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Ask Obama and Romney Questions During the Next Presidential Debate

Submit your question in the comments section below; Patch questions may be answered during the televised Oct. 16 Town Hall Presidential Debate.

 

If last Wednesday’s presidential debate left you with more questions than answers, here’s your chance for the presidential candidates to address the issues that most matter to you.

The next presidential debate will be a town hall meeting format at Hofstra University in Long Island, where voters will ask President Obama and Mitt Romney about domestic and foreign policy.

Patch is asking you, our readers, to participate by submitting questions for the candidates.

All you have to do is post your question in the comments section below and we’ll send it to the Commission on Presidential Debates.

The Commission is partnering with Patch's parent company—AOL—along with Google and Yahoo, to take questions from web users across the country.

Don’t wait until Nov. 6 to have a say in this year’s election. Share your thoughts in the comments!

Debate Schedule

Oct. 11
Vice Presidential

Topic: Foreign and domestic policy 
Air Time: 6-7:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Centre College in Danville, KY (Tickets)
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Participants: Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan
Moderator: Martha Raddatz (ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent)

The debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics and be divided into nine time segments of approximately 10 minutes each. The moderator will ask an opening question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the question.

Oct. 16
Presidential

Topic: Town meeting format on foreign and domestic policy
Air Time: 6-7:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY (Tickets)
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney
Moderator: Candy Crowley (CNN Chief Political Correspondent)

The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which citizens will ask questions of the candidates on foreign and domestic issues. Candidates each will have two minutes to respond, and an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion. The town meeting participants will be undecided voters selected by the Gallup Organization.

Oct. 22

Topic: Foreign policy
Air Time: 6-7:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL (Tickets)
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney
Moderator: Bob Schieffer (Host of Face the Nation on CBS)

The format for the debate will be identical to the first presidential debate and will focus on foreign policy.

Related Topics: Election Guide 2012

Michael J Scoggins

12:45 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

Ask them why they did not invite Gary Johnson to the debates and have excluded him from them, unlike in 92 when the parties invited Ross Perot to give the American people another viable candidate to hear from.

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James Smith

4:08 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

If someone asks that, they will be promptly tackled.

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James Smith

4:16 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

Oh, and the wording of 'Sponsor' in the Debate Schedule above is inaccurate. The Commission on Presidential Debates runs the debates, but is not a sponsor. Philips was a sponsor of the debates but they withdrew their sponsorship because the Commission did not include all presidential candidates in the debates (there's 4: Obama, Romney, Johnson, and Stein).

Kathryn Day

1:45 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

Please ask Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney how they reconcile their personal views on abortion with their views on women's rights, and how they will support children's early development and education.

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Michelle Shearer

2:42 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

Please ask both candidates HOW they will protect Israel in the next four years.

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Derosier ins

4:26 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

Please, ask Mr Romny what does he mean about his 47% remark he made during his campaign fund raising

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Melanie

8:03 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

Ask Mr. Romney as to his voucher plan...will the voucher cover the premiums charged by the independent insurance companies? And are the insurance companies given carte blanche to raise their rates at any given time, and if so, will the vouchers cover the rate raise, or the vouchers a one time given amount?

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HonestDeals

10:06 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

For Mr. Romney: When you had an opprtunity to serve country, you supported Vientnam War but decided to serve your religion.
Whould you choose Religion over Country? We all know what you have done for your religion, what have you done for your country?
For Mr. President: You promised your administration will not have closed door deals. Yet, most important achivement Healthcare was achived behind closed door, Why should we trust you now?

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Kelly_From_Melbourne,Florida

11:25 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

Mr. Romney. You recently said in Florida that you would make America energy independent by 2020. "Energy Independent" as opposed to the President's 'energy secure'. You've also said you would repeal the President new gas mileage standards which would the allow the car companies to go back low mileage per gallon vehicles if they chose to. Americans have more cars than any other nation, how can you make this country 'energy independent' from a finite source, one that's even more finite in it's supply in this country or this hemisphere, and not mandate decreased consumption? At best, isn't that just giving us our 'independence' for a few years until the oil runs out?And, how can you make this country 'energy independent' without a massive 'green' project on the level of Kennedy's "Race to the moon"?

