Romney gaffe shows political incompetence
This has been a rough couple of weeks for Mitt Romney. Amid polls showing that President Barack Obama is retaining his post-convention bump, a video containing some damaging information leaked to the general public.
In this video, the Republican presidential candidate was recorded as characterizing 47 percent of the country as dependent on government, as believing they are victims. He made the assertion that these people pay no income tax. He said it is not his job to worry about those people, that he can never convince them to take personal responsibility and care for their lives.
For a moment, let’s put aside the issues in that statement alone, and focus on the political aspect of it. What could he have possibly gained from this statement? No good could have come from it, should it become public knowledge. A statement like this alienates nearly half the country. It shows contempt for the very people he needs to vote for him.
Throughout this campaign, Gov. Romney has struggled to portray himself as a man who is in touch with the needs of the everyday American. Continually, he has found himself fighting to connect with that American, as the media and the president highlight truths about his life — that he is a multi-millionaire several times over, that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and raised in the lap of luxury. This video, which was recorded at a $50,000 a plate fundraiser, only serves to confirm the accusations of the president and liberal media. It portrays the governor as an out-of-touch, distant, cold, unfeeling elitist. It causes enormous political problems for him, as 67 percent of Americans identify with the members of “the 47 percent,” according to a Reuters poll.
This mistake leads me to ponder the question: When will Romney get out of his own way? His campaign, since he clinched the nomination, has been prone to gaffes. His trip abroad, meant to bolster his foreign policy credentials, was an unmitigated disaster; he offended Britons, Poles and Palestinians, all in one fell swoop. His refusal to release his tax returns until last week prompted speculation about his tax burden.
The president is by no means popular. If he wins come Nov. 6, he will have done so with the lowest approval ratings of any incumbent in recent memory. He will have done so amid an energized opposition, a tepid economy and lagging unemployment data. He should have been ripe for unseating. Romney should have had an easy time.
However, the Romney campaign has been so inept that the president appears to be fairly safe. Romney’s polling numbers are sagging, and the president’s are on the rise. The Romney campaign is described by a Wall Street Journal Editorial writer as “incompetent,” and Republican lawmakers and candidates are publicly distancing themselves from the governor’s remarks.
This election should have been easier for the Republicans. They should have nominated a strong, respected, tried-and-true party elder like Jeb Bush, and they could have taken the White House. Instead, they nominated an also-ran from 2008 with a reputation for flip-flopping and elitism. If the president wins re-election on Nov. 6, it will be because the Republican nominee gave it to him.
Your Turn. Post a Comment
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Victoria Sutherland
So we can pick apart every mistake Romney makes but how about we ignore the complete idiocy of Joe Biden (Should we count how many shameful gaffes the guy has made?) and the blatant ignorance of our very own President who can't even say what our national debt is.
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Nathan
Shaefer, I believe you need to get more educated on what the United States needs. Does it need someone who is our pal? Not really. What we really need is someone who can run the country. Obama had no experience what so ever coming in and he has shown it. We see time and time again that he has no idea what he is doing. Libya?
Mitt Romney has a proven track record and can lead our country. I think you should think of more of your own incompetence before you start to criticize a very smart man such as Mitt Romney. -
Sam
Shaefer... Are you saying we should have a president that connects more with this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpAOwJvTOio&feature=plcp -
Dave Huff
Reading the comments above makes me chuckle.
Southerland's little rant amounts to nothing. "So we can pick apart every mistake Romney makes but how about we ignore the complete idiocy of Joe Biden (Should we count how many shameful gaffes the guy has made?)" - Apples and oranges, dear. And who's "ignoring" Mr. Biden? The media practically trip over themselves trying to be the first to air any verbal fumble he may make, yet lately Vice President Joe Biden has made a rather good showing of himself.
Regarding your comment about "the blatant ignorance of our very own President who can't even say what our national debt is", all I can say is you might want to turn of the FOXNews. Only a Teabagger would throw a remark like that out and not expect it to be met by polite laughter.
Nathan's post doesn't really deserve more than a mention, and here it is.
Sam could stand to develop those literary skills, right after he gets a grip on "critical thinking". I'm not gonna' hold my breath on either count.
Keep up the good work, Shaefer Bagwell. Your writing irritates Regressives. Congrats!
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Sam
Dave,
Maybe you should proofread your own garbage before posting.
I am not irritated, but simple filled with pity that your parents didn't teach you better ways growing up. Maybe they did and you didn't listen. Either way you're an idiot.
Have fun voting for Mr. Obama, it is never fund when you lose.
All the best,
Sam -
David Shelton
Gentlemen and lady, please be civil to each other. The edict of Benjamin Franklin still stands, that the soft-spoken are the most persuasive. If you intend only to blow off steam (not an unworthy endeavor) please do so in another of the many political forums on our fair (I use the term loosely) Interweb.
I think the objection of unfairness is a little premature. There have been perhaps three issues of this column, two of which were taken up with non-partisan issues such as personal conduct and the import of the convention. Shaefer hasn't had time to be unbiased. Full disclosure: I like Joe Biden more than the president, and I'm absolutely willing to defend him.
The objection to the merits of the choice between Romney and Obama misses the point of the article. The merits were explicitly set aside in favor of an examination of the technical craft of politics. This is where I am inclined to suggest that that is not such a good idea. In a student paper, I think it is better to examine policy merits than campaign tactics. Tactics are inside baseball that not many denizens of an apathetic campus will understand or care about. A link to the Peggy Noonan column cited in the article would have served the purpose just as well.
The presidential candidates are neither martyrs nor monsters. We need not bristle at every criticism, nor cry out after every comment.
Thanks,
David Shelton -
Victoria Sutherland
I tried to not reply but I just wanted to clear something up real quickly.
First, Dave, if you're going to criticize me can you at least spell my name right? Especially since I did provide you with the correct spelling.
And concerning your assumption that I am a "tea bagger", my comment about President Obama is not an opinion but a fact. He has publicly stated that he doesn't know the debt clock. I just thought you might want to be informed.
A matter of fact here is the link, hope it helps!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D55384wiUg&feature=plcp
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Joe
LOL at all of this.