Mitt Romney is willing to say and do a lot of distasteful things to pander to Republican voters, but lighting his hair on fire apparently isn't on the table.
At a rare campaign press conference this morning, a reporter asked Romney about his difficulties in generating excitement among GOP voters. The candidate replied, "It's very easy to excite the base with incendiary comments. We've seen throughout the campaign, if you're willing to say really outrageous things that are accusative, attacking of President Obama, that you're going to jump up in the polls. You know, I'm not willing to light my hair on fire to try and get support."
It struck me as an odd thing to say. The not-so-subtle implication is that Republicans are an excitable bunch, easily manipulated by rabble-rousers and extremist rhetoric.
That's not an unreasonable assessment of the GOP base, but it's unusual for leading Republican presidential candidates to characterize his own party's base as impressionable rubes.
As for Romney's reluctance to light his hair on fire, Jesse Berney joked that the candidate doesn't seem to mind his pants being on fire.
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Sorry, all I heard is, "Come on guys, stop running to Santorum and Gingrich just because they make Bats@$t comments! You know I can't do that stuff, I'm running for office for pete's sake. I have to try and get back to the center to court independents in the general and I don't have the luxury of saying any old thing to fire up the tinfoil tri-cornered hat crowd! Come on guys stop beating me with the lunatic fringe! Play fair! wahh"
He won't light his hair on fire because he loves his hairstyle too much. "Governor goodhair."
'sides, he has so much grease in his hair, he'd be declared an ecological disaster.
I thought Governor Goodhair was Perry...
He may not be willing to set his hair on fire, whatever that means, but he certainly isn't above making bizarre accusations against Obama - you know the kind that excite his base when everyone else does it. That doesn't seem to be quite enough, Mitt.
Romney's hair on fire? Oh, don't worry. Politifact checked Romney's "excite the base with incendiary remarks" comment, found it true, and promptly labeled it "Pants on Fire".
Not to mention the fact that Romney has already attacked President Obama (on Obama Care, the bank bailouts, the auto bailouts...), so this whole thing about not saying incendiary things is just a lie to suddenly try to sound moderate. Too late, Mitt!
Yes, but that was soooo yesterday, and today he's telling the truth! Don't worry, the rubes won't understand so it's okay.....
LOL
Mitt is probably trying to spray a little Febreeze on a huge steaming pile.
BTW, he totally said "riddy outrageous", not "really outrageous". lol
I tried being a Roman but I failed to fool anyone so now I will try playing a monk?
Too late dipstick, way too late.
Another example of Mitt saying something completely at odds with the truth and his own actions.
If only someone could write a weekly column that chronicles the worst examples of the mendacity of Mitt...
. . . "The not-so-subtle implication is that Republicans are an excitable bunch, easily manipulated by rabble-rousers and extremist rhetoric."
They are. And .... ?
Not yet, Mitt, it's too early. You've got to get the nomination first, and then start to distance yourself from the lunatic fringe.
Not that it matters. If Mittens gets the nom, it will be less than 72 hours after he makes his first official "I'm-not-really-so-conservative" general election speech that Rush, Hannity, Breitbart and the rest will declare him to be insufficiently pure and start getting behind the Wasilla Grifter. Palin/Wurzelbacher 2012!
How is it that I totally admire that he said that? Rats! Must-go-de-program...........................
he's sell his Mama for a block of votes
Hhhmm. So Mitt is saying he now opposes attacks on the POTUS as a lame bit of political pandering? Cool....
Romney: what a turd.
He can't go all the way republican...he has a general election to lose.
Enter attack dog Ron Paul from the far psycho right...
"...I'm not willing to light my hair on fire to try and get support."
"...but I will lie like a dog and flip-flop all over the place if it gets me what I want!"
But... Now Willard, just because you saying in a calmer tone of voice, you may not be setting your hair on fire, it's still saying whatever to pander to voters.
Romney's hair would go up in a Flash if a flame got near it.
Considering the values the Repugnican base cheers for, Romney speaks the truth, and gets in trouble for it.
Oh boo! I was hoping he would!
Upon concluding his comments, Romney headed to the locker room to get treatment for a pulled left groin muscle. Coaches reminded him to stop doing the splits trying to appease the extreme right and moderates at the same time.
Romney's status is listed as day-to-day.
Someone Anyone Please tell Willard 'The Federal Government and the Executive Branch are not the Private Sector what you did in the Private sector has no bearing on Government business"
Don't be silly. A turnaround artist like Mitt will just fire enough citizens to bring the budget into balance and then sell it at a profit.
You're no Honey Whitlock Mr. Romney..
Liar, liar hair on fire!