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Mandy Crane

11:53 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

This -- Ask them why they did not invite Gary Johnson to the debates and have excluded him from them, unlike in 92 when the parties invited Ross Perot to give the American people another viable candidate to hear from.

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Brian Seavitt

12:04 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

For both Presidential candidates: Can you explain why farmers who produce meat and foods with large amounts of high fructose corn syrup are subsidized so greatly?

Thanks, Brian
Dearborn, MI

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charles robb

12:28 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

Question for President Obama: Why did you waive economic penalties for countries employing child soldiers, including Libya, South Sudan, Yemen, and portion’s of the law’s requirements lifted for the Democratic Republic of the Congo? citing “the national interest” in doing so. How is that in our national interest?

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Barbara Erlin

12:38 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

Mr. President: You have successfully accomplished a lot with a congress in gridlock. In your next term if congress remains in gridlock, what are you hoping to accomplish?

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Bambi McGah

12:59 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

Question for Obama: Mr. Obama, We have borrowed dollar upon dollar from China. With this being a fact, how can we as a country continue to afford to pour foreign aid into other countries? We are essentially borrowing money to give it away?

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Laura

1:12 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

Question for both candidates: How will you help the baby boomers that have lost their jobs, retirement, homes and investments for the future?

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Chris Navrides

1:40 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

Question for both candidates: What will you do to help unite the country after such a bitter presidential campaign?

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Robert Kitchen

3:21 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

For Governor Romney: Why do you endorse sending arms to rebels when we really don't know how these arms will be used and how can we know for sure how these arms will be used?

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Laura

12:32 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Great question!! right, whose friend or foe?

Teresa Azar

3:53 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

For both candidates: How will you protect wildlife and keep our wildlife refuges pristine?

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Lori Dammann

4:41 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

For both candidates: We mostly all agree that more refinery capacity would be a major solution for America's energy problems. We haven't built a new refinery in the US since the late 1970's and have been arguing about it long enough to have built several. Do you have a plan to fast track new refineries in the US during your term?

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CC

5:10 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

Until 1978, the Mormon Church disallowed men of African descent from serving in the priesthood. Mitt Romney was 31 years old when this practice was discontinued. I'd like to ask him what it was like to grow up as a member of an officially racist organization.

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Marcia Johnson Witter

12:52 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012

EXCELLENT QUESTION! Can you get that on Twitter ASAP?

Michelle M Matthews

7:36 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

I would like to see term limits in the house and senate that is the only way we will move forward. No one can create jobs if education and training is not at the forefront. We need to bring back vocational training at the high school level to create workers for the jobs being created or the unemployment rate will never go down.

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Michael J Scoggins

8:56 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

1. Ask Obama why he invoked Executive Privilege to protect Eric Holder and documents pertain to Operation Fast & Furious.

2. Ask Mitt Romney why his team went to such length to strip states and delegates from Ron Paul in the primary, as well as with trying to take Gary Johnson off of the ballot in several states.

3. To both candidates: How do you explain the inability of either side so far to energize their respective party? Despite Obama's overwhelming support in 2008, Democrats simply don't seem to have the same hope for his second term and Republicans constantly seemed unsatisfied with Romney's more moderate views. Do they believe that this could cause a drop in voter turnout on election day?

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WA608

2:30 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Ask Mr. Romney: Why, if he is so bullish on America, he has a good chunk of his money stashed overseas? Also ask him why he is so proud to pay such a low tax rate? I know young people who are starting out and do not own homes yet who pay a larger percentage than he does! If he feels so strongly about America then he should put his money where his mouth is and be a solid citizen and be part of the system.

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Joe Citizen

8:38 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

4 Debate Questions:

The Fractional Reserve Banking System prints money from thin air and then chargers interest on it, Given the extent of the Global Debt Crisis, should the interest on debt be suspended and why not forgive the debt outright so the 21st Century can have a fresh start without the Banking Cartel as a millstone around the neck of the majority of humanity?

During the Savings and Loan scandel of the 1980's, the Regan Justice Department indicted and convicted 187 Bank offenders, why has the Obama Justice Department be absent on the 2008 crash in bringing the worst offerders to Justice? What will be the response to the current Libor over the next 4 years?

