48] giving Vladimir Putin [1:07:50] veto power over our efforts [1:07:52] to try and deal with this issue [1:07:54] he's vetoed three of them [1:07:56] Hillary Clinton went to Russia [1:07:58] to try and convince them not to do so [1:07:59] they thwarted her efforts [1:08:01] she said they were on the wrong side of history [1:08:03] she was right about that [1:08:04] this is just one more example [1:08:05] of how the Russia resets not working [1:08:07] and so where are we? [1:08:08] after international pressure mounted [1:08:11] then President Obama said Bashar Assad should go [1:08:13] it's been over a year [1:08:15] the man has slaughtered [1:08:16] tens of thousands of his own people [1:08:18] and more foreign fighters are spilling into this country [1:08:22] so the longer this has gone on [1:08:24] the more people [1:08:27] groups like Al Qaeda are going in [1:08:29] we could have more easily identified [1:08:31] the Free Syrian Army [1:08:33] the Freedom Fighters [1:08:34] working with our allies [1:08:35] the Turks [1:08:36] the Qataris [1:08:37] the Saudis [1:08:38] had we had a better plan in place [1:08:40] to begin with [1:08:41] working through our allies [1:08:42] but no [1:08:44] we waited for Kofi Annan to try and [1:08:46] come up with an agreement through the UN [1:08:48] that bought Bashar Assad time [1:08:50] we gave Russia veto power [1:08:53] over our efforts through the UN [1:08:55] and meanwhile about 30,000 Syrians are dead [1:08:57] what would my friend do differently? [1:09:02] if you notice he never answers the question [1:09:04] we would not be going through the UN [1:09:06] on all of these things [1:09:07] you don't go through the UN [1:09:09] we are in the process now [1:09:11] and have been for months [1:09:13] in making sure that help humanitarian aid [1:09:16] as well as other aid and training [1:09:19] is getting to those forces that we believe [1:09:22] the Turks believe [1:09:23] the Jordanians believe [1:09:25] the Saudis believe [1:09:26] are the free forces inside of Syria [1:09:30] that is underway [1:09:31] our allies were all on the same page [1:09:35] NATO as well as our Arab allies [1:09:38] in terms of trying to get a settlement [1:09:41] that was their idea [1:09:42] we're the ones that said enough [1:09:44] with regard to the reset not working [1:09:47] the fact of the matter is that Russia [1:09:49] has a different interest in Syria than we do [1:09:51] and that's not in our interest [1:09:53] what happens if Assad does not fall? [1:09:55] Congressman Ryan, what happens to the region? [1:09:59] what happens if he hangs on? [1:10:00] what happens if he does? [1:10:01] then Iran keeps their greatest ally in the region [1:10:04] he's a sponsor of terrorism [1:10:07] he'll probably continue slaughtering his people [1:10:09] we and the world community will lose our credibility on this [1:10:12] look, he mentioned the reset [1:10:14] so what would Romney Ryan do about that credibility? [1:10:16] well, we agree with the same red line actually they do [1:10:19] on chemical weapons [1:10:20] but not putting American troops in [1:10:22] other than to secure those chemical weapons [1:10:24] they're right about that [1:10:25] but what we should have done earlier [1:10:28] is work with those freedom fighters [1:10:31] those dissidents in Syria [1:10:33] we should not have called Bashar Assad a reformer [1:10:36] and we should not have [1:10:38] we should not have waited for Russia [1:10:39] to give us the green light [1:10:41] we should not have waited for Russia [1:10:42] to give us the green light [1:10:43] at the UN [1:10:44] Russia to do something about [1:10:45] they're still arming the man [1:10:47] Iran is flying flights over Iraq [1:10:51] and the opposition is being armed [1:10:53] to help Bashar Assad [1:10:55] and by the way [1:10:56] if we had the status of forces agreement [1:10:58] that the vice president said [1:10:59] he would bet his vice presidency on in Iraq [1:11:01] we probably would have been able to prevent that [1:11:03] but he failed to achieve that as well [1:11:05] again [1:11:06] let me ask you quickly [1:11:07] what's your criteria for intervention? [1:11:09] yeah [1:11:10] in Syria? [1:11:12] worldwide [1:11:13] what is in the national interest