I think we can all agree that Romney has succeeded, for now, in wiping the Etch a Sketch clean and writing a new script. We saw a new, different Romney at the debate and there are probably a good many Americans who were taken in by this reasonable sounding moderate.
The problem for Romney is that this man we saw bears little resemblance to the man who has been running for President for the past several years. The advantage for us is that it's all on tape.
For the next few weeks, voters in swing states should be blanketed with evidence of this transformation. We need to see "flip/flop" ads on every subject under the sun (because he has flipped on most of them). Obamacare, taxes, abortion... you name it, he's Etch a Sketched it.
Then the question should be: Who is the real Mitt Romney?
And Pres. Obama's question to the American people should be: Who do you trust?
At the end of one of the debates, or a in a direct to camera TV commercial, this should be Pres. Obama's closing argument:
On a whole list of important subjects, Mr. Romney has said one thing for the past 5 years to get the Republican nomination. He's now saying something completely different in order to get your vote.
I agree he is a smooth talker. Heck, I found myself almost taken in, too! (laughter) But I don't know which version of what he has been saying is what he really believes.
I have been your President for four years. I hope you have come to know and trust me. We've come a long way as a country in these 4 years. In my first year in office we were dealing with the aftershocks of the largest financial crisis since the Great Depression. We had 10% unemployment. We made the hard decisions and have started to claw our way back. Unemployment is now below 8%. We are making steady progress.
I don't want to jeopardize the progress we have made. I don't want to return to the days of tax cuts for the wealthy paid for on the backs of the middle class. That's what got us into this mess. I don't want someone with a preexisting medical condition who finally has health insurance because of the Affordable Care Act (yes, "Obamacare") to have the rug pulled out from under her when the Republicans move to repeal it, as Mr. Romney has pledged to do.
I hope I have shown you that I am a faithful, trustworthy President who will keep this country safe and do everything in my power to make the lives of the American people better.
I'm asking for your continued trust, and your vote, so we can continue to make progress over the next 4 years.
Thanks you.