This is awesome—President Obama speaking at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, a short time ago, bringing the term Romnesia into the popular political lexicon:
"We've got to name this condition that he's going through," Obama said, referring to Mitt Romney's attempt to undergo a last-minute transformation from a severe conservative to a severe moderate. "I think it's called Romnesia. That's what it's called. I think that's what he's going through."
"Now," he continued, "I'm not a medical doctor, but i do want to go over the symptoms with you—because i want to make sure nobody else catches it."
And what might those symptoms be? Here's one example: "You know if you say if you're for equal pay, but you can't say if you'll sign a bill for equal pay, you might have Romnesia." And: "If you say you think women should have access to contraceptive care, but you support legislation that would let employers deny contraceptive care, you might have Romnesia." And another: "If you say you you'll protect a woman's right to choose, but you stand up in a primary debate and say you'd be delighted to ban abortion in all cases, then you definitely have Romnesia."
But you don't need to worry, said the President. "If you have Romnesia, here's the good news—Obamacare covers preexisting conditions. We can fix you! We can make you well."
9:56 AM PT: Updated video with a version of the clip that starts a little earlier than the original one so you can hear the full set up for the line.
10:02 AM PT: And if you don't like the sound of Romnesia, please chip in $5 to help President Obama win this election and inoculate the country from Mitt Rommney's terrible disease.
10:07 AM PT: Full transcript now below the fold.
10:09 AM PT: Nice AP headline: "Obama courts female voters, accuses GOP rival Romney of suffering from a case of ‘Romnesia’"
Full transcript:
But now that we’re 18 days out from the election, Mr. “Severely Conservative” wants you to think he was “severely kidding” about everything he’s said over the last year. He told folks he was “the ideal candidate” for the Tea Party, now suddenly he’s saying, “what, who, me?” He’s forgetting what his own positions are, and he’s betting that you will too.
I mean he’s changing up so much – backtracking and sidestepping. We’ve gotta name this condition that he’s going through.. I think it’s called “Romnesia.” That’s what it’s called. I think that’s what he’s going through.
Now, I’m not a medical doctor but I do want to go over some of the symptoms with you because I want to make sure nobody else catches it.
If you say you’re for equal pay for equal work, but you keep refusing to say whether or not you’d sign a bill that protects equal pay for equal work – you might have Romnesia.
If you say women should have access to contraceptive care, but you support legislation that would let your employer deny you contraceptive care – you might have a case of Romnesia.
If you say you’ll protect a woman’s right to choose, but you stand up at a primary debate and said that you’d be “delighted” to sign a law outlawing that right to choose in all cases – man, you’ve definitely got Romnesia.
Now, this extends to other issues. If you say earlier in the year I’m going to give a tax cut to the top 1 percent and then in a debate you say, I don’t know anything about giving tax cuts to rich folks – you need to get a thermometer, take your temperature, because you’ve probably got Romnesia.
If you say that you’re a champion of the coal industry when while you were Governor you stood in front of a coal plant and said, this plant will kill you – that’s some Romnesia.
So – I think you’re beginning to be able to identify these symptoms. And if you come down with a case of Romnesia, and you can’t seem to remember the policies that are still on your website, or the promises you’ve made over the six years you’ve been running for President, here’s the good news: Obamacare covers pre-existing conditions.
We can fix you up. We’ve got a cure. We can make you well, Virginia. This is a curable disease.
Women, men, all of you. These are family issues. These are economic issues. I want my daughters to have the same opportunities as anybody’s sons. I believe America does better, the economy grows more, we create more when everybody participates, when everyone’s getting a fair shot, everybody’s getting a fair shake, everybody’s playing by the same rules, everybody’s doing their fair share. That’s why I’m asking you for another term as President of the United States. I need you to help me finish the job.
