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Romney and his teleprompter in Jerusalem.
Mitt Romney had quite a few interesting things to say during his visit to Israel, with much of the focus on his perspective on Iran. But there were a couple of other quotes -- one amusing, one not -- that are nearly as important.
At his Jerusalem fundraiser last night, for example, the Republican candidate spent quite a bit of time praising the Israeli health care system, which covers more of the nation's population than we do, while spending less as a percentage of GDP. Romney may not have thought this one through -- Israel has a socialized system and a national mandate. The kind of health care policy he was praising in Israel is the same kind of policy he routinely condemns.
But that's not all he said at the fundraiser.
"Culture makes all the difference," Mr. Romney said. "And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things."
"As you come here and you see the G.D.P. per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000, and compare that with the G.D.P. per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality," he said.
There's quite a bit wrong with this. For one thing, Romney's figures are inaccurate. For another, it's curious to hear him praise Israel's GDP, given that Israel has a top marginal income tax rate of 48% on income over $125,000. Isn't this the sort of economic policy that offends Romney to the core?
But even if we put those details aside, the argument Romney presented -- Israel has the superior "culture," which is why Palestinians have less money -- is simply offensive on its face.
It clearly displays a degree of ignorance about "the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority," where economic activities are restricted and opportunities to create a robust GDP are limited. But also note the underlying elitism -- inferior cultures, Romney seemed to argue, are the ones with lower per capita GDP.
Does the presidential hopefully really want to stick to this line? Given that here in the U.S., "blue" states tend to have higher per capita GDP than "red" states, does Romney believe this is the evidence of the superiority of cultural differences?
Pressed for an explanation, the Romney campaign said the former governor had been taken out of context (there's a lot of that going around). As campaign aides explained it, after mentioning the per capita GDP of Israel and Palestine, Romney also said, "And that is also between other countries that are near or next to each other. Chile and Ecuador, Mexico and the United States."
Hmm. So to downplay the ugliness of the underlying argument, the Romney camp wants reporters to know he also believes Chile has a superior culture to Ecuador, and Mexicans are inferior, too, by virtue of the size of their economy.
I'm beginning to think Romney isn't good at being a presidential candidate. He might win anyway -- bad candidates have succeeded before -- but that doesn't change the fact that seeking high office doesn't seem to be one of his strengths.
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The reason he likes their system is because it reminds him of Romneycare...
... "the power of culture and a few other things." Who's his speechwriter? Miss teen South Carolina (and so on)?
So let's see, is the NY-DC culture superior to Mississippi's? Is there anyone here that thinks it isn't? How about California's culture compared to South Dakota's? Of course you're going to say that, which puts you in the position of bashing Romney for agreeing with you.
Not when comparing economic ability. Why is Greece poor and Germany rich? Culture. Why are Palestinians poorer than Israeli's? Culture. You can certainly argue some aspects of Palestinian culture are equal to or superior to Israel's, but not business, or for that matter, the rule of law.
Being a terrorist haven is bad for legitimate business, though I understand they have a very nice shopping mall.
Well Shooter. NYC's Culture is better than Mississippi's. To even think other wise. Is a gross misuse of common sense.
Secondly suggesting that Germany has more culture than Greece. Is frankly just stupid. What Germany has that Greece doesn't have. Is a multibillion dollar Auto Industry. And given that Venture Capitalist love their Mercedes. Plays a larger role in the two countries economic stances. Not their Culture.
Calvin, I was trying to point out Germany's culture around work and production is stronger than Greece's. It's not a question of more or less, it's about different. That's why Greece doesn't make much that's saleable.
Culture http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/culture
Is he talking about behavior or access to culture?
Verb or noun, is this another dog whistle?
Israel is the context, not Greece, NYC, California, South Dakota or Mississippi… some people going off track again?
"Culture" in Israel has a higher tax rate and National Health Care.
There are plenty of Americans who probably reach for their revolvers every time they hear the word "culture".
mmm2 - I think you insult Miss Teen South Carolina with your comment. I read the transcript of Romney's speech, and I can't even believe he read any of that off a teleprompter. Unbelievably inane, poorly written/spoken, and what's with his reference to Tagg ("He’s not here. I look around to see. Of course he’s not here. He was in London.") - was that supposed to be an attempt at humor that Mitt thought would get a chuckle in Israel? Really? But even if he ad-libbed that part, that has got be the poorest speechwriting I've ever seen.
devoid of charm, humour, and everything else, indeed.
