ANALYSIS OF THE DEBATE’S VIDEO

Obama, Romney Debate ‘Role of Government’

Summarize

President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney squared off in a nationally televised debate.

“The first role of the federal government is to keep the American people safe. That’s its most basic function,” Obama said. “… But I also believe … the federal government has the capacity to help open up opportunity and create ladders of opportunity and to create frameworks where the American people can succeed.”

He pointed to the National Academy of Sciences and the Race to the Top program as examples of places where investment by the federal government is helping to enhance people’s lives.

From opposite view, Romney said that the role of the government was to promote and protect the principles laid out in the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution.

“We have a responsibility to protect the lives and liberties of our people, and that means a military second to none,” he said. “I do not believe in cutting our military. I believe in maintaining the strength of America’s military.”

Romney also said he would protect the right of individuals to pursue happiness as they choose.

“What we’re seeing right now is, in my view, a trickle-down government approach, which has government thinking it can do a better job than free people pursuing their dreams, and it’s not working,” he said.

As evidence, Romney pointed to the 23 million people who are currently unemployed.

“The proof of that is 1 out of 6 people in poverty,” he said. “The proof of that is we’ve gone from 32 million on food stamps to 47 million on food stamps. The proof of that is that 50 percent of college graduates this year can’t find work.”

The phrases that were used to convey the arguments in this debate

1. I think that that is the kind of investment where the federal government can help.
2. I reject the idea that I don’t believe in great teachers or more teachers
3.  I do not believe in cutting our military
4. I believe we must maintain our commitment to religious tolerance and freedom in this country.
5. We’re a nation that believes we’re all children of the same God.
6. What we’re seeing right now is, in my view, a trickle-down government approach which has government thinking it can do a better job than free people pursuing their dreams.