of the American people? [1:11:14] how about humanitarian interest? [1:11:15] what is in the national security of the American people? [1:11:17] it's got to be in the strategic national interest of our country [1:11:20] no humanitarian [1:11:21] each situation will come up with its own set of circumstances [1:11:26] but putting American troops on the ground [1:11:28] that's got to be within the national security interest of the American people [1:11:32] I want to... we're almost out of time [1:11:35] we're almost out of time here [1:11:36] that means things like embargoes and sanctions and overflights [1:11:39] those are things that don't put American troops on the ground [1:11:41] but if you're talking about putting American troops on the ground [1:11:43] only in our national security interests [1:11:46] I want to move on and I want to return home for these last few questions [1:11:50] this debate is indeed historic [1:11:53] we have two Catholic candidates [1:11:56] first time on a stage such as this [1:12:00] and I would like to ask you both to tell me what role your religion has played [1:12:05] in your own personal views on abortion [1:12:08] please talk about how you came to that decision [1:12:12] talk about how your religion played a part in that [1:12:15] and please this is such an emotional issue for so many people in this country [1:12:21] please talk personally about this if you could [1:12:24] Congressman Ryan [1:12:25] I don't see how a person can separate their public life from their private life [1:12:33] or from their faith [1:12:34] our faith informs us in everything we do [1:12:36] my faith informs me about how to take care of the vulnerable [1:12:41] about how to make sure that people have a chance in life [1:12:44] now you want to ask basically why I'm pro-life [1:12:48] it's not simply because of my Catholic faith [1:12:52] that's a factor of course [1:12:55] but it's also because of reason and science [1:12:57] for our seven week ultrasound for our firstborn child [1:13:02] and we saw that heartbeat [1:13:04] our little baby was in the shape of a bean [1:13:07] and to this day we have nicknamed our firstborn child Liza [1:13:13] bean [1:13:15] now I believe that life begins at conception [1:13:19] that's why those are the reasons why I'm pro-life [1:13:21] now I understand this is a difficult issue [1:13:24] and I respect people who don't agree with me on this [1:13:28] but the policy of a Romney administration [1:13:30] will be to oppose abortion [1:13:32] with the exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother [1:13:36] what troubles me more [1:13:39] is how this administration has handled all of these issues [1:13:44] look at what they're doing through Obamacare [1:13:46] with respect to assaulting the religious liberties of this country [1:13:50] they're infringing upon our first freedom [1:13:54] the freedom of religion [1:13:55] by infringing on Catholic charities, Catholic churches, Catholic hospitals [1:14:00] our church should not have to sue our federal government [1:14:02] to maintain their religious liberties [1:14:04] and with respect to abortion [1:14:06] the Democratic Party used to say they wanted to be safe, legal, and rare [1:14:11] now they support it without restriction [1:14:13] and with taxpayer funding [1:14:14] taxpayer funding in Obamacare [1:14:15] taxpayer funding with foreign aid [1:14:17] the Vice President himself went to China [1:14:19] and said that he sympathized [1:14:22] or wouldn't second guess [1:14:24] their one-child policy of forced abortions and sterilizations [1:14:28] that to me is pretty extreme [1:14:30] Vice President Biden [1:14:32] My religion defines who I am [1:14:36] and I've been a practicing Catholic my whole life [1:14:41] and it has particularly informed my social doctrine [1:14:47] Catholic social doctrine talks about taking care of those [1:14:50] who can't take care of themselves [1:14:54] people who need help [1:14:56] with regard to abortion [1:14:59] I accept my church's position on abortion [1:15:05] as what we call de fide doctrine [1:15:07] life begins at conception [1:15:09] that's the church's judgment [1:15:10] I accept it in my personal life [1:15:12] but I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians [1:15:17] and Muslims and Jews [1:15:19] I just refuse to impose that on others [1:15:22] unlike my friend here, the Congressman [1:15:25] I do not believe that we have a right [1:15:30] to tell other people that women [1:15:33] they can't control their body [1:15:35] it's a decision between them and their doctor [1:15:37] in my view [1:15:38] in the Supreme Court [1:15:39] I'm not going to interfere with that [1:15:41] with regard to the assault on the Catholic Church [1:15:44] let me make it absolutely clear [1:15:46] no religious institution [1:15:49] Catholic or otherwise [1:15:50] including Catholic social services [1:15:52] Georgetown Hospital, Mercy House [1:15:54] any hospital [1:15:55] none has to either refer [1:15:57] for contraception [1:15:59] none has to pay for contraception [1:16:01] none has to be a vehicle to get contraception [1:16:05] in any insurance policy they provide [1:16:07] that is a fact [1:16:09] that is a fact [1:16:12] now with regard to the way in which we differ [1:16:15] my friend says that he [1:16:20] well I guess he accepts Governor Romney's position now [1:16:24] because in the past [1:16:25] he has argued that [1:16:28] there was [1:16:29] there's rape, enforceable rape [1:16:30] he's argued that [1:16:31] in the case of rape or incest [1:16:33] it was still [1:16:34] it would be a crime [1:16:35] to engage in having an abortion [1:16:38] I just fundamentally disagree with my friend [1:16:40] Congressman Ryan [1:16:42] all I'm saying [1:16:43] is if you believe that life begins at conception [1:16:46] that therefore doesn't change the definition of life [1:16:48] that's a principle [1:16:49] the policy of a Romney administration [1:16:53] is to oppose abortion with exceptions [1:16:56] for rape, incest, and life of the mother [1:16:59] now I've got to take issue with the Catholic Church [1:17:01] and religious liberty [1:17:03] you have on the issue of Catholic social doctrine [1:17:04] if they agree with you [1:17:05] then why would they keep suing you? [1:17:08] it's a distinction without a difference [1:17:10] I want to go back to the abortion question here [1:17:13] if the Romney Ryan ticket is elected [1:17:16] should those who believe that abortion [1:17:18] should remain legal be worried? [1:17:21] we don't think that unelected judges [1:17:25] should make this decision [1:17:26] that people through their elected representatives [1:17:29] in reaching a consensus in society [1:17:31] through the democratic process [1:17:32] should make this determination [1:17:33] the court [1:17:36] the next president will get one or two Supreme Court nominees [1:17:40] that's how close Roe v. Wade is [1:17:44] just ask yourself [1:17:46] with Robert Bork being the chief advisor on the court [1:17:50] for, for Mr. Romney [1:17:52] who do you think he's likely to appoint? [1:17:55] do you think he's likely to appoint someone [1:17:57] like Scalia or someone else on the court far right [1:18:02] that would outlaw, excuse me, outlaw abortion? [1:18:06] I suspect that would happen [1:18:08] I guarantee you that will not happen [1:18:11] we picked two people [1:18:12] we picked people open-minded [1:18:14] they've been good justices [1:18:15] so keep an eye on the Supreme Court [1:18:17] was there a litmus test on them? [1:18:18] there was no litmus test [1:18:19] we picked people who had an open mind [1:18:21] did not come with an agenda [1:18:25] I'm going to move on to this closing question [1:18:27] because we are running out of time [1:18:29] certainly know and you've said it here tonight [1:18:31] that the two of you respect our troops enormously [1:18:35] your son has served [1:18:36] and perhaps someday your children will serve as well [1:18:40] I recently spoke to a highly decorated soldier [1:18:43] who said that this presidential campaign [1:18:46] has left him dismayed [1:18:47] he told me, quote, the ads are so negative [1:18:50] and they are all tearing down each other [1:18:52] rather than building up the country [1:18:54] what would you say to that American hero [1:18:57] about this campaign [1:18:58] and at the end of the day [1:19:00] are you ever embarrassed by the tone? [1:19:02] Vice President Biden [1:19:07] I would say to him the same thing I say