Associated Press
Funny, he doesn't look angry.
For most of the year, Republicans saw polls showing the American mainstream liking President Obama personally, whether they approved of his job performance or not. The GOP line was shaped accordingly -- Obama may be a nice guy, they said, but he's not doing a good job.
That was before. Now, they're trying saying something new.
Mitt Romney is portraying the outwardly calm President Barack Obama as a man seething with animosity and power lust as the Republicans seek to undermine one of the Democrat's greatest campaign strengths -- his personal likability. The president's re-election effort, Romney said Wednesday, "is all about division and attack and hatred." Obama, Romney added later while campaigning in Charlotte, is an angry man who "will do or say anything to get elected."
The attack has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. In Chillicothe, Ohio, Romney said Obama is "angry" and basing his campaign on "anger." In an interview with CBS, Romney said Obama's message is "designed to bring a sense of ... anger." Paul Ryan, Romney's new right-wing running mate, told voters yesterday Obama is running an election "based on anger."
Vague, this is not.
There are a few angles to keep in mind here. The first and arguably most important is the nature of the attack itself -- Romney just spent a week saying he wants a substantive campaign that steers clear of personal attacks, and now he's spending this week avoiding substantive issues and focusing on Obama's "angry" personality. So much for the high road.
Second, I have a very hard time believing this is going to work. Members of Team Romney have conceded the attack is just a ploy to drive down the president's favorability numbers, but are there really voters out there thinking, "Wow, I never noticed how angry Obama seems"? Love him or hate him, the president tends to conduct himself with poise and dignity. Making him out to be some wild-eyed hothead is a tough sell.
And finally, I can only hope Romney's strategy isn't premised on some ugly Angry Black Man archetype. Romney has been dabbling in racial animus lately -- the welfare lie, the talk of the president being "foreign" -- and if this part of a larger effort, it would obviously be disgraceful.
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It already is disgraceful. How many weeks have you been chronicling his mendacity and now you're thinking it may be disgraceful?
It is blatant and obvious at this point. It is totally desperate. It is a sign of how unhinged Romney really is deep inside. Everything of his is off limits, everything is a lie, and everything he says is an attack, all positions that he, himself, has said are anathema.
The man is a psychopath. What other explanation is there? (http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2011/06/14/why-some-psychopaths-make-great-ceos/)
Hey kids ! Someone sent me this one this morning . Long (20 minutes) but hilarious video renditions of Mitts mendacity and flip flops.
Poor Willard , those gol durn video recording machines . Get him every time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_pgfWK3sxw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Mr. Romney can not have a substantive argument--to do so would require some honesty from a candidate's part.Romney would be required to walk the voters step by step on his plans,showing the people and the country what they stand to gain and contrasting what he's offering for the country with those of his opponent.
Mr.Romney knows the limits of the media and the very serious people in the establishment.When he says,he would like a substantive debate,it was't meant to be what an average American thinks of the word "Substantive",it was purely a slogan devoid of all substance.
when you are running for the highest office of the biggest economy in the world with a malaise and spend your time not talking about your plan in detail,your vision for the country,then something is wrong.That's what someone would term "Culture of Fraud!"
Thanks for the video! Brilliant.
Romney can not come up in likeability..so they are failing at their childish attempt to bring down the President in likeability!
Ryan romney are toxic ticket together... Paul maybe liked in his home district although he did get yelled down over the past two years,,, but romney is a vacuous soulless want to be Dictator..! Medicare works and so does Social Security..lying about does not work! Nor does that racist screed the ryan romney gargle are trying to sell!
Where are those 7 years of tax returns, willard? Complete this time-- including the FBAR forms!
ryan romney are the anti-womens choice, anti- Hispanic Latino, anti Elderly, anti Vets, anti -Students,,The only thing they are for are the WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS!
I like President Obama when he's angry but I'm pretty sure the GOP won't. Screw the angry black man stereotype... its about time the President got pissed and stood up to those dickhead bullies.
This new strategy is a perfect example of "Are you going to believe what your lying eyes tell you about Obama or what we are telling you about him"?
Looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, most likely what you have is a duck.
As you noted, Romney's not known for his subtlety.
I wouldn't debase ducks in that manner. Romney is a man drowning, grabbing at anything and everything to help keep him afloat. He's rich, spoiled, and used to everything being done his way - and now "it's his turn by-golly" and that black man has to go! It's really a sorry state of affairs, and it's yet another exhibit of his lack of emotional intelligence. He's so used to everything going his way, he just can't handle it when it doesn't.
Among people of a certain "persuasion," ALL men with dark colored skin are "angry," by virtue of being alive and breathing. That is the racist stereotype of the "angry black man."
Some have argued that that's the reason Obama so fixedly keeps his cool at all times, just because of the oppressiveness and pervasiveness of that stereotype.
