It's a mistake to assume that every prominent Republican who speaks at the NAACP's national convention will receive a cool reception. It's simply not the case -- then-RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman's speech in 2004 was very well received, for example.
So, when Mitt Romney agreed to speak this morning, it was hardly a foregone conclusion that his remarks would go over poorly. Sure, he antagonized the NAACP in Massachusetts during his one term as governor. And sure, Romney's right-wing policy agenda would disproportionately hurt African Americans. And sure, Romney's party is engaged in a systematic effort to prevent African-American voters from participating in the 2012 elections.
But Romney nevertheless could have stressed areas of agreement and made his case for why his far-right proposals would help the African-American community. Instead, the Republican chose a different path.
I've been following NAACP conventions for quite a while now, and I can't recall ever hearing such a lengthy, sustained booing. (The rest of the speech received polite applause, but the booing was obviously the most notable development of the morning.)
The wonk in me feels compelled to mention that Romney's argument wasn't even coherent on its face -- he said he wants to kill the Affordable Care Act to reduce the deficit, which is absurd since killing the Affordable Care Act would increase the deficit.
But I think it's probably safe to say that's not why Romney was booed. In fact, this was entirely predictable -- the far-right Republican presidential candidate spoke to the NAACP and effectively proclaimed, "Vote for me and I'll make sure 7 million African Americans lose their health insurance."
What kind of campaign pitch is that? For crying out loud, of course Romney got booed. At the risk of being overly cynical, I can't help but wonder if Romney did this on purpose precisely so he would be booed.
In the larger context, Jamil Smith argued there Romney really didn't have anything to lose by giving this speech, and I wholeheartedly agree. If it went well, Romney gets a boost thanks to a warm reception from a Democratic constituency. If it went poorly, Romney gets credit for the outreach, and his base gets further motivated.
Indeed, if I had to guess, I'd say Romney will now position himself as something of a victim -- he appeared in good faith, the argument goes, but that mean ol' NAACP audience booed him for standing by his beliefs.
It'll be nonsense, but it's likely to become the Republican talking point.
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I think he's simply ignorant enough and enough out-of-touch that he actually thought the NAACP would welcome his attitude. It's certainly in character.
On the other hand, it would also be in character for a conservative to put himself in the position of playing the victim. "Did you see how they booed me? How unreasonable those people are!"
I predict that, instead, he'll claim that the Obama campaign sent hecklers to be in the audience and boo him.
And then he turns and quotes the out-source-loving Chamber of Commerce? An organization that never saw a Main Street it didn't want to GUT?
BTW, that pre-roll Ad is MUCH louder than the video content (E-VILE) AND it autoplays again at the end and can't be stopped (like if a person is writing a post and doesn't want a LOUD AD blaring in her ears, so as to compose a more coherent post).
I was not expecting R-Money to encounter any overt hostility, but then, I was also not expecting him to go so far out of his way to antagonize them.
Jamil is spot on regarding the political calculation. It is win win.
They aren't shooting for victimhood primarily. Romney is being painted as a sniveling weasel, a shape shifter with no spine, no courage. Right wingers need to at least have some shred of belief the man is a leader. What he needs is to get a Red Badge of Courage to prove his no coward to the right leaning center. Expect Romney to do more Daniel in the Lion's Den numbers with such groups. It is precisely what Kerry should have done in his campaign to bolster his cred with the dems. But no. Dem technocrats are artless practitioners of political mechanisms who have no appreciation of the literature of politics.
Jamil is correct about the mechanism, but you have to look at the literature that drives the persuasive narrative. If Dems were smart, they will go out to all progressive groups where Romney is scheduled to speak and council them to have extremely polite silence as a response. This generates very limp Daniel in the lion's den moments for Romney.
Dang. Dr. Maddow mentioned "Badge of courage" in this story today.
.
Not only does TRMS read their mail, they appear to read these threads. OTOH, Maddow and TRMS staff members are very well read and so maybe it is just coincidence. I shall never believe it though, and will stalwartly cling to my delusions. Possibly I shall remain splendidly flattered and less dour about our agency in society for months.
