Governor Romney, you have said you will repeal Obamacare. Your Massachusetts plan served as a blueprint for Obamacare. What's different? Also, even those who oppose Obamacare believe that the health care industry needs reform. If you repeal Obamacare, with what will you replace it?
President Obama, you have stood by Obamacare as important legislation. However, contrary to your promises, premiums are rising and people have lost access to plans they want to have kept. Your administration has granted more than two thousand waivers, more than half to organizations who supported the passage of Obamacare. What does the future of Obamacare hold for those who have seen their premiums rise, lost the plans that they had, or whom don't receive a waiver?
Energy
President Obama, a high number of companies your administration subsidized to produce alternative energy have financially failed. How will you approach alternative energy differently in you second term?
Governor Romney, you have stated support for an all-of-the-above approach to energy. You have clearly stated your support for natural gas, offshore exploration, and fracking. Does renewable energy play a role in your energy policy? If so, what? If not, why not? You have previously supported a carbon capping energy approach, but you don't now. Why not?
Bailouts
Governor Romney, the American people own a significant percentage of General Motors shares, which have lost value. What will you do to make that company successful so that Americans can recover those costs?
President Obama, you have claimed that your bailout of General Motors has saved the American auto industry. However, the bailout process stripped bond holders of their bonds, many of which were part of people's retirement plans. Non-unionized workers lost their jobs and their pensions. Why were those concessions worse than a bankruptcy?
Taxes
Governor Romney, your have said your tax plan will lower rates but cut loopholes and deductions. You have said you can't identify specifics because you will have to negotiate with legislators which loopholes and deductions you can cut. Can you at least provide a framework so that Americans can understand what types of loopholes and deductions you deem eligible for removal?
President Obama, you have advocated a return to the tax rates that existed under Bill Clinton's presidency. During the Clinton year, Sarbanes-Oxley, Obamacare, and Dodd-Frank did not yet exist. Those add costs for compliance to the private sector. Also, the Clinton years enjoyed the Dotcom boom, whereas the affects of the Internet on the economy have reached a longstanding equilibrium today. How will the the Clinton rates of yesterday work today? If you reference a study, cite it.
Budget
President Obama, what will you cut to balance the budget, and by what year do you project a budget surplus? If you reference any studies, cite them.
Governor Romney, what will you cut to balance the budget, and by what year do you project a budget surplus? If you reference any studies, cite them.
Leadership
Governor Romney, some believe the United States' population stands more sharply divided on issues than at any point in the past century. As president, how will you approach policy making for people so divided?
President Obama, in 2010 Americans sent a clear message at the polls that they were not satisfied with your first two years. You frequently reference a partisan divide preventing forward progress over the past two years. If in your second term you have to work with a Republican Congress, how will you bring both sides together.
Foreign Policy 1
President Obama, in 2010 Americans sent a clear message at the polls that they were not satisfied with your first two years. You frequently reference a partisan divide preventing forward progress over the past two years. If in your second term you have to work with a Republican Congress, how will you bring both sides together.
Foreign Policy 1
President Obama, should the United Nations have the authority to imposes taxes upon United States citizens?
Governor Romney, what will be your approach to the US fight in Afghanistan?
Governor Romney, what will be your approach to the US fight in Afghanistan?
Foreign Policy 2
Governor Romney, how will you engage Israel differently than the current administration?
President Obama, on a hot mic, you told Dimitri Medvedev that you wanted Vladamir Putin to give you some space until after the presidential election. What were you saying, and why did you say it?
Foreign Policy 3
President Obama, some critics claim that the rules of engagement have endangered our troops on the ground in Afghanistan, namely the Catch and Release policy. Explain how this policy benefits US efforts in Afghanistan and why your administration has it in place.
Foreign Policy 3
President Obama, some critics claim that the rules of engagement have endangered our troops on the ground in Afghanistan, namely the Catch and Release policy. Explain how this policy benefits US efforts in Afghanistan and why your administration has it in place.
Governor Romney, what steps would you take to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon? Would you send military action? If so, what types of events would have to precipitate such action?
These are debate questions that Candy Crowley should have presented to the candidates. In any group of undecided voters, any one of these topics would have a strong presence in the pool of questions submitted. As a nation who needs to know how each candidate would govern, Crowley failed us.