Some have despaired of this, have wished he'd get more riled up and stand up to some of the pure crazy-talk of these fringe-idiots.
Others, many of them African Americans who have been detained or stopped and frisked for walking or driving while black, fear a bizarre over-reaction that would follow.
White fear of the "angry black man" is really what I suspect is behind the bald-faced over-criminalization and incarceration of African American men.
What Angela Davis has call the "re-enslavement" of African Americans in the U.S.
A lot of the time, I'm inclined to agree that there would be dire consequences in the face of that bizarre over-reaction (sheesh, look at the bizarre racist over-reaction to just having cool as cucumber African American president!).
But as a member of other oppressed minorities that found a way to embrace and own our anger (from bra-burning to Stonewall), I do think there is something powerful to be said about just BEING, without endlessly worrying about how it will be taken, damn the consequences. Oppressed people should get to own their anger and righteously express it, so long as it causes no harm to others (and, in the case of the Stonewall riots, which we celebrate, sometimes, when it does cause harm).
An old book from the 70s I think it was, talked about two ways to deal with oppression (in this case, regarding lesbian invisibility). One they called the "dues-paying lesbian," who stayed closeted or near closeted, but largely appeared as trying to assimilate with the larger het culture and to constantly strive for success, trying to somehow be seen as "good enough" or "successful enough" to have earn acceptance (and, for the time the book was written, an acceptance that would probably have been withheld anyway).
The other way the book said lesbians dealt with oppression, especially with those for whom assimilation was more difficult (Big-D on the forehead and all that) was called the "damned lesbian," one, in that era more likely to say "I'm already damned, screw 'em," drink heavily, run a loud motorcycle through a quiet neighborhood, seduce married straight women, and just generally be transgressive.
Of the two (by now over-broadly generalized) groups, the second one was obviously in better touch with its anger. And paid a price for it.
African American men potentially can pay a worse price for being in touch with their anger (lynchings in various forms still happen), and the legacy of the Black Power movement and Malcom X give an object lesson into how crazy the whites who will over-react are. There are some on Fox News who see Black Power anger and terrorism signals in a fist bump.
I just don't want anybody to still be playing the Frederick Douglas role, the "assimilating" role. I want activists and others fighting for their civil rights to get to be as righteous and angry as they wanna be, and screw the consequences!
But I suppose that just isn't strategic.
Mourning Joe was going off on Obama this morning for the interview with Nancy Odell...why not a "Real Journalist" (who ? Hannity? )
Brilliant as far as I'm concerned . How many Mr. and Mrs average American stay tuned to that program which in many markets airs directly after the evening news.
He appears gentle and quiet and they loooove Ms Odell.
Well Played Mr. President.
Why should Obama not be angry? Why should he not be angry at the willful highjacking of American principles, safety nets, wages, conservation protections, state and local infrastructure collapse, blown out state budgets, pollution on the back burner, etc. etc. etc. let alone how he has been treated since entering the White House.
I'm not sure a little anger isn't needed, a snap in the eyes, a tone in the voice while addressing this kindergarten Congress, taking them to task for all the real issues needing solutions they aren't working on. Calling the Republicans out for playing paddy cake with empty speeches and sound bites, calling them out for working ever so hard at doing nothing, calling them out for undermining our nation for their own gain. A little anger is due, actually.
Obama should be allowed to express his frustrations, not only that but liberals should be sick and tired of the 20+ years of being the right's scapegoat, Americans in general should be angry at the loss of their quality of life they'll never get back, loss that did not start a mere 4 years ago. And the world should be PO'ed as hell that the US has an unstable presidential campaigner who makes Bush Jr. look like an saint and an intellectual.
Another Romney strategy that leaves people bewildered. If there's anything Obama hasn't been during his first term, it's angry.
In fact, it would have been nice to have seen him show some anger toward a Republican Party that richly deserves to be the target of it. Obama can only benefit from showing more passion and being less willing to accept attacks from the right with equanimity.
Hey NeedMoreCoffee, I love you, thank you for that one....
"And finally, I can only hope Romney's strategy isn't premised on some ugly Angry Black Man archetype."
I wish, but there's no way this is an accident. It fits in way too well with the rest of what they've done.
I hope they go back to the Taxes and Bain , which is exactly what Mitt is trying to deflect
So, we're up in our tree fort- the one with the "no Girlz alloud" sign- tryin' to figure out to get people to NOT like this very likable kid.
"Say he's stupid", Paul says.
And Reince goes, "But he ain't stupid- you are! How 'bout we say he's angry?"
Mitt says, "You seen him? He's always smiling, tellin' funnies. He ain't angry."
"I know!" Karl says. "Let's call him a NIG-"
"Karl! You can't say that word! Mom will wash our mouths out!"