to my son [1:19:10] who did serve a year in Iraq [1:19:13] that we only have one truly sacred obligation [1:19:17] as a government [1:19:18] that's to equip those we send into harm's way [1:19:21] and care for those who come home [1:19:24] that's the only sacred obligation we have [1:19:26] everything else falls behind that [1:19:29] I would also tell him that the fact that [1:19:33] he this decorated soldier you talked about [1:19:38] fought for his country [1:19:40] that that should be honored [1:19:42] he should not be thrown into a category [1:19:44] of the 47 percent who don't pay their taxes [1:19:47] while he was out there fighting [1:19:49] and not having to pay taxes [1:19:51] and somehow not taking responsibility [1:19:53] I would also tell him that [1:19:55] there are things that have occurred in this campaign [1:19:57] and occurred in every campaign [1:19:59] that I'm sure both of us regret anyone having said [1:20:03] particularly in these special new groups [1:20:07] that can go out there raise all the money they want [1:20:09] not have to identify themselves [1:20:11] and say the most scurrilous things [1:20:13] about the other candidate [1:20:14] it's an abomination [1:20:16] but the bottom line here is [1:20:19] I'd ask that hero you reference [1:20:22] to take a look at whether or not [1:20:25] Governor Romney or President Obama [1:20:28] has the conviction to help lift up the middle class [1:20:32] restore them to where they were [1:20:34] before this great recession hit [1:20:36] and they got wiped out [1:20:37] or whether or not he's going to continue to focus on [1:20:41] taking care of only the very wealthy [1:20:43] not asking them to make pay any part of the deal [1:20:46] to bring them bring back the middle class [1:20:48] the economy of this country [1:20:50] I would ask him to take a look at [1:20:52] whether the President of the United States [1:20:54] has acted wisely in the use of force [1:20:56] and whether or not the slip-shot comments [1:20:58] being made by my friend [1:21:01] or by Governor Romney [1:21:02] serve our interests very well [1:21:05] but there are things that have been said in campaigns [1:21:09] that I find not very appealing [1:21:13] Congressman Ryan [1:21:14] First of all I'd thank him to his service to our country [1:21:16] Second of all I'd say [1:21:17] we are not going to impose these devastating cuts [1:21:19] on our military [1:21:20] which compromises their mission and their safety [1:21:22] and then I would say [1:21:25] you have a President [1:21:26] who ran for President four years ago [1:21:28] promising hope and change [1:21:30] who has now turned his campaign into attack, blame, and defame [1:21:35] you see [1:21:36] if you don't have a good record to run on [1:21:38] then you paint your opponent as someone to run from [1:21:42] that was what President Obama said in 2008 [1:21:46] that's what he's doing right now [1:21:47] look at all the string of broken promises [1:21:50] if you like your health care plan you can keep it [1:21:52] try telling that to the 20 million people [1:21:54] who are projected to lose their health insurance [1:21:57] if Obamacare goes through [1:21:58] or the 7.4 million seniors who are going to lose it [1:22:01] or remember when he said this [1:22:02] I guarantee if you make less than $250,000 [1:22:06] your taxes won't go up [1:22:08] of the 21 tax increases in Obamacare [1:22:10] 12 of them hit the middle class [1:22:12] or remember when he said [1:22:13] health insurance premiums will go down [1:22:15] $2,500 per family per year [1:22:17] they've gone up $3,000 [1:22:18] and they're expected to go up another $2,400 [1:22:20] or remember when he said [1:22:22] I promise by the end of my first term [1:22:24] I'll cut the deficit in half in four years [1:22:26] we've had four budgets [1:22:29] $4 trillion deficits [1:22:32] a debt crisis is coming [1:22:34] we can't keep spending and borrowing like this [1:22:37] we can't keep spending money we don't have [1:22:39] leaders run to problems to fix problems [1:22:43] President Obama has not even put a credible plan on the table [1:22:47] in any of his four years to deal with this debt crisis [1:22:50] I passed two budgets to deal with this [1:22:52] Mitt Romney's put