VP Candidates Square Off In Only Debate
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Many analysts predicted there would be fireworks during the only debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan -- and the candidates didn't disappoint.
The Vice President came out swinging, and did something the president didn't do during his much-criticzed debate last week:
Mr. Biden brought up Mitt Romney's controversial comment that was caught on camera during a fundraiser last May.
Romney said that 47 percent of Americans will vote for President Obama because they are dependent upon the government and believe they are victims.
The Vice President said that comment proved Romney is out of touch with middle class Americans, especially considering he wanted General Motors to go bankrupt, which would have threatened thousands of jobs.
Mr. Biden said, "It shouldn't be surprising for a guy who says 47 percent of the American people are unwilling to take responsibility for their own lives."
For his part, Mr. Ryan was waiting to respond with a zinger. "With respect to that quote, I think the Vice President very well knows that sometimes the words don't come out of your mouth the right way."
After the audience laughed, Biden responded by saying, "But I always say what I mean."
Last week, Romney said his remarks about the 47 percent were wrong.
Also during tonight's debate, both the Vice President and Mr. Ryan butted heads on tax cuts for the wealthy.
Biden wants to let the bush tax cuts expire for those families making more than $250,000 a year.
Ryan disagrees, saying those families often include small business owners, who in turn create jobs. "There aren't enough rich people and small businesses to tax to pay for all their spending. So the next time you here them say don't worry about it, we'll get wealthy people to pay their fair share, watch out middle class, the tax bill is coming to you."
But the Vice President insisted, "We want to extend permanently so the middle class tax cut for permanent from the bush middle class tax cut, these guys won't allow us to. They're (Republicans) are holding hostage the middle class tax cut to the super wealthy."
A lot of people watched the debate with us and shared their comments on social media. We wanted to know, who won?
Wendy Hoch of Keller replied to @CBSDFW on Twitter, "Ryan won hands down. He was calm, collected, and acted like a leader."
But Forrest Johnson of Irving said on our CBSDFW facebook page, "I would say Biden won, but by a very narrow margin... Ryan lacks the seasoning Biden has."
We found among our social media followers, it was evenly split on who won.
Most people who responded didn't comment on the issues, but did comment on the Vice President's laughter and smirking while Mr. Ryan answered questions during the debate.
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