Governor Romney is the wealthiest candidate ever to run for President and refuses to disclose his personal fortune, yet vetted his VP Candidate, Paul Ryan with 12 years of tax returns. Why should we trust a Romney Administration will be open and transparent in its dealings with the American people, if he is already denying them access to important information?

Isreal demands Iran to adhere to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, yet it is not a co-signer and therefore, does not disclose information about its own nuclear arsenal. Should Isreal be pressured to adhere to the same rules as everyone else in the interest of peace?

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Grant

9:47 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

President Obama, the Federal Government spends about 3.6 to 3.8 trillion dollars per year. State and Local Governments spend another 3.1 to 3.2 trillion dollars per year. In an economy of about 15 trillion dollars, that means almost half of every dollar earned in the US is spent by government. Doesn't this mean that government in the US is way too big? How much government spending is too much?

Grant, Philadelphia

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David Maier

10:22 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Ask both candidates - - - If 6,000,000,000,000.00 did not right our ship of state and we now owe 16,000,000,000,000.00 at what point is enough - enough? How does Government spending more on 100,000 teachers get the economy going again? If money in education was the issue, why are 60%+ of the students in Detroit dropping out of school? Why isn't this a National Scandal? Shouldn't the Civil Rights Leaders be on the street protesting?

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cfp

12:24 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Please ask both candidates to weigh in on the Ambassador bridge/tunnel border crossing issue in Michigan. As a matter of national security, the country needs a new updated crossing to Canada, should a new bridge/tunnel be publicly or privately owned?

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john holmes

1:12 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Please ask both condidates where they stand on the Federal Universal Service Fund?
A real waste of taxed dollars, 7.7 Billion

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C Andrew Wilson

2:51 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Mr. President and Gov. Romney, can you please give us your candid perspective on where we would be today if Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin had won four years ago? Considering some of the main policy positions they proposed, are there any which you incorporate into your presidency today? Thank you each for the privilege of allowing us to draw more dramatic distinctions between each of your individual points of view as candidates in this election cycle.

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Doug Alder

4:48 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Douglas Alder

Mr Romney, you state that you will not cut taxes for the rich, but for the middle class. Isn't it true, however, that you wish to eliminate the estate tax, which would save the wealthy, which includes the Romney family, billions of dollars over the next several years? Who would make up the difference for the massive amount of lost revenue to the US treasury by eliminating this tax, which is estimated to be over $500 billion?

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Melissa Bausch

9:01 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Melissa Bausch

Mr. Romney, you said in the last debate that on day one you would sit down with Democrats as well as Republicans to solve the nation's problems. President Obama, four years ago, said the same thing. However we now know that on the night of his innaugeration Republicans had a meeting, at which, they devised a strategy of total non-cooperation regardless of what he may propose. If elected, how will you accomplish anything if the Democrats agree adopt the same
policy of refusing to agree with you on anything?

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Candace Jaruszewicz

9:28 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012

For Governor Romney: You have talked recently about how you will reach across the aisle and work in a bipartisan manner. Given that you issued 844 vetoes while governor of Massachusetts, how can you inspire confidence that you will, in fact do so?

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Brian Walsh

10:46 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012

My question would be to Gov. Romney: You have stated in the past on national television that you are not concerned about the poor because there are safety nets in place. However, you have also been heard behind closed doors that you would consider getting rid of HUD, the major source of affordable and quality housing for the poor. Can you confirm whether or not you would get rid of HUD and if so, isn't that ridding the poor of housing, which besides food and water is the most important necessity to live? How do you explain your contradicting remarks?

Brian - Columbus, OH

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Marcia Johnson Witter

5:18 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Please ask Mr Romney why he continues call the Chinese 'cheaters' and promise to come down hard on them and bring jobs home when his company, Bain Capital, owns Asimco, a Chinese company that caused the shut down and loss of jobs at two US manufacturing plants AND Bain holds major stakes in seven (7) other Chinese companies. Romney lives in his 'candidate' world and his actual world....