Day,
Nothing about President Obama says "angry black man." Nothing.
Robme and his cohorts are getting REAL close to using the N word. And it may happen.
Any.Day.Now.....
They don't have to say the "N" word. Not with Anne running around screaming "You People" at the top of her lungs. Which got it's start as a racist remark. Now it's part of a Superiority Complex of sayings.
So when Anne says "You People" it has a double meaning. It means those of you who are not Rich like us, and never will be. And it also means "That "N" who is running the other campaign"
they've been wanting to pin the ANGRY BLACK MAN on Barack Obama for forever and a day.
In Breitbart's Pulitzer prize winning series "The Vetting of Obama" they described his speaking up for Prof. Derrick Bell as the ravings of a radical. Then the actual video of the event leaked out. Romney is now doing the same thing.
I am beginning to think that the Romney campaign is actually rather transparent . . . in the sense that to discern their greatest fears, merely follow what they project on their opponent. They are fearful of being called dishonest, they call their opponent dishonest. They are fearful of Medicare as an issue, portray Obama as gutting Medicare. And so on.
If this analysis is correct, then the response by Obama should be to double down . . . nicely. Keep the conversation on Medicare. Keep the conversation on Romney's dishonesty.
And for God's sake, implement a national voting law once you get re-elected!!
President Obama needs to relax, cut down on the slimefest and go back to the 2008 style of campaigning because he looks really, really desperate out there and Democratic voters are quickly losing confidence.
Sinful,
You need to relax, cut down on the slimefest and go back the right wing sites you get your talking points from.
Cindy: If there were any reason for dems losing confidence, it would be because of the republican's rigging of election's.If you ca'nt, buy it rig it.That's the republican way.
There's a poll out suggesting that Democrats, especially the moderate Clinton liberals are just pretending that they like Obama, would never-ever vote for Mitt Romney but would absolutely sit out the 2012 election out of frustration.
Sure. And there is a bridge in Brooklyn that I have that I can sell you too.
Trust me if anybody is sitting out on the election. Who is a Dem. It isn't because of a choice. It's because of the new restrictive and probably constitutionally questionable voting laws.
If a party is going to sit out of this election, voluntarily. It's going to be Conservatives. Because let's face it, most either do not like, or do not trust Mitt. Which makes then them the smart ones.
??? I hardly think so.
I saw the video of Romney making those claims. What struck me was how weak and whiny Romney sounded.
Yeah...'let's have a substansive debate' while lying about EVERYTHING our opponent does and not TELLING you anything we believe or any of our background that would give you a CLUE on how we would govern. THAT is the Romney campaign in a nutshell.
I wish Obama would take Romney's lead and make this a truthful campaign about real issues. I am fed up with Obama and his negative personal attacks.
You are joking?
Right?
If not, on behalf of all of the regular commenters on Maddow Blog, I hereby demand that you prove with evidence exactly where Obama has engaged in negative personal attacks. Take all the space you want. Link to Youtube if that helps you prove your claim.
Just provide proof.
*chirp* *chirp* *chirp*
Pretty much the only sound I expect to hear from that request Ron.
On what? Has he called Romney "angry" as Mitt has Obama or "foreign" or an inept, weak leader? Where are the personal attacks?
Oh wait! Obama's attacked the vulture capitalism of Mitt's corporate personhood, Bain. And 'corporations are people, too, my friend."
Romney referred to Obama's ideas as being foreign. Not him being foreign. Please note the difference. And, please stop playing the race card.
Tom,
Obama's camp is not playing the race card.
Benen is not playing the race card.
Robme is playing the race card.
Actually Tom,
Romney has referred to the President as Foreign. As a person "He's foreign, and doesn't understand how America works." Is a Romney quote, I believe he said in Ohio.
I have never, ever seen Obama even look or act annoyed, let alone angry. It's another case of the rubber-glue syndrome. The Republicans are angry because few to none of their arguments are gaining any serious traction, and they're projecting it on to Obama. Again.
As Charles Pierce likes to say, the dog whistles now sound like air-raid sirens.
It's a wonder Romney does'nt refer to the Pres.as President Black Guy.
I'm actually honestly surprised to see the Romney campaign looking so hapless and desperate at this point. Seriously, this 'anger' strategy is really weak stuff. He must still be trying to win over the base, the nutjobs who read Dinesh D'Souza's "The Roots Of Obama's Rage" and thought it made perfect sense.
I just had the extreme displeasure of watching Greta Van Fascist interview Donald Chump (aka chinchilla hair) and feature how pleased he is that Mitt R-tard isn't calling Barack Obama a "nice guy" any more. (Remind me to never visit comcast.net again as they're providing FOX propaganda clips to the e-tards out there in Wonderland..) That was all I could watch. I've just come to the conclusion that I've got to get out of the United States. This country is in a stupidity coma from which it will never be revived, it's time to remove the life support.. Republican"ism" is horse-hockey, it is a poison religion of self indulgence which I do not want to live anywhere near. (/sorryassedrant)
When the teatards and the reichwing lose in November it'll seem a whole lot better Trollop. Don't lose hope yet!