Wow from stupid to a Hitler like rant about how Jews are superior to Palestinians-ironic.
The ironic thing is Jews and Palestinians are genetically linked:
http://epiphenom.fieldofscience.com/2009/01/shared-genetic-heritage-of-jews-and.html
The same might be said of Rush and homo-sapiens but I fail to see it.
Paul
When these studies first came I told a co-worker who is Palestinian about them. He said "I guess that makes us cousins. The worst fights are always between cousins" So although you might not see a link some of us do.
BTW The reason you might not see a link to Rush and Homo sapiens is that Rush is his own subspecies, Homo sapien vulagris. This may be the reason he has failed to breed. He's sterile like a mule.
He got burned by criticizing England on the Olympics. So now he's flip-flopped, and he's praising everything about his host country, even if it's universal health care and high taxes. It's okay. He can flop-flip when he gets back home.
Like Ronald Reagan, Romney never lets the facts get in the way of a good sound bite.
If you think he"... isn't good as a presidential candidate" it must be terrifying to think how he might be as a President.
And yes, he could win. Who knows what a billion dollars of attack ads might buy.
It might be a good time to move to Mexico.
In lieu of that how about helping Obama get reelected? Tell everyone you know about the blatant lies, the horror of the Ryan budget. keep in mind the people the ACA will help the most are buying into his lies, also older people are being mislead. We can't let the extremists win. Fight for the House, Senate, & the Court. No one's perfect but they are really nuts!
if it were as easy as just telling everyone "about the blatant lies, the horror of the Ryan budget" it would be done. It's not that easy. Many people dismiss ideas counter to "what they know" (see: heuristics) automatically. They base their dismissal on calling reports and facts "liberal bias" or "you're not an expert." Even if you get a bunch of expert scientists (I'm talking people with PhDs) together and have them all say the same thing, many people will still dismiss them (see climate change, immunizations, etc.) based on heuristics.
Food for thought: this comes from today's DailyKos: "Indeed, not only do Israelis not make this claim, but one Israeli professor pointed out that Romney's remark could be seen as playing into anti-Semitic stereotypes about Jews and money.
But that all being said, you have to give Romney a little bit of credit here, because his ability to insult everybody he comes in contact with actually have an unintended side effect: he could be the first president in American history to actually give Palestinians and Israelis something new in common."
Given that here in the U.S., "blue" states tend to have higher per capita GDP than "red" states, does Romney believe this is the evidence of the superiority of cultural differences?
Well, the truth is that the "kultcha" of Red States is inferior to the culture of Blue States.
As to the "inferiority" of Ecuador to Chile, that must be why so many American retirees prefer Ecuador to Chile.
What a moron. Proof that you do explain Mormons by removing the second "m".
Actually, this attitude by Romney is one that is prominent in Mormonism: material success is the proof that God has smiled on you. It's just the old Protestant Ethic (as stolen by convicted con-man Joesph Smith)
funny that, since their supposed "savior" said pretty much exactly the opposite.
re velkyn...
You are misunderstanding much today!
If you are referring to Jesus, he is not at the top of the list of 'saviors' for Mormons.
Anyhow, the parable that Jesus taught was It is easier for a camel to fit thru the eye of a needle than for a poor man to go to heaven!
I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ. Gandhi
@ SOV #8.2
My snark and irony detectors have gone off.
Some others may not realize you are misquoting.
i automatically read it as for the rich man. took the comment after to make me realise what was actually written. lol ..
I think the DailyKos take on this was a reach. Reguardless, to Steve's point, this is an extremely "for the common good" country, most definitely with socialist elements. Oh well, can't wait for Poland.
Romney surprises no one, by leaving lots of elephant droppings on his world tour. Despite all the attempts to explain that he did not say what he really said, the morsels of Mitt's true feelings shine out negatively. Keep the man talking, he can not hide his elitism.
His supporters/apologists admire him for his elitism.
"I'm beginning to think Romney isn't good at being a presidential candidate. He might win anyway -- bad candidates have succeeded before..."
Only in your dreams will Mitt Romney win! You sound like Greg Sargent.
