The video of Mitt Romney condemning 47 percent of the nation as lazy parasites who refuse to "take personal responsibility and care for their lives" had a significant impact on the campaign. Yesterday, hoping to undo some of the damage, Romney told Fox News' Sean Hannity he didn't really mean what he said.
For those who can't watch clips online, the Republican candidate, asked what he would have said during the debate if President Obama had brought up the controversy, said, "Well, clearly in a campaign with hundreds if not thousands of speeches and question-and-answer sessions, now and then you're going to say something that doesn't come out right. In this case, I said something that's completely wrong."
As an electoral tactic, this certainly makes sense. Candidates who condemn nearly half the country, out loud, generally struggle to win national elections.
But it's still awfully difficult to take Romney's latest reversal seriously. For one thing, the public has to decide which Romney was sincere -- the one speaking candidly with supporters, when he thought no one else would hear his sentiments, or the one doing damage-control on national television five weeks before Election Day.
For another, immediately after the video surface, Romney had an opportunity to disavow the recorded comments, but he did the exact opposite. Indeed, the Republican said last month that the video showed him repeating a message "I'm going to carry and continue to carry." He added that the comments are "something I talk about a good deal in rallies and speeches and so forth."
If his 47-percent comments were "completely wrong," why did it take him so long to figure that out? We'll never know for sure, but the answer, I suspect, has everything to do with his standing in the polls, and nothing to do with genuine regret.
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One question Mitt :
Where the Fu*k are your taxes?
I can't believe the MSM in this country let him slide..
Well then again I can . Every day a lie , everyday a changed position and nothing , nothing no follow up no probing questions not even an effin "Fact Check"
That's why I'm so effin tired . I really can't take it any more . Can't stomach the voice the face anything about Mitt.
I've been tired of him for a long time. I'll be glad when Nov. 6 comes and Mittens retires to his California mansion with the car elevators and doesn't come out again.
I just saw a video on Dailybeast.com , where you can plainly see him take out a piece of paper out of his right pocket with his talking points just before he stands in front of the podium. And then throws it on top of the podium , this guy is nothing but a cheap SNAKE OIL salesman... Go to dailybeast.com and check it out.
Hey may not be able to have his car elevators, since the house is on a small narrow hilly neighborhood street and his neighbors (including Republicans) have filed against him with the city that such "improvements" are inconsistent with the nature of the neighborhood and it's impossible to bring in the big construction equipment without completely disrupting the neighborhood. They have a majority of the neighbors on this, and Romney does not have the support you might expect in a place like La Jolla (aka RichWingnut Republicanville).
La Jolla is NOT Rich Wingnut Republicanville.... Its rich yes.. but they consistently vote democrat in that district. Rich does not equal republican! Wake up TCinLA the media is washing your brain.
Please, please, please Chicago, run an add showing Rmoney's 47% quote, then his disclaimer yesterday, and then this:
"Indeed, the Republican said last month that the video showed him repeating a message 'I'm going to carry and continue to carry.' He added that the comments are 'something I talk about a good deal in rallies and speeches and so forth.'"
Over and over and over. Final tagline, in text over the top:
"How can Americans ever believe his promises? Mitt Romney's talk goes in circles, but we need to move America FORWARD. Vote for President Obama November 6"
CAREFUL - Romney did not REALLY take back the 47% comment - he was answering this question: "What WOULD YOU HAVE SAID if you had been asked about the 47% comment - his answer was, that he WOULD HAVE denied it, he would have said it was wrong.
So, he is just saying, if he HAD BEEN asked about the 47%, he would have lied.
This is totally in keeping with whoever said (sorry I don't remember) that Romney is still (internally if not actually) the CEO of Bain - he will do or say ANYTHING to "close the deal"/get elected.
This is also totally in keeping with his new catch phrase, "trickle down government" - this is the same (in his warped mind) as "redistribution" - taking revenue provided by the "makers" to provide services for the unworthy "takers."
So, he hasn't changed his mind/beliefs - this is just, "a different day/a different lie."
uuuggghh. wake me when the campaigning is over, please. I am sooo sick of this sycophant.
Meanwhile, VOTE!
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If Romney ever meant anything he said we can count on the denial coming out soon after.
Mendacity, not Veracity, is the rule for Romney.
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It was on a different subject at the time, but I recall Mitt saying "I don't remember exactly what I said, but whatever it was, I stand by it." And I recall the context being that he always means what he says and believes it whole-heartedly.
Until now (he would have us believe).
Remember, he can do this with such felicity because his cult allows him to "lie in a higher cause."
I am tired of Wavering Willard. His message, explanations and specifics change as often as the weather. If he truly felt that he was wrong then he should have said it when the recording surfaced, not now. Come on, even a child knows if you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar admit it. Don't deny it and shove the cookie in your mouth to get rid of the evidence. Sorry, Wavering Willard, you cannot swallow the recordings.
His face is covered with blueberry pie...
"Romney is a well-oiled weathervane" - Jon Huntsman
That was the headline - 17 days later.
Like all his "apologies and corrections. "
A day late and a dollar short.