ideas on the table [1:22:55] we've got to tackle this debt crisis before it tackles us [1:22:58] the president likes to say he has a plan [1:23:00] he gave a speech [1:23:01] we asked his budget office [1:23:03] can we see the plan [1:23:04] they sent us to the press secretary [1:23:05] he gave us a copy of the speech [1:23:07] we asked the congressional budget office [1:23:08] tell us what President Obama's plan is to prevent a debt crisis [1:23:11] they said it's a speech [1:23:12] we can't estimate speeches [1:23:14] you see that's what we get in this administration [1:23:17] speeches [1:23:18] but we're not getting leadership [1:23:20] Mitt Romney is uniquely qualified [1:23:23] to fix these problems [1:23:24] his lifetime of experience [1:23:26] his proven track record of bipartisanship [1:23:28] and what do we have for the president [1:23:30] he broke his big promise [1:23:31] to bring people together [1:23:32] to solve the country's biggest problems [1:23:34] and what I would tell him [1:23:35] is we don't have to settle for this [1:23:36] we can do better than this [1:23:38] I hope I'll get equal time [1:23:39] you will get just a few minutes here [1:23:42] a few seconds really [1:23:43] the two budgets the Congress has introduced [1:23:47] have eviscerated all the things that the middle class cares about [1:23:51] it has knocked 19 [1:23:53] will knock 19 million people off of Medicare [1:23:55] it will kick 200,000 children off of early education [1:23:59] it will eliminate the tax credit people have [1:24:02] to be able to send their children to college [1:24:04] it cuts education by 450 billion dollars [1:24:08] it does virtually nothing except continue to increase the tax cuts for the very wealthy [1:24:16] and you know we've had enough of this [1:24:19] the idea that he's so concerned about these deficits [1:24:23] as I pointed out [1:24:25] he voted to put two wars in a credit card [1:24:27] he did [1:24:28] we're going to the closing statements in a minute [1:24:30] just a second [1:24:31] you're going to have your closing statements [1:24:32] not raising taxes is not cutting taxes [1:24:34] and by the way our budget [1:24:36] we have not raised tax [1:24:37] we increase spending by 3% a year [1:24:38] instead of 4.5% like they propose [1:24:40] so not spending more money as much as they say [1:24:42] let me calm down things here just for a minute [1:24:44] and I want to talk to you very briefly [1:24:46] before we go to closing statements [1:24:48] about your own personal character [1:24:50] if you were elected [1:24:51] what could you both give to this country [1:24:53] as a man [1:24:54] as a human being [1:24:56] that no one else could [1:24:57] honesty [1:24:59] no one else could [1:25:00] there are plenty of fine people who could lead this country [1:25:03] but what you need [1:25:05] are people [1:25:06] who when they say they're going to do something [1:25:07] they go do it [1:25:08] what you need [1:25:09] are when people see problems [1:25:11] they offer solutions [1:25:12] to fix those problems [1:25:14] we're not getting that [1:25:15] look [1:25:16] we can grow this economy faster [1:25:18] that's what our five point plan [1:25:19] for stronger middle class is all about [1:25:20] it's about getting 12 million jobs [1:25:22] higher take home pay [1:25:23] getting people out of poverty [1:25:24] into the middle class [1:25:25] that means [1:25:26] going with proven pro-growth policies [1:25:29] that we know work to get people back to work [1:25:31] putting ideas on the table [1:25:33] working with Democrats [1:25:35] that actually works sometimes [1:25:36] and then getting things done [1:25:37] to get to that [1:25:38] to that issue of what you could bring [1:25:39] as a man [1:25:40] a human being [1:25:41] and I really [1:25:42] am going to keep you to about 15 seconds [1:25:44] well he gets 40 [1:25:45] I get 15 [1:25:46] he didn't have 40 [1:25:47] he didn't have 40 [1:25:48] no let me tell you [1:25:49] I [1:25:50] my record stands for itself [1:25:52] I never say anything I don't mean [1:25:54] everybody knows whatever I say I do [1:25:57] and my whole life has been devoted to leveling the playing field for middle class people [1:26:02] giving them an even break [1:26:04] treating