Obama-Romney Debate ‘Ignores’ U.S. Housing And Foreclosure Problems
With all the spirited banter last night about tax cuts, 47 percenters, foreign policy, job creation and all-things political, it appears the Barack Obama and Mitt Romney “ignored” perhaps one of the biggest economic issues facing the United States during their second presidential debate at Hofstra University:
Housing!
There are countless pointed reactions and passionate thoughts about “who won” the debate. And depending on which news channel you watch or in which political direction you lean, you’re going to get a mixed bag of reactions and have formulated your own opinions. That’s cool — we’re not here to pick sides, not even close, but shed light on a glaring omission. Housing is a serious issue and it has been since the mortgage meltdown more than a half-decade ago that triggered the national foreclosure crisis.
So why aren’t the 2012 presidential candidates talking more about it?
Zachary Goldfarb of the Washington Post provides a potential explanation that splits party lines rather evenly:
“Both Republicans and Democrats agree that one way to help the economy would be to launch a massive program to allow Americans to refinance their home loans at low rates. Obama has suggested such a proposal, as has a top adviser to Romney. Yet neither Obama nor Romney has an incentive to discuss housing. Housing has been arguably one of Obama’s weakest areas as president; he has acknowledged it was the most stubborn problem he faced. And Romney’s approach has been largely to allow the free market to sort out the woes of the housing market, allowing those who got in over their heads to default. Neither is a popular talking point.”
Perhaps unpopular, but certainly worth debating when the dynamic duo hit Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., next week for their third and final verbal sparring session prior to the election on Nov. 6, 2012. A fine institution of higher learning nestled in the heart of South Florida, one of the hardest-hit foreclosure hot beds in the nation.
To read Obama’s policy on housing click here and to read Romney’s click here.
Photo by VOA [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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