At least Romney had the balls to show up, can't say that for BO.
Ummm, Hank... Obama has gone plenty of places that aren't in his court, to reach across the divide that idiots like you dwell within. Romney has no balls, otherwise he'd have the guts to take a position and stick with it.
Hank
Romney has no balls. He was there to be smug and condescending. He was there to say to the P Tea Party base, "Look at me. I went to NAACP and they booed me. Boo hoo. If anyone has had the balls to walked into the lion's den it has been President Barack Obama.
Yes John, they do read the threads. I was surprised to discover that as well. Although I still have a hard time keeping a better rein on my inner (and sometimes late-night outer) smart-mouth.
Grump - He said that he would repeal Obamacare and got the longest and biggest boos. Sounds that he had some balls to say that. BTW, why didn't BO speak to the convention - lack of balls?
I would like to see BO speak again to the Chamber of Commerce and berate business for not creating jobs. Lets see if they are as impolite as the naacp and boo BO.
My guess is that using "Obama" as an epithet, as in his derisive mention of Obamacare, didn't help Mitt's cause much, either. Nothing like patronizing your audience to really win over the crowd.
Bet that if he toned down his language to Affordable Care Act for the naacp crowd instead of using Obamacare every else then y'all would say that he wasn't being true to himself and pandering to the crowd. I did not see any pandering to this crowd. Good for him.
That's the exception that proves the rule. Romney panders to anyone who's white.
Well at least he liked the organ music.
Were all the notes the right height?
He wants to replace Obamacare with....Obamacare! The man is incoherent to anyone paying attention to the issues. Screw being nice and polite to such outrage coming from Romney and the GOP. It's a natural response to such idiocy to be insulted by it.
Mr. Mehlman's speech to the NCAAP was in 2005 and he got both applause and jeers, just like Gov. Romney.
Surely you aren't suggesting that the Republican fill in for President Bush got only or even mostly cheers?
RobDon:
No, you're suggesting it, Rob. Steve clearly said:
If this statement is inaccurate please tell us how. Do some jeers in a speech automatically mean that it was not well received, overall?
Starting to sense a pattern of disingenuousness with you Rob.
Nice to see that "RobDon" is now a synonym for MORON.
We deeply appreciate your daily demonstration of what you wingnut scum have to do to flunk the IQ test low enough to be wingnut scum.
What does "very well received" mean if not what I said? I did find a source for my position. None other than NPR.
The only thing I could find that was praised was Mr. Mehlman's comments regarding the use of race polarization, nothing else.
To say it was "very well received" means (to me) that if there were jeers, the cheers by far out number them. I find no evidence that was the case. In fact, other than what I mentioned above indicates it was "mixed" at best.
If you have evidence that it was "very well received" please post it. Just like if you have evidence that the speech was in 2004 as Mr. Benen stated or in 2005 as I did.
TC, nice to see your substantive comments to the conversation. My 5 year old grandson knows name calling solves nothing.
Yeah, those folks at the NAACP received Robme so very well!!!! I am just sure that they will vote for Robme!
Robme/???? 2012
Mitt that "survey" you are referring too... WASNT A REAL SURVEY it was not a study done by the chamber of commerce.
He made this speech so that he can go back to his base and say, "See, I tried to talk sense to THOSE PEOPLE, but what can you expect from a bunch of liberal wackos/welfare cheats/food stamp recipients, etc.. I tried to reason with THOSE PEOPLE, but you just can't reason with THEM. That's why we're so superior, yada, yada, yada . . . ." Then, the Repubs will use tapes of the reaction from the crowd to raise money.
It's as predictable as rain in December.
Bingo. The subtext of the Teahadist assault on the ACA, and the Medicaid expansion in particular, is "big guvvamint stealin' money from hard workin' white people and givin' it to lazy, shiftless t-bone steak eatin' strapping young bucks and Cadillac drivin' welfare queens."