Main Street and Wall Street the same [1:26:06] holding the same responsibility [1:26:07] look at my record [1:26:09] it's been all about the middle class [1:26:11] they're the people who grow this country [1:26:13] we think you grow this country from the middle out [1:26:15] not from the top down [1:26:16] okay we now turn to the candidates for their closing statements [1:26:21] thank you gentlemen [1:26:22] and that coin toss again [1:26:23] has Vice President Biden starting with the closing statement [1:26:26] well let me say at the outset that I want to thank you Martha for doing this and Center College [1:26:34] the fact is that we're in a situation where we inherited a god-awful circumstance [1:26:41] people are in real trouble [1:26:44] we acted to move to bring relief to the people who need the most help now [1:26:49] and in the process we in case you haven't noticed we have strong disagreements [1:26:55] but you probably detected my frustration with their attitude about the American people [1:27:02] my friend says that 30% of the American people are takers [1:27:06] they Romney points out 47% of the people won't take responsibility [1:27:11] he's talking about my mother and father [1:27:13] he's talking about the places I grew up in [1:27:15] my neighbors in Scranton and Claymont [1:27:17] he's talking about he's talking about the people that have built this country [1:27:21] all they're looking for Martha [1:27:23] all they're looking for is an even shot [1:27:25] whenever you're given the shot they've done it [1:27:27] they've done it [1:27:28] whenever you've leveled the playing field they've been able to move [1:27:30] and they want a little bit of peace of mind [1:27:32] and the president and I are not going to rest [1:27:35] until that playing field is leveled [1:27:38] they in fact have a clear shot [1:27:40] and they have peace of mind [1:27:41] until they can turn to their kid and say with a degree of confidence [1:27:44] honey it's going to be okay [1:27:47] it's going to be okay [1:27:49] that's what this is all about [1:27:51] Congressman Ryan [1:27:53] I want to thank you as well Martha [1:27:55] Danville Kentucky Center College [1:27:58] and I want to thank you Joe [1:27:59] it's been an honor to engage in this critical debate [1:28:01] we face a very big choice [1:28:05] what kind of country are we going to be [1:28:08] what kind of country are we going to give our kids [1:28:12] President Obama he had his chance [1:28:15] he made his choices [1:28:16] his economic agenda [1:28:18] more spending more borrowing higher taxes [1:28:21] a government takeover of health care [1:28:23] it's not working [1:28:26] it's failed to create the jobs we need [1:28:28] 23 million Americans are struggling for work today [1:28:30] 15% of Americans are in poverty [1:28:34] this is not what a real recovery looks like [1:28:37] you deserve better [1:28:39] Mitt Romney and I want to earn your support [1:28:43] we're offering real reforms for a real recovery for every American [1:28:48] Mitt Romney his experience his ideas his solutions [1:28:54] is uniquely qualified to get this job done [1:28:57] at a time when we have a jobs crisis in America [1:29:00] wouldn't it be nice to have a job creator in the White House [1:29:02] the choice is clear [1:29:04] a stagnant economy that promotes more government dependency [1:29:09] or a dynamic growing economy that promotes opportunity and jobs [1:29:14] Mitt Romney and I will not duck the tough issues [1:29:17] and we will not blame others for the next four years [1:29:21] we will take responsibility [1:29:23] and we will not try to replace our founding principles [1:29:27] we will reapply our founding principles [1:29:31] the choice is clear [1:29:32] and the choice rests with you [1:29:35] and we ask you for your vote [1:29:36] thank you [1:29:38] and thank you both again [1:29:39] thank you very much [1:29:41] this concludes the vice presidential debate [1:29:43] please tune in next Tuesday [1:29:45] for the second presidential debate [1:29:47] at Hofstra University in New York [1:29:49] I'm Martha Raddatz of ABC News [1:29:51] I do hope all of you go to the polls [1:29:53] have a good evening [1:29:55] to uh... [1:30:02] thank you [1:30:03] good evening