Mitt Romney's penchant for identifying his own faults and then assigning them to President Obama came into sharper focus this week -- I'm still laughing about his anti-Harvard nonsense -- with the Republican nominee taking the "I'm rubber, you're glue" tactic to new extremes.
But while some of the recent examples are more substantive than others, it's striking that Romney has chosen to go after Obama on the issues of transparency and secrecy. In reality, there's ample evidence that this is one of Romney's more troubling weaknesses.
Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney, whose wealth has become a central issue in the 2012 campaign, has taken advantage of an obscure exception in federal ethics laws to avoid disclosing the nature and extent of his holdings.
By offering a limited description of his assets, Romney has made it difficult to know precisely where his money is invested, whether it is offshore or in controversial companies, or whether those holdings could affect his policies or present any conflicts of interest.
In 48 accounts from Bain Capital, the private equity firm he founded in Boston, Romney declined on his financial disclosure forms to identify the underlying assets, including his holdings in a company that moved U.S. jobs to China and a California firm once owned by Bain that filed for bankruptcy years ago and laid off more than 1,000 workers.
It's all the more reason Romney's elusive tax returns are so important, and helps explain why he's been so secretive with the materials.
This also reinforces a larger pattern of secrecy. Remember, shortly before Romney departed the governor’s office, 11 of his top aides purchased 17 state-issued hard drives, and purged the Romney administration's email records in advance of his presidential campaign. Soon after, Romney admitted the move was intended to hide official correspondence from the public and keep potentially-embarrassing information from "opposition research" teams.
Romney has also said he'll keep the details of his policy agenda secret until after the election.
This is the same guy who's attacking the president for lacking transparency? As Rachel joked last night, the next thing we'll hear from Romney are complaints about Obama's lousy tenure as Massachusetts governor.
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Hmmm..... Let me see if I get this right! I am not supposed to vote for President Obama because I know what his policies are. I am supposed to vote for Romney because I DON'T know what his policies are.
Sure!!!! Makes sense. Republicans think I, like all voters, am just a stupid person who will believe what Republicans SAY on any particular day and will ignore my lying eyes and ears!!!
"Romney has also said he'll keep the details of his policy agenda secret until after the election."
Because if the people actually know what's in it they won't vote for him - right. Shhh, mums the word, Mittens..
He is planning to destroy all of our Government Departments. Why, because that is what the Tea Party is telling him to do and the Large corporations have their hand outs ready to reap the gold with which he will pour onto them. If people are unhappy, to say the least, about what each individual State is doing behind closed doors, Passing legislation to basically strip any rights we as Americans have fought for over the years.(many, many years) then hang onto your hats because this guy is going to make you wish for President Bush to come back. These vultures are trying to hit us when we are our most vulnerable, after a recession, they can do this because apparantally the recession hasn't affected them. While the Middle Class and the poor are slowly but, surely dusting ourselves off they are spitting on us, calling us Muppets, kicking us while we're down, laughing in our faces, Giving the finger to our parents and grandparents, and while their doing this they have time to go on cruises, drink champagne, dine at the finest restaurants. This is class warfare but, look who is throwing the bombs, and wanting to add more arsenal and military look who is in the attack mode. Who is starting the war. Darwinism!
I think if any Corporate executive or CEO of a Company were to run for President their record and their tax returns probably would look similar to Romneys. This is why I cannot beleive he is running for President. I would hope that after having Bush as our President , The American People would demand more transparency. Romney would survive another recession WE WOULD NOT!!! I don't expect any person to be perfect. And we have to hope that people learn from their mistakes. But, Romney is much less forthcoming about almost every subject and he lies a lot. Our Country can't afford this man we can't even afford him for a few months, which is probably how long it'll take to impeach him. I wish he would at least save us the trouble of that and drop out now or concede. Stop wasting our money, on this campaign and do the right thing ...drop out. At least if he did he could leave with some dignity, if he has any left.
teh-baggers and true conservatives of every stripe had better be damn concerned about this reticence on Romney's part to speak out very clearly on where he stands on all incredibly important issues to conservatives. Mr. Etch-A_Sketch could go in any direction at all with all of this evasive secrecy. What's he hiding? Why doesn't he come out with a forthright and detailed plan to show how different he is from Obama, (instead of just making hollow accusations), and how committed he is to truly dismantling the gov't beast?
Conservatives are cutting Romney a LOT of slack by not demanding more detail and substance from Mr. Etch-A-Sketch. Just because he pops the question, doesn't mean at all that he won't leave them at the alter. This is no time for a leap of faith conservatives. You already know you don't like Obama. But what is it that you will be able to love and trust about your nominee, Romney? Now is the time to find out. Push for answers. Demand accountability and commitment from your candidate, or don't complain about what you end up with if Romney is very, very different from what you hoped, even if you suspected otherwise.
Maybe if we're all really careful not to make too much noise, Mitt will whisper his views on tax policy. It is something for quiet rooms after all.
"It's not that I don't have a plan. It's that my plan is so awesome it's not for regular eyes."
He's protecting us from the blinding awesomeness of his economic plans.
No, I think it's more likely that Mitt Romney honestly does not believe that he should have to tell us. He answers the questions He wants to answer in debates, he goes on Fox News to get the questions he wants, and when the interview isn't soft enough he complains, "that was a strange interview."
Mitt Romney doesn't quite understand that he answers to the American People.
I'd say we're entitled to know where he stands, but you know how they hate entitlements.
Romney has CEO arrogance syndrome. He adamantly supports the concept that company workers should not be told the truth about the corporation for which they work. The workers are not made aware of what deals are made behind closed corporate doors, or where corporate profits are invested. "Common" workers don't personally know the corporate executive team, and they certainly don't get a vote, or even a voice, in important company-wide decisions. They are expected to work for a pittance and not make waves. They are shushed, and sometimes fired, when they they dare to ask legitimate questions. This is how Romney will treat the average American worker and voter.
And at some point Romney will point to the President's poor judgment in putting Bo on top of the Obama vehicle for a family vacation.
I decided during the Reagan era that I never ever ever want another republican to be "the decider." It just never works out well for us decidees.
There's that feeling again. The one I used to get when Bush was President. The "You don't need to know or worry about what I do because I know what's best for you" feeling that used to make my stomach turn. Scott Walker is really good at it too, "I can fix it..just trust me". Yeah ok..I think I need Dramamine.
the right knows everything they need to know about romney
he's white
Even though I could never vote for Santorum, I at least know where he stands. Mitt Romney on the other hand, I have no idea what his position will be tomorrow. MR. Etch A Sketch.
You can get more truth by giving a male bovine laxatives, than you can get from Mitt's mouth. With the crap he spews, his breath must be horrid.
One reason he will not come clean , until he is forced to , is because all they are presenting is bush part 3 ideas , anyone who would vote that back into office would never vote dem any way
It will be entertaining watching romney have a "entitled rich frat boy" @!$%# fit when people point out his plans are the same GOP plans presented since reagan , popcorn time
In florida he was talking about people with foreclosed homes , and how he wanted to help them , he said we must give people like him more tax breaks , and it would all be better for them , in so many words of course , funny , but also very sick