Everyone, including me, who hyperventilated yesterday about Obama not mentioning the 47% are now proven "completely wrong". Had Obama mentioned that, Romney could have done his "apology tour" right into the camera while 70 million watched. Not nearly that many watch Hannity, thank goodness. Romney was at his peak during that debate, and his statement would have resonated much more.
Think you have that right.
Steve. Its a retroactive disavowal. Romney can do that. He's a ruler in his own head.
What happened to doubling down, then tripling down on the 47% remark?
Hayes hit it on "Last Word" last night when he remarked that Romney's poll numbers the past 3 weeks have struck fear into the heart of the ultra Right. It occurred to me that Romney could have had a meeting with them and said
Mixed metaphor intended- classic Romney.
Hayes didn't spell it out, but he basically intimated this sort of scenario on a shift that has occurred on what control the far right is going to exercise on Romney messaging in the final weeks of this race.
My view is that it is too late. He might have been able to weasel out some of his claims in the spring because he would have a few months of consistency in his messaging.
It's just too late.
Given the lack of Wingnut pushback when he used Romneycare to demonstrate his "compassion," this is a very plausible scenario. See also his denial of all his wingnutty statements during the debate.
And remember, this is a guy raised in a cult whose rules include having permission from God to "lie in a higher cause."
It's not just the deliberate crypto normalcy presented by Mormonism. It is a common theme in many evangelical fundamentalist church- that lying to and misleading people about one's intentions are essential to survival and success of the mission. It is a misreading of Matthew 10:16.... be as cunning as the snake, but as innocent as the dove.
Ann sees and believes in RomneyWorld where Mitt is a dove. We see the snake.
I can understand that when someone says something stupid, then retracts, apologizes, or otherwise corrects the statements they can be forgiven. However when Romney doubled-down the next day affirming his 47% remarks then no, he had his chance and blew it. Only now is he trying to once again reinvent himself and walk it back. It is no surprise Obama was perplexed when this hypocrite showed up at the debate. He truly didn't know who the person was on the other podium. He didn't know Mitt Romney and today, no one does either.
Yes, it did take him a long time and he was probably planning on offering his regret during the debate, but the president did not give him that opportunity, thank goodness.
So he feels he is "entitled" to being forgiven for those words about the 47%......
Sure, ....'cause that is not as bad as feeling "entitled" to food!!
Remember the inflection he used when he spoke that word in the video? That is not a matter of mis-speaking!
What no one has mentioned is that if Mittens was truly sincere about saying the "wrong thing", that meant he was pandering to the wealthy donors listening to his speech and helping to spread the stereotype they feel about the poor and disadvantaged.
Ah, don't worry everybody. Tomorrow Romney will come out and say he was wrong about being wrong about the 47% comments!! In fact, I'm betting he'll be saying that to some $50 K/plate fundraiser REAL soon!!!
Whatever Romney "says" to the press really isn't all that important to him. He will say whatever you want to hear! Truth is "relative"!
If the Demos have any more damaging tapes, NOW is the time to release them!!!
And if Reid wasn't blowing smoke, NOW is the time for him to come clean with what he knows!!!
After watching that clip, I now understand why Fox News viewers poll more badly on understanding current events that people who don't pay attention to news at all.
That segment is like sitting in the break room of an insane asylum and listening to two inmates have a conversation that takes place in their imaginary world.
There's something seriously wrong with Romney - it's beyond just being a relentless liar. I'm convinced he's mentally ill.
Etch-a-sketch!
Nope, way beyond that! As noted today on Matthews, it's reached "sit and spin til you fall the H... off the chair"
We knew this was coming, so we shouldn't be surprised. Next up? Ryan will take back his comment about the 30 percent. And then he'll take back wanting to fire big bird. Maybe by the end of this election he'll take back the fact that he is Republican. Maybe on November 7 he'll vote for Obama, too. At this rate of retraction and reinvention, it wouldn't be surprising.
I've said before, Romney has more position's than the Kama-Sutra.
"The question is whether you were lying then or are you lying now... or whether in fact you are a chronic and habitual LIAR"
Just remember all those promises he's making, he didn't really mean what he said. He will axe Medicaire and Social Security, no matter what your age is, Romney wants to destroy Medicaire, he's just trying to say he will do it like taking a band-aid off slowly, he's lieing, he lies . He will do it because that's what the Corporations want him to do, and those are the only promises he will be keeping, are the ones he made to his friendly people. Hell with the muppets, he says.
I can’t believe that none of the news pundits picked up on the Obama strategy on round one of the debates. Hasn’t anyone heard of the Rope-A-Dope?
Does it have anything to do with soap on a rope?
I think that was part of it, but he should have given more push back to Romney's nonsense.
Obama thought Romney was there to debate his positions, not create new ones on the fly. It's hard to prepare for that kind of mendacity.
I think that Romney is so pathological that he will lie in the 2nd debate about positions he espoused in the 1st debate.
Mitt Romney doesn't have the character to be President.
It's good that Obama has pushed back in his speeches since Tuesday. It would have been better if he had said all these things to an audience of 60 million, rather than audiences (even with news reporting) that are 1/10 that size.
