Romney Promises Class of 2014 Graduates Jobs If He's Elected

Gentlemen thank you both for joining us here tonight we have -- lot of folks have been waiting all day that talk is -- wanna get right to it. Governor Romney as you know you won the coin toss -- the... See More

Gentlemen thank you both for joining us here tonight we have -- lot of folks have been waiting all day that talk is -- wanna get right to it. Governor Romney as you know you won the coin toss -- the first question we'll go to you. And I want to turn to a first time voter. -- Jeremy Epstein who has a question. -- -- president governor Romney. As -- year old college student only hear from professors neighbors and others is that when I graduate -- little -- to get employment. Can what can you say to reassure me but more importantly my parents that I'll do -- officially support myself after -- graduate. Thank you Jeremy I -- teacher your question and thank you for being here this evening and to all of those from NASA -- here that have -- thank you for your time. Thank you -- Hofstra university and a Candy Crowley for organizing and leading this this event thank you Mr. President also for being part of this this debate. -- question your question is one that's being asked by college kids all over this country. As in Pennsylvania was someone who just graduated. This is in Philadelphia and she said I've I've got my degree. I can't find a job I've got three part time jobs. They're just barely enough to pay for my food and pay for an apartment I can't begin to pay back my student loans. So we have to do is two things we have to make sure that we make it easier for kids to afford college and also make sure that when they get out of college there's a job. And as governor of Massachusetts to get a high school degree. He had to pass an exam if you graduated in the top quarter -- your class. We gave you -- John and Abigail Adams scholarship for years tuition free to the college of your choice in Massachusetts it's a public institution. I want to make sure we keep our -- -- -- pell grant program growing we're also gonna have our loan program so that people are able to afford school. But the key thing is to make sure you can get a job when you get out of school. And what's happened over the last four years has been very very hard for America's young people I want you to be able to get a job I know what it takes to get this economy going. With half a college kids graduating this year. Without a college -- without a job and without -- college level job that's just unacceptable. And likewise she got more more debt and your back. So more debt and less jobs. I'm gonna change that I know what it takes to create good jobs again I know what it takes to make sure that you have the kind of opportunity you deserve. And kids across this country are gonna recognize we're bringing back an economy it's not going to be like the last four years the middle class has been crushed to for the last four years. And jobs have been too scarce. I -- it takes to bring him back animated do that make sure when you graduate -- graduate. 2014 when you -- 12014. I presume I'm gonna be president I gotta make sure you get a job that the ethics Germany yet you bet. -- -- -- first of all your future is bright. And the fact that -- making investment in higher education is critical not just to you but to the entire nation. Now the most important thing we can do is to make sure that we are creating jobs in this country but not just jobs good paying jobs once the -- -- -- family. And what I want to do is build on the five million jobs that we created over the last thirty months in the private sector along. And there are a bunch of things that we can do to make sure your future is -- number one. A lot of build manufacturing. Jobs in this country again. -- when. Governor Romney said we should let -- -- go bankrupt. I said we're gonna bet on American workers and American auto industry and it's come surging back. I -- do that and industries not just in Detroit but all across the country. And that means we change our tax -- were giving incentives to companies they're investing here in the United States and creating jobs here. It also means we're helping them and small businesses. To export all around the world in new markets. Number took. We've got to make sure that we have the best education system in the world in the fact that you're going to college. Is great I want everybody to get a great education and we worked hard to make sure that student loans are available for folks like you. But I also want to make sure that Community Colleges are offering slots for workers to get retrained for the jobs that are out there right now on the jobs of the future. Number three. We've got to control our own energy. Help not only oil and natural gas which we've been investing in but also got to make sure -- Building energy source of the future not just think about next year but ten years from now twenty years from now that's why we invest in solar wind and biofuels. Energy efficient cars we've got to reduce our deficit but we gotta do and a balanced way. -- in the welcome to -- a bit more along with cuts that we can invest in education like yours and let's take the money that we've been spending. On war over the last decade to rebuild America. Roads bridges schools we do those things not -- your future -- -- be bright but America's future's going to be Reuters. Let me ask you for of more immediate answer. Again mr. Romley just quickly what -- what. Can you do we're looking at -- situation where 40% of the unemployed and unemployed for six months or more work they don't have the two years that Jeremy asked. What about. Those long term unemployed need -- job right now. Well what you're saying in this country is 23 million people struggling to find a job and a lot of them as you say candy about a work for a long long long time. The president's policies have been exercised over the last four years and they haven't put Americans back to work. We have fewer people working today that we have when the president took office. If the item that unemployment rate was seven point 8% when he took office at seven point 8% now. But if you calculated that unemployment rate taking back the people who dropped out of the workforce it would be ten point 7%. We have not made the progress we need to make to put people back to work that's -- -- a five point plan. To gets America twelve million new jobs in four years. And rising take home pay can help Jeremy get a job when he comes -- school -- help people across the country that are unemployed right now. And one thing that that the president said which I want to make sure that we understand he he said that I say we should take -- bankrupt. At at and that's right my plan was to have the company go through bankruptcy like 7-Eleven did it may season and that -- airlines and come out stronger. At and I know he keeps saying he wanted to take you try bankrupt well the president took Detroit bankrupt you took General Motors bankrupt. You took -- -- bankrupt so when you say that I wanted to take the auto industry bankrupt. You actually did. And and I think it's important -- know that that that was a process that was necessary to get those companies back on their feet. So they could start hiring more people that was precisely what I recommended and ultimately what happened -- -- -- give the president. What governor Romney -- just took control. You -- take them into bankruptcy without providing them any way to stay open. And we -- lost a million jobs. And that don't -- my work force picked the executives at GM and Chrysler some of whom were Republicans -- -- -- governor Romney. -- -- prescription wasn't gonna work. Another Rami says he's got a five point plan Veronica medal five point planning as a one point point. And -- plan is to make sure that folks at the top play by different animals. That's been his philosophy. In the private sector that's been his philosophy is governor that's been his philosophy as a presidential candidate. You can. Make a lot of money and pay lower tax -- and somebody. Makes a lot less -- -- ship jobs overseas and get tax breaks for. You can invest in a company bankrupt -- Layup the workers strip away the pensions and installment money. That's exactly the philosophy that we've seen and place. The last decade that's what's been squeezing middle class families. And we have fought back for four years to get out of that that's the last thing we need to do is to go back to the very same policies. That got a fair.