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KD

7:01 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Please ask President Obama why in the last 4 years US companies continued to outsource more jobs. He has been so critical of Mr. Romney for outsource when he ran a company. I want to hear his plan to stop it. Over the last 4 years my company had double the jobs sent overseas. How does he justify his criticism of Mr.Romney when he has done nothing to stop it.
KC- Colorado

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Russ Steinbeck

3:16 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012

Russ Steinbeck

For each candidate: According to your budget plan, what year will you balance the federal budget, and after accumulating defaults each year until the budget is balanced, what will the national debt be by that time?
RS-Fairfax, VA

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Gerhart Karg

4:03 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012

If Obamacare is such a wonderful plan, why isn't Congress participating in it?

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Rachel Jevicks

4:29 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012

mr. romney you want to cut credits and deductions for the working class yet give business lower tax rate. why not cut their deductions because as anyone familiar with taxes knows business can deduct nearly anything on their taxes which lowers their income and leaves them paying nearly nothing while the ave working citizen is not allowed to deduct their meals mileage cell phones flights ect. and pays much higher percentage than you or your wealthy friends.

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William Denmark

11:30 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012

Mr. Romney, you are a champion of entrepreneurship and the private sector. However, most Americans are employees of larger institutions or corporations. I am a teacher, an employee of a larger institution. Do you think I should quit my job and go into business for myself?

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Nancy Freimark

7:36 am on Friday, October 12, 2012

What problem in the typical person's life today would be resolved or made better by the nation having a smaller deficit?

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Tom Kirby

2:59 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012

For both candidates I would ask the following: Both of have stated you will fight for the middle class. Fighting between the political parties has resulted in incivility, partisan gridlock, and the fiscal cliff we are facing. So rather than fight for me, I would rather you go to work for me and find ways to compromise with the other party. Can you give us any specific examples of where you would be willing to discuss compromising with the other party?

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Shawn

9:44 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012

Two questions for both candidates, (#1) In 2012 China has signed agreements with many different countries agreeing to trade in other currencies other than the US$. It is painfully obvious that the many trillions of US$'s currently held overseas will find their way back to the USA very soon. When that happens hyperinflation is sure to ensue, yet neither candidate has even mentioned this fact. What is your economic plan to deal with rampant hyperinflation in the USA?
(#2) If you are elected president do you intend on stopping the federal reserve from fleecing the American people of their purchasing power?

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Brooke

1:10 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012

Everyone I know keeps commenting on how this candidate or that will affect me. However, it seems to me the candidates are only focusing on the middle to upper classes. Unfortunately, I'm lower class and no one is addressing the class I belong to. I cannot understand how either candidate will affect me whatsoever because I'm part of the class that is over looked. My question is: Does either candidate have a plan for addressing the issues of the lower class, and if so, what are they and how will they benefit us? I know both candidates keep stating that they are going to provide more jobs, but what kind of jobs, and are they going to provide decent income or are they more jobs that will keep me below the poverty line?

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Shan in Southern California

4:38 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012

For President Obama: Why have you never made a state visit to Israel? They are our ONLY ally in the Middle East, don't you think it's necessary?

For Gov. Romney: How will your religion influence your decisions considering it's stance on abortion, same sex marriage and the Mark of Cain Doctrine that says that black people are inferior to whites?

For both candidates: If elected, how will either of you change the laws so that the Lower Middle Class is no longer the Forgotten Class? We are a single income household who rent with one child. Our neighbors are homeowners, double income and have two children. They make $100,000.00 per year, we make about $40,000.00 per year, yet they get food stamps and other government subsidies that we do not qualify for. We struggle every month to make ends meet and never quite make it. We live in a part of California that still has an 11% unemployment rate and is the #8 Hungriest City in America. How will you fix the disparity in available services between the lower middle income levels vs. the Lower Class income levels in this country so that families who work, but still struggle can get some help?

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Laura Dawson

9:06 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012

For Gov Romney,

According to the Book of Mormon (who's followers believe it to be literally the most correct book on Earth): "....The Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them. And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they should be loathsome unto thy people..."

My question to you is: Do you believe that our president is cursed by God?

Laura Dawson
Orange County California

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Jennifer Bruce

10:14 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012

For both candidates: How will you uphold this countries foundation of the separation of church and state?

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E L Small

11:04 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012

The single most important question to ask Mr. Romney: specifically how will his policies differ from those of former Pres. George W. Bush?

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Jim Webb

11:18 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012

Jim Webb

For both candidates:

According to the CBO historical tables:

Federal tax revenues were 18.0% of GDP (a measure of the size of the economy) in 2000.