The 3 points I've been making elsewhere...
1: I wonder if Obama had been planning to make the 47% remarks a big part of his debate strategy, and somehow got wind that Romney was planning to use any attack on his speech as a venue to apologize, thus knocking Obama off his game? Which is why he didn't mention it at all (even though, were that to be the case, it still knocked him off his game)?
2: what about all the poor saps on the right who DEFENDED Romney's 47% remarks? Claimed they were true? Claimed Romney was just saying what NEEDED to be said, to make the "real Americans" understand how they're being screwed by Obama? How do you think THEY feel being hung out to dry by Romney? Oh, right, they're incapable of feeling, only regurgitating the sound bites they think will help them win?
3: What about the poor saps who are not politicians or pundits who BELIEVED in Romney's 47% remarks? Do THEY feel left out to dry? Do they think Romney's just saying whatever he needs to say to stop the hemorrhaging? If so, are they OK with it, as long as he wins?
They're Republicans - they've been fed dog kibble and told it was steak for so long they wouldn't recognize a steak if they tripped over one.
In case I haven't mentioned it before, Willard Thurston Howell RMoney the Third is a fraud.
This is just one more piece of evidence. After the Gish Gallop Clinic on Wednesday night, it occurs to me that it is entirely possible to put into the White House a man who can Lie at warp speed.
Press: "Governor, did you really mean to say that 47% of this country, are a bunch of fat lazy-@sses, that has their hands out, for all the free stuff offered, and will never be better than that?"
Mitt: "You damn right I did! Because it's true, those fat bastards!"
2 weeks later
Mitt: "I never made those comments, those were a uh fabrication, of, of, of video editing and, and voice manipulation. And I was completely ..... wrong in saying, whatever it was... that, uh-uh was said, and I, I firmly stand behind not saying any of that."
Press: "So Governor, what you are saying is, you never made those statements, yet you were wrong on making the statements, you never made in the first place? Is that about right?"
Mitt: "Yes that is correct. Next question."
Anyone with half a brain and uses it: "Is this guy f*cking serious?"
Pathological liars have no regrets, not even getting caught in a lie. Like he said about his boys, repeating until accepted. He practices that many times daily. That actually was a practice of Hitler. Hitler stated to make a lie simple, repeat it enough and the masses will accept it. Wasn't one of the fundraisers of Mitt's at a supporter who "enjoys" the writings and art of Hitler? Hmmmmm....Anyway, pathological liars just keep morphing to the situation and people they need to convince. I wonder does anyone truly know the real Mitt? Family, even Mitt? Does he ever say anything he really means. He can't give a direct answer to how he would do anything because he hasn't made it up yet. And, it will morph from person to person, situation to situation. He is geared to private business and making a profit for him and his investors. That is the only brain he has. He may have come up with a health care plan in MA but he screwed up every thing else. How long was he in office? Anyway, the man couldn't tell the truth to save his own life. Truly. I feel sorry for anyone like that. Their soul is lost wondering. However, that being said, he's the last person I want as president. He's a threat to our livelihoods here at home and he's a threat to our wellbeing abroad. He's clueless when it comes to the health and safety of a nation. Let him stay in private business.
His lying isn't necessarily pathological - it's part of his religion. If you're raised to believe it's your duty to lie "in a higher cause" and that God expressly approves you doing that, there's no guilt to overcome and no sociopathy needed.
“If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.”
- Adolph Hitler
We had this discussion on the blog last night. He's not a pathological liar. He's a sociopathic liar. Sociopathic liars do so in order to get something, to achieve a goal (like becoming President). They lie freely and easily, without conscience.
This web site will explain the difference between sociopathic, compulsive, and pathological liars:
http://www.truthaboutdeception.com/lying-and-deception/confronting-a-partner/compulsive-lying/types-of-liars.html
And I repeat as I said last night. Gish Romney is a compulsive, pathological, sociopathic liar.
I can't believe anything that COMES OUT OF ROMNEY'S MOUTH. I have been watching and listening all year , and he has said so many things with no hard-core numbers to back up his claims. I will never get over the 47% thing, that was behind closed doors in a room with very wealthy people, not in front of the country. Now he is talking like he is reading Obamas speech, completely opposite fromj what we have ALL heard from him for months. I just dont believe anything he says, and he gives me the creeps big time.
Romney has changed his position on everything and anything. All he wants is the White house and no matter what he has to say or do he will say and do to get it including contradicting whatever he said before. He looks like a car salesman and he acts like one, he will sell you a lemon and deny that he did it. He has no values his greed has become his essence. He doesn't care about the 99% say nothing of the 47%. If you don't run in his crowd you are not worthy of his attention.
I really believe that he doesn't really want the job of President, he just wants the position of President so he can feel that he outdid his father in something. He is the perfect Grover Norquist president. No brain, but has 5 working digits. Paul Ryan will tell him what to do and put the papers in front of him to sign.
Some candidate to foist on the American people.
Spin the Mitt, folks! You never know who is going to "win" next. A booby prize with every spin!
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