It's official. Mitt Romney has undeniably framed himself as Mr. 1%, the Wealth Candidate. Meet the Press helpfully compiled a mashup of video clips of Mittney, Gaffe Master Supreme®, the man born with a silver foot in his mouth. They're all here:
• Ann drives a couple Cadillacs
• Corporations are people my friend
• Rick my friend, $10,000 bucks?
• I like firing people
• I'm not concerned about the poor
• Some of my best friends are Nascar owners
After playing the clip, the Group o' Pundits adds more examples that weren't caught on video, like the lobbyist for his car elevator at the beach house. And the anecdote about closing plants in Michigan. Nice of them to do the legwork here.
They get a hale and hearty laugh about Romney's wealth, how you can't get good help these days (i.e. his campaign). This doesn't sound like a candidate who has the full buy-in of the MSM. But then they get down to business, strategizing about what Romney can do to look like a man of the people. Like Kennedy and FDR (um, Democrats) were able to. Like, going to Appalachia for three months, but 'act natural' while you're there. Ha Ha Ha Ha! Like going to NASCAR and making a crack about ponchos. I was ready for David Brooks to tell him to go to the salad bar at Applebee's.
But then, they ominously add how 'the Obama campaign is planning to 'exploit' this in the campaign!' The only thing Romney is a natural at, is acting unnatural. The Obama campaign doesn't need to exploit Romney's unnaturallness, all they have to do is sit back and watch.
even now the President has four or five events scheduled that's going to be focused on the Buffett Rule, and about people paying their fair share. They think it's a great counter to Romney, and to Paul Ryan's budget, which they contend does not match in the world of the 99% vs. the 1%. They believe their message matches the moment.
Ya think?