In theory, Mitt Romney has already taken all kinds of steps that seem incredibly risky. He's endorsed a plan to end Medicare; his tax plan appears to raise taxes on all of the middle class; and he's eager to take affordable health care away from millions of working families.
But Team Romney doesn't consider any of this politically "suicidal." What are they truly afraid of? Policy specifics.
Advisers say the campaign has no plans to pivot from its previous view that diving into details during a general-election race would be suicidal. [...]
"The nature of running a presidential campaign is that you're communicating direction to the American people," a Romney adviser said. "Campaigns that are about specifics, particularly in today's environment, get tripped up."
We've heard quite a bit from Romney and his surrogates lately about how eager they are to have a substantive, policy-focused debate. And while that sounds delightful, they neglected to mention the asterisk -- the substantive, policy-focused debate has to steer clear of any and all details.
As we've discussed before, this isn't a new development for Romney. He explained to a conservative magazine in April that when he told voters his specific plans in previous campaigns, voters didn't agree with the specifics and it undermined his ambitions.
It's better, he effectively argued, to hide the facts from voters until after the election.
Of course, what does it say about the merit of Romney's policy agenda if voters are likely to recoil if they heard the whole truth?
For that matter, why is it, exactly, that Romney felt comfortable arguing, "Unlike President Obama, you don't have to wait until after the election to find out what I believe in -- or what my plans are"? That appears to be the exact opposite of the truth.
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Now wait just a second... Do you really expect me to belive that Romney is trying to pass off something that is not true as something that is true? You could have floored me with a feather.
Put a Shriner fez on Romney, and you'll get a lot of insight into the connection between Mormonism, keeping things hidden, and Romney's adamant refusal to resist disclosure of anything substantive about who he is or what he intends to do.
I'm not picking on Mormonism in particular- there is a long tradition in western civilization of secret societies- Joseph Smith deliberately replicated many of the trappings of the Masons in Mormonism (see WP article for a wealth of citations on this)- The organizational mechanics of how this works is that a shared mystique binds members together. You have a special linkage of trust with the people that are in on the secrets.
Do you see the connection with Romney's stance? He will never divulge- it is in the culture of the secret society. And it dovetails well with the secret society of monied interests and 501c4 PACs that Colbert made so famous.
Keeping things hidden is in Romney's DNA. He will no more tell you about his real plans or his taxes than he will divulge the secret password to the clubhouse or their secret strategy to keep the gRils out. It's part of the code of honor.
"Why don't you just grow up and realize that if anyone knows the truth about you that hateful people are just going to try to hurt you with it. Wise up and just keep it hidden.
You can't hurt me, and I'm not going to hand you any weapons.
Neener."
Maybe Robme thinks that debates in "quiet rooms" filled with cigar smoke is preferable than to speak open among US rabble.....
If Romney and Ryan are the boys with the impish knowing grins and rascalish campaign hijinks, then who do they think the Old Man is?
Or in their point of view is there no adults at the top- Is the RomneyWorld playground gestalt that every participant whether they recognize it or not is in some club of pre-adolescents- and the only important distinction is whether the adult child player has done the hard work of getting admitted into a winning team. A loser club being one that is addicted to losing strategies (those not winning maximal money and power.
"Campaigns that are about specifics, particularly in today's environment, get tripped up."
This is incredible and reinforces that Romney and his crew think we (average middle-class Americans) are STUPID.
We are to TRUST him? Absurd!
I think that's part of it, Brady. But, I think they are also relying on the press not to call them out for it. It's gotten them this far.
Obama would not be competitive if he had been running the campaign Romney has run. But, Romney is competitive, although down slightly, mainly because the press has been a crutch for him. Not demanding specifics and dismissing blatant lies as the usually campagin back of forth.
Team Romney admits that it would be suicide for the campaign for them to get specific. So isn't it REAL convenient that the MSM doesn't demand specifics from them?
Many people are confused as to what the real facts are regarding welfare to work, medicare "cuts", etc., because the Romney camp is deliberately trying to confuse them and the press won't call them on all their BS for fear of appearing partisan.
I can't really blame Team Romney for using it to their advantage, but I think is cynical and despicable. But, the press also has to share in the blame. It's the job of the press to inform the public. They are failing at their job, again.
In a legitimate world - this Affidavit is what Mitt Romney would fear most.
Unfortunately, we don't live in a legitimate world;
and the Press seems to be an illicit cohort.
http://petters-fraud.com/Standard_2012_eToys_Fraud_corruption_Aug13_Levin.pdf
Don't fret none - on Mitt Romney's 1st day in office, he will shock the world by finally telling the Truth.
"THANKS SUCKERS"
http://static.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/1345222413459_9239186.png
"Trust- but verify" has become, "Trust- and vote!"
Ann told us the new BFF's are 'policy wonks'.
She also said they can't show more tax returns, because Democrats will be meanies!
Specifics would trip him up, don't you see?
Suicide if we give details!
Well, then we cannot vote for you if it means suicide for us.
And yeah, whatever he says about Obama, he means himself. The more he criticizes Obama, the more he makes me look at him for what he pins on Obama.
RoMONEY suffers from a classic case of "projection."