I genuinely believe that's why he went. I know as certain as it's hot in the south in July that's the message we'll be getting from the Carlington Post and Limbaugh and Malkin and the rest of wingnutosphere within hours. I'll really be surprised if we don't see ads by an untraceable new 501(c)(3) pop up pulling this footage out and doing the full on "white hands" ad with it.
It could be the motivation, to get some cred with the far right. If it's true, it helps undermine the idea that Romney will pivot to the center (which does not seem to be coming at all, anyway). Maybe Romney intends to partly run on the basis of race. It's not as if that would be a new idea for Republicans. With a black man in the White House, this could easily be the ugliest election in terms of race-baiting alone.
There was about as much chance that RobMe would pivot to the center as there is that I will win American Idol. (hint: I'm decades over the age limit.)
The speech wasn't really for the NAACP. He knows that voting block is lost to him. The speech was directed toward swing voters. A pretense of inclusion.
henry-6224410 banned, re-reg of banned user oklahoma62.
Yay! Keep up the good work.
In this clip Romney gets considerable applause, and as i understand it a standing "O" at the end.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/mitt-romneys-naacp-speech-a-powerful-appeal-to-the-better-angels-of-african-american-voters/
The only "understanding" of a standing ovation is from one commenter on that article. Excellent source, there.
It was also reported that 200 people, including the Lt. Gov from FL, was bused into the event by the Romney camp.
So you will vote for Pinocchio and I will vote for President Obama.
Could someone fill us lefty luddites in on how it is we can use newsvines to live in a Shooter-free world here?
oh honest to GOD...of course, he got booed. He is the assumed head of the party that is actively trying to take away their voting privileges. Are you KIDDING me?
They're not voting privileges. They are voting rights!
"Vote for me and I'll make sure 7 million African Americans lose their health insurance." Which I guess is what Romney was trying to say over all of the boo's.
And this being addressed from the same party that has its bloomers all in a twist over "death panels". Do the math, 7 million fewer insured = a higher probability of premature deaths.
Conservatives, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Romney didn't go there to solicit votes. He went hoping he'd be insulted, which would gladden the hearts of the GOP base. Crudely put, he went there seeking the whitest of the white votes.
I didn't think Mittsywittsy would be quite that crass, but evidently he was.
Edited Faux Nooze video and fainting on the couch 3...2...1...
I'm just glad he didn't use the same attempt at relating to the NAACP that he did with the NASCAR people...
"I don't pay much attention to
NASCARblacks, but I have several friends who areteamslave owners."Like folks are gonna choose someone who tells you he's gonna take away healthcare from 7 million Black folk.
not.
there isn't a group in this country with a higher percentage of PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS than Black folk.
..by means testing
Isn't that a forgone conclusion, how much more mean can the GOP get? Are they going to shoot the poor next? Rmoney just doesn't understand those class warriors in the audience!
"Whatever the outcome in November, Sen. Obama has achieved a great thing - for himself and for his country - and I thank him for it."
-John McCain, at the annual NAACP convention 2008.
McCain received a polite and respectful reception at the NAACP convention, and he was praised for conducting an unexpected Q & A session. I don't think anyone expected Romney to be as gracious or as open. It's just not who he is.
The term 'Obamacare' was originally meant to be an offensive label for the Affordable Healthcare Act created by Teabaggers and Republicans. Romney's camp seems to have forgotten this piece of history. Attendees of the today's NAACP reminded him with a healthy and well deserved BOO!
Romney has gotten a pass for far too long. He's "running for office for Pete's sake!" and in this case, he's running to be President of ALL Americans. He's supposed to speak at events like the NAACP and NALEO. That's a given.
But you know what Romney has yet to do?? Any interview on MSNBC. By April of 2008, Barack Obama had already been interviewed by Fox News. He had to sit there in an unfriendly audience and take the tough questions.