If the Vulture/Voucher ticket does win ... come join us in Canada. It's wonderful here :-)
Come to the UK, our conservative party is not nearly so crazy.
I understand, Trollop re: Fox propaganda clips: Easy copy/paste media from Fox Nationalist TV clip with a Republican quote because they are the only ones who know everything about anything.
Please don't leave, but if you do, say hi to the "late" Ken Laye while you're out there, let him know we haven't forgotten him...at all. lol
nice. People in the GOP conceding that they are bearing false witness against someone. Hmmm, now where are Patty and our other so very good Christian posters here decrying such unChristian behavior?
And Tom, we aren't that stupid. Peddle your tranparent excuses elsewhere. Romney is referring to Obama being foreign by calling his ideas foreign. Romney can't say his ideas are "black" so "foreign" is his little attempt to be clever. But unfortuantely for Romney, his ideas aren't foreign at all, they are just as American as the pathetic idea that people whose ancestry included some high melanin content skin types are less than "white" people.
I think R's statement you quoted should be put in every program you do till the election, Rachel.
We are not stupid, as opposed to what Romney thinks. Those statements were disgusting, disrespectful and degrading. I was shocked and startled when I hear that from Romney.
Please do not let that statement go to rest. This exposes Romney and I just do not think he is trustworthy.
Thanks
I'm pretty sure Ed Kilgore is going to tell you that this is EXACTLY about the angry black man stereotype.
To the write Steve Benen,
Is it that hard to believe that before all the mud slinging by the Obama camp that Romney would have the opinion that Obama is a decent guy? And then after a few short months Romney's opinion "evolved" to the point that Obama is mean spirited and a dirty political player from Chicago? Or obama the only one that can "evolve" his point of view in 4months.
you silly hypocrites
ah, nice excuse there. Please do show how this "mudslinging" was done, and then show how it's a perfect excuse for Romney's staff lying about Obama.
There's a difference between assertive and angry, that most people are aware of. Our President is a natural born leader, an assertive man. Now, I have seen Rmoney get all flustered and his eyes can look like daggers, that's when you can see them. He has a very snide, smug look on his face all the time, which spells arrogance. I think he's showed anger during interviews too, that' maybe why he avoids them. He is more the passive agressive type, who sticks his dog on the roof of his car because the kids just wanted to bring the dog along on vacation. He appears to always be hiding something and because of his lieing he comes off as being a very dishonest man, something our great country can't afford ever again. If we are told the truth then we can help better our nation. If we are being bambuzzled and suppressed it automatically spells danger...danger, danger Will Robinson.
Obama's campaign is based on anger?!? I've only seen Obama angry once. That was during one of his first press conferences. He got prickly with Ed Henry (now of Fox Noise). I've since read that wasn't the last of his run-ins with Henry.
During the healthcare reform debate, I wanted Obama to GET MAD publicly. It didn't happen. The truth is Obama has every right to be angry. He was saddled with a Republican-made economic disaster when he came into office. Since then, the GOP has done nothing but obstruct his efforts to turn things around. Now they are trying to deny him another term through voter suppression. Obama is angry, I'm sure. But showing it in public? OH PLEASE.
Isn't Bush loading the country with debt and then dropping it in the president's lap the exact same thing Romney did at Bain? Sure sounds similar.
This ploy by Repubs. will only resonate with the far out folks who will see and say and believe anything that is simply anti Obama. Just about everyone else will see Romney's charge portraying Obama as an angry attack mongrel as goofy and even laughable. Americans know Obama. Romney however is an unknown quantity in largest measure and is now defining himself as petulent and angry and an attack mongrel who doesn't understand the concept of truthfulness. . Romney may be making the mistake of thinking all Americans are as bat poop goofy as the far right base of the GOP. This type of attack by the Romney camp is a blunder, and will backfire among the larger % of Americans. People know Obama. People are now forming opinions of Romney however, and Romney's attack on an even tempered, well considered, trustworthy, temperate, likeable individual as some sort of angry extremist is patently wacky.
My latest epiphany-
Mitt WANTS to lose.
He's too beholden to the far right now to be the president that he probably wants to be (more moderate). Not to mention that being president would be hard work, and I suspect he's been enjoying unemployment for the past number of years.
But he's being smart about sabotaging his campaign in subtle ways - the Paul Ryan pick, bold faced lies.. all to alienate the moderate center, which he can't win without.
Nahh... not really. But I can fantasize...