I got an idea for a logo for their bumper sticker.
http://all-free-download.com/free-vector/vector-logo/rolls_royce_logo_30496.html
http://www.best-of-web.com/pages/080527-112547-378007.html
Just change the R & R text and make the shape of the projector.
LOL ...
Ugh, how I utterly despise the excuse that the campaign will "turn mean" about his policies, or his tax returns, or his anything. Campaigns aren't nice, and Romney sure isn't running a nice one. I guess Romney decided that he's not going to be slopping his gander-sauce everywhere that Obama's goose-sauce goes.
I'm beginning to think that this whole campaign is just Romney's subversive way of stimulating the economy. After all, people are getting paid to create and run all those ads.
Mitt Romney: (very specific) job creator.
I used to complain that a lot of Democrats seemed to believe that a presidential campaign consisted of nominating a six-foot stack of extra large three ring binders full of detailed policy proposals and followed by a lot of sputtering ". . . but, but, but . . . we had the best policies!") the day after the inevitable defeat.
But, lord a mercy, it's one thing to say you can't sell people cereal in a box with just plain black and white lettering that says "GRIT 'N' FIBER! 'Nutritious as all get out if you can choke 'er down!'" when the competition is selling "Sugar Bombs! (now with candy flavored bitz!)" with a colorful cartoon hero on the box.
It's something else entirely when one side has come up with the bold idea of just selling a box with no actual cereal in it and actually says "Now with no cereal!" on the front.
Romney doesn't want to talk about specifics. He wants Obama to talk about details, because it will give him more to attack. He wants to continue lying and talking in meaningless generalities.
You can't vote for him if he won't say what he's going to do. Well, unless you're stupid.
This is code for "Obama is so bad, the nation will just give me this." Add to that, a little snark, "Mitch McConnell promised me he would keep the economy down so I could just walk into the job."
Romney = pack of lies = a campaign of deception. Again, what are you hiding? Show us your tax returns. Who cares if your wife is a whiner. "They'll say bad things about us. Those people want us to Lose!"
Is it just me or does it seem as if Mitt and Ann never left high school?
It's not just you Maria, they act like he's running for class president and saying "I will eliminate first period and extend lunch by an hour.
Then Ann faces palm down when interview, then points index finger at the interviewer and says you'll attack us if we show you how we got the answers without showing your cyphering. Well, the teacher wants to see your work, it's not an attack.
Just vote for Pedro because he's got a cool mustache.
sandyc
I remember Michelle Obama being attack again and again as "an angry black woman" during the 2008 election. Why hasn't anyone accuse Ann Romney of being "an angry white woman". Michelle Obama never lost her cool and showed grace not matter what was said or asked of her. A polite question is asked of Ann Romney and she throws a fit of pique!
She a Heather alright ;-)
I noticed Ann's finger point was edited out from Hardball clip today. Wonder if it was in the interest time or mustn't tarnish Ann Romney, but Michelle Obama is fair?
Yes, we're watching and noticing.
I don't think that is snark, I think you whacked the mole right on the head. Maybe not Mitt personally, any weak pen-whipping Republican could do the job the Republicans want done.
I researched my financial planner carefully before turning my hard-earned money over to him. Why would a presidential candidate think I should turn over my hard-earned tax dollars to him when he refuses to show me how he handles his own finances? Or the Olympics' finances? Or Massachusetts' finances? I don't get it!
And yet, a Tea Party acquaintance of mine post on FB the other day an e-card thingy that said: "Let me get this straight, I'm supposed to be outraged at what Mitt Romney did with HIS money but not what Obama is doing with MINE?"
It's as if they have been transported to a new world where no president ever collected taxes before in the history of the known universe. It's just that darned socialist Obama who keeps taking money. Surely, Mittens won't do that, right?
Mitt's applying for a job, and the voters are doing the interview!
"Nice suit, and swell family pictures. But can we see your resume, Mr. Romney?"
"Well, I haven't actually written one out, but trust me, I have held numerous, highly successful positions since graduating from Harvard!"
Rmoney feels he is entitled to be president, that's all. It's his turn.
I would say anything to be chief officer of the U.S., (but I won't do THAT, song by Meat Loaf).
"Cpt. Rob-me, there are details ahead!"
"Take evasive action!".. "Or uh, don't! I think I'm against it!"
So, weirdly enough, through all the flips and flops and flips, at least he's still... consistent?
;-)
"Campaigns that are about specifics, particularly in today's environment, get tripped up."
LMAO ... as if RoMONEY and his campaign need ANY help with getting tripped up ...
WTF? Romney thinks he's going to get elected to enact an agenda that he would not be able to get elected with if he said it out loud? A whole new dimension in the tyranny of the minority.
--Romney. He explained to a conservative magazine in April that when he told voters his specific plans in previous campaigns, voters didn't agree with the specifics and it undermined his ambitions.
Wow, this says something. Voters didn't agree with specifics. So does he go back and adjust his thinking to be more inline with the people he wants to represent, to serve? No, he sees the voters, the US citizens, are the problem in this equation and decides that if he just doesn't tell us little people the "details" we will cheerfully just vote him in to LEAD US.
Then in typical republican fashion accuses Obama of his own failings - like we wont notice and all, being the silly little people we are. After all he must know what's best right??
If this man gets elected...... I HAVE to believe in our process, but it is damn hard right now. : (