Why does Mittens continue to enjoy the protection of his base and their well-oiled spin machine. He needs to be booked on Rachel Maddow ASAP.
No backbone - his puppet-masters will not be able to control what he says when he is asked the tough questions - like give us details of what your policies would be. 59 one sentence comments do not identify your policies, positions or you as a person.
It'll be nonsense, but it's likely to become the Republican talking point.
For a great deal of the right, the talking point will be "blacks are the real racists!!1!1!"
Playing the victim may be the strategy of Romney surrogates, but I believe what we saw today, (and continue to see in flashes) is the real Romney; the CEO who isn't completely comfortable with the idea of democracy. He's the corporate guy, through and through, who gives orders and expects them to be followed, who bristles when anyone has the audacity to challenge his opinion, who, after all, likes firing people. He is, simply, not cut out to govern-he's spent far more time campaigning then actually serving. He's not a feasible candidate, the Republicans know it. If the GOP had not sold their soul to the NRA, the National Chamber of Commerce, and tea party lunatics, they'd have more options. Too bad for them.
The NAACP never should have invited him.
They always invite both nominees. The nominees don't always attend.
Who ever wins will be everyone's President and the NAACP and an other minority audience needs to hear where each candidate stands.
What a Howdee Doodee closet racist Romney is.
I watched him speak.
He must have used EVERY condescending comment possible during his speech.
What a bunch of hypocritical garbage.
Ah, but it's the sort of garbage that those on the right love to hear.
LOL. True. Pathetic but true Entropy.
Joke: “What is the difference between thermodynamics and a stick?
Answer: “A stick has two ends and no beginning. Thermodynamics has two ‘beginnings’ (the first and second law) and no end.”
http://www.eoht.info/page/Thermodynamics+humor
Romney stands there like some kind of "Joe Isuzu for President" churning out gobsmacking lie after gobsmacking lie like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. And to add insult to injury, he stands up there repeatedly calling the Affordable Care Act by the term coined for it by Republicans in an effort to deride the bill and disrespect the president. And some, like ABC News, are trying to imply it's the NAACP audience who behaved badly? I can't hold back - Romney is an astounding liar and charlatan like I've never seen in my entire life.
Really, ABC News is implying that the NAACP audience behaved badly? People have a right to express their opinion as long as it is through speech and not violence. Does ABC think the only ones who have Freedom of Speech is Corporations?
I would imagine the event organizers rallied the troops and asked them not to give the gop any ammo for later ads , I am also certain the romney team new what they were doing ,. as people are pointing out , which is disheartening , I saw this as a good thing for all , but all we got was another opportunity lost , which is SOP for the GOP at this point
And it does speak loudly to who and what romney and the gop are , in a situation like that , you focus on things you can agree upon , learn a little from each other , then use it to try and work together for the greater good , but as is being pointed out , a millionaire wall st king does not think that way , and the romney team does not care too either , or the working class gop suckers who will vote for this smarmy a$$ hole and his cronies , how can the working class gop vote for someone who thinks they are lower than dirt? And be thrilled at the thought of treating the rest of america the same way as president?
"Vote for me and I'll make sure 33 million American citizens lose any chance of affordable health care."
I live in California so I won't get a chance to boo Romney in person. Boo!!!! Boo Mr. Let's Give the Government to Corporate America and Who Cares about the Middle Class.
This man makes me furious. What a big freakin' liar.
Forget about the "poor." Forget about the uninsured. Forget about anyone that doesn't have enough assets to require a Swiss bank account. Because Mitt just doesn't care. Mitt Romney has no soul. He is a corporate robot, a humanoid without principles and without any devotion to honesty, integrity, or decency. Romney's entire career, both in the private-sector and politically, has centered around destruction and personal opportunism. Where he thinks he can make millions or score political points, he acts. A general election campaign will slowly expose Mitt for the soulless corporate raider he is, at his core. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
But there are a lot of people who just love soulless corporate raiders. Some of them infest this site.
Yes, the best 'love' money can buy.