Since the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, federal tax revenues had fallen to 15.1% of GDP by 2009 and have remained at that level until the present time.

Would you consider any tax increase along with spending cuts in order to cut the deficit?

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John Friendship

11:40 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012

For both - I am tired of all the negativity, Tell me 2-3 things the other side has done right in the last 4 years for Obama or during his time as Governor for Romney.

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Thomas Hardnett sr

2:04 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012

Mr Romney, Your tree gave me assumptions, projections, vague words and plans but no facts. You ask me to trust you. Well, give me some facts to debate.

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Cool

2:09 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012

I would like to ask each Presidential candidate: "Would you vote for someone that has clearly demonstrated the lack of honesty, integrity and trustworthiness to be the next President of the United States? If "Yes", why? If "No", why?

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G. Rott

6:04 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012

I like to know if they could put party lines behind them. I wanted to see change yet that promise was not kept. Who can put our country and people first? We are a country of diversity but as of late a country of divison. The political party first nonsense needs to stop from the top down. President Obama, Mr. Romney please consider this.

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Kathleen Gresham

7:00 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012

Please ask both candidates this questions about Medicare. I am 65 years old and just got on Medicare. My problem is that I live on Social Security and cannot find a doctor in Savannah, GA who accept a new Medicare patient. I had one doctor tell me that Medicare had not been "good" to him in the past and for that reason was not taking any new Medicare or Medicaid patients. I am sure I am not the only baby boomer facing this problem.

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RJ

7:46 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012

To Romney, Knowing that Middle class manufacturing jobs are and have always been the primary generators of the wealth of nations, how do you justify the profit driven business practice of out-sourcing American jobs over seas? And why should Americans trust your integrity when you have proven to us that you could not self regulate your own business practices that continue to weaken our middle class to this day?

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gordon gordon

6:20 am on Monday, October 15, 2012

as i work for a large energy company, i was blessed with good health care benefits. our employees were informed this week that our health benefit programs will be cut. the reason given to us was that we have a "cadillac health care program". this means the company would have to pay a fine for giving it to us. what benefit does america gain from this?

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david hilpert

10:40 am on Monday, October 15, 2012

President Obama,

Since Americans need jobs really bad, why are 7 out of 10 GM cars made outside the USA? Why can't you bring those American jobs back? Why are Levi jeans made outside of the USA instead of in the USA? Why are most of American flags made outside of the USA? Are we not proud of America anymore or American made products anymore?

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Mary Jackson

11:21 am on Monday, October 15, 2012

For Mitt Rommney: Recently during a 60 minute interview you stated that it was fair for you to pay a lower tax rate than someone on the lower end of income because it is the right way to grow the economy. During this past year what specific ways have you personally grown the economy and how many jobs have you created? And at wage?

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Jennifer L

3:35 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012

What are you going to do for the people that are actually working and trying to make it that has done everything to keep from failing and yet still struggle from day to day and only have themselves to reley on.

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Thaine

7:12 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012

Please ask if they are in favor of Turn limits ! Also to have the same befitted as seniors!

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Edward

3:48 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Mr. Romney: You support bankruptcy as an undesired but legitimate financial tool available to corporations and small business owners who make missteps in business judgment which allows them to restructure moving forward. Would you work to make the Bankrupcy Code's "fresh start" policy more accessible to individuals hopelessly enslaved to student loan debt due to their personal economic misfortunes, and miscalculations in business judgment?

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Jennifer

10:49 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012

I would like to ask a question of the candidates requiring them to actually draw out their fiscal plan on a whiteboard. Ex. Romney says he won't raise taxes, but will bring in revenue by closing loopholes. I'd like to see him do the math on a whiteboard for all of us to see. Obama should be required to do the same.

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JOSEPH E. BUCKLEY

1:04 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012

DO YOU WANT TO SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY? SUB CHAPTER 'S' CORP.'S ALLOW SHAREHOLDERS TO TAKE DISTRIBUTIONS WHICH ARE "NOT" SUBJECT TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE TAX! MAKE THESE DISTRIBUTIONS SUBJECT TO SS & MEDICARE AT LEAST TO THE FICA LIMIT AND TRILLIONS WILL FLOW INTO THE SYSTEM AND SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY FOREVER.

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