Bad candidates usually win, only when they are running against another bad candidate. Mitt Romney isn't running against another bad candidate, he is running against Barack Obama. Barack Obama is good presidential candidate, and an exellent campaigner. Plus, Mitt Romney suffers from an enthusiasm gap. Barack Obama may be a weakened incumbent, but Mitt Romney is the one still trailing in the polls.
In R-money's world, gold puts a shine on everything, including culture...
Especially on freedom of $peech...
When I read this story this morning, I immediately thought of how the modern state of Israel is the result of a mad man casting the "Jewish" culture as beneath the German culture.
Just what is RoMoney saying here? Did he just let something important slip?
Culture? What's that got to do with anything? Just last week Romney and his buddies were telling us that unaided individuals build everything worthwhile, with no help from anyone and certainly not from any stinkin' culture.
Qatar has the highest GDP per capita, so what -- that makes their culture the BEST ? I mean WTF is he talking about.
he's just kissing up to people with money, that's all. If he knew he'd get more votes in CA/NY he would praise their culture too, but since he only wants to appeal to a few rich donors in those states he's praising another group of rich people they might be affiliated or allied with.
But he really was ugly to say Palestine is just not up to snuff with their GDP, sort of like that line in his book about Britain/England.
http://taylormarsh.com/blog/2012/07/a-quote-from-mitt-romneys-book/
horrible… and he doesn't trust the cookies from a revered local bakery
He is really NOT likable, Ann can't help much with that. He insults so easily, and no apology.
sandy
Personally I don't find Ann all that likable. She reminds me of some of the girls I went to high school with.
I recall an interview with Ann glued to Willard's side. The question had something to do with his gaffes or something. Ann said she would help him with that. She also reminds me of some of those girls that were too good for the rest of us.
So does Mitt want to try the other comparison - USA to Canada - probably not...
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/12/24/canada-us-gdp-canadians-richer-americans_n_1168769.html
"bad candidates have succeeded before..."
Yup! 2000 and 2004 come to mind.
to be geographically clear--ecquador does not border chile. so there's that.
This is another demonstration of Romney's disconnect with anyone who is not a member of the wealthy elite. The only "culture" Romney knows is the "wealthy elite culture". This country does not need a POTUS that bases the value of an individual country or person on their wealth. There are for sure allot more wealthy that are worthless as a person than there are in the general population. It is unbelievable that he keeps making such awful statements and still has enough support to run for the Presidency. Our country's voters need to re-evaluate what the standards are for the leaders of our nation. Romney should have never made it this far in the 2012 Presidential Race. Does he think he is doing this nation any favors by going to other countries making statements about USA policies? He has no authority at all, and he definitely does not represent the majority of the USA population.
With regard to Mr. Romney's trip/purpose to the Middle East, am wondering if he is in violation of the "Logan Act" that states:
Text of the Logan Act
§ 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments.
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply himself, or his agent, to any foreign government, or the agents thereof, for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.
...
As Rachel stated about the Herman Cain campaign, I will say about the Romney campaign. This has to be some form of performance art!!
The ironic thing about his impolitic, racist, ugly statement is that, while pandering to Adelson, Netanyahu and the rest of the rabidly right settler-supporting Israel-first, undemocratic, "no Palestinian state" Jews, is that Romney gained nothing. There is not one person who will vote for him now that was not already going to vote for him. And there will be many, many Jewish Americans- not to mention many, many other unbigoted Americans of ALL religions- who will be deeply offended by Romney's Bachmann-like slurs.
Such a revealing paradox- while it is not exact, there is a very, very close parallel between the states with the lowest per capita GDP and the states that will definitely vote for the Cayman Islands/Swiss bank account-holding, tax returns-hiding plutocrat. And those states are not even occupied by another country that has in place rigorous, unyielding security restrictions, constraints on the movement of people and limitations on access to resources, all of which significantly suppress investment and productivity. One would think it would be the exact opposite. I wonder if racism, inadequate education, science-denying, ignorance and fundamentalism might be better indicators of poor GDP. Could be.
Romney is our worst nightmare come to life. He's made a fool of himself. By trying to prove himself qualified to be able to deal with heads of other nations, he's proved just how inept he really is.
Nothing he has said he has done can be proved, all documentation of the Olympics, Bain and his time as governor have disappeared.
Can anyone tell me how a person who has sworn an oath to Grover Nordquist, can take another oath to protect and defend our great country, and uphold it's laws?