It's as if Willard M. Romney is trying to be typecast as the out-of-touch, rich white guy. After a decisive victory in the Florida primary, the Republican presidential hopeful, unfortunately for him, continued that long-standing narrative.
"I'm not concerned about the very poor, we have a safety there," Romney told CNN's Soledad O'Brien in an interview earlier today. He added, "if it needs repair, I'll fix it."
His lack of concern extends to the upper classes as well, he pointed out. "I'm not concerned about the very rich — they're doing just fine" Romney continued, "I'm concerned about the very heart of America, the 90-95% of Americans who right now are struggling. I'll continue to take that message across the nation."
When pressed to clarify, the former Massachusetts governor defended his statement and emphasized his desire to focus on middle income Americans, like retirees living on Social Security and those who are unemployed (like him) looking for work.
"I said I'm not concerned about the very poor that have a safety net, but if it has holes in it, I will repair them," he said. "You can choose where to focus. You can focus on the rich — that's not my focus. You can focus on the very poor — that's not my focus."
So, Mitt Romney…maybe not the best communicator of ideas. He's had a tough time knocking the heartless CEO character on the campaign trail. Let's not forget his "corporations are people" or his "I like being able to fire people" gaffes a few weeks back.
Conservatives came out against latest Romney's verbal fumble. Michelle Malkin equated it to "facepalm." Red State's Erick Erickson noted that he "played straight into the liberal caricature that Republicans don't have hearts." He summed it up nicely, "the issue here is not that Romney is right or wrong, but that he is handing choice sound bites to the Democrats to make him as unlikeable as he made Newt Gingrich."
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As much as I may personally dislike Mitt Romney, I refuse to believe that he is running for president with ideas that he believes will destroy the middle class in America. Of course, he does appear out of touch with 99% of Americans, but in some ways this gaffe almost humanizes the man. He clearly was trying to show his support for the middle class and did it in a really weird way. As someone who has a hard time with the way things come out of my own mouth, I identify with him a smidge more. I do not think he should be judged based on this quote alone, but the sum of his proposals and statements (which still makes him undesirable, to my mind).
The comment could be seen as a true "Freudian Slip" revealing the truth behind Romney affable persona. What it reveals is an individual with a rather limited moral sense. If one looks at these slips closely what it reveal is that Romney is "transactional". He is always thinking what is in it for him. It does not appear that he has any great level of empathy or concern for others. He simply recognizes that the middle class are the largest group of voters who he needs to win over if he is to get his prize of gaining power. If you think of the larger picture, what is it that Romney stands for. For the life of me, I don't know. He is inconsistent, and his positions are based on the level of support he can obtain from a particular audience. Again is positions are transactional, it is motivated largely by his quest to gain personal success and power. Frightening.
Robme, said that he is not concern about the poor because they have a safety net and it is has holes he will fix them. Well, that is what I understood. But on the other hand he supports the Ryan Plan which he will fight to bring it to fulfillment. And what does that plan wants to do with the programs that help the poor? Go and read it. Wiped out will be the food stamp programs, wiped out will be welfare, wiped out will be the medicaid program. Those who are working now and are being taxed for Social Security better kiss those contributions good bye. So, when he says he does not care about the poor I really believe it. When he said that if the safety net has holes he will fix them, yes he will keep any programs that depletes that safety net from coming to fruition. He sill not let any money come to the poor out of that safety net or he will stop those from applying by changing the rules and making it hard to qualify.
Lawrence was brilliant tonight, giving the Romney -poor- Americans faux pas comment the kind of attention it deserved. Lawrence you made me laugh. Class act!
The comment does not surprise me. He is just saying the same thing Gingrich, Santorium, Ron Paul, Hermann Cain have said only Romney is not saying Food Stamps and Welfare. Safety Nets; what is a safety net in America? Now when you talk of safety nets Mr. Romney should know. Just look at money overseas legal, 14% taxes legal, Venture Capitalism legal and probably dozens of other ventures legal by the government and he used to make his money. No wonder he is not concerned about the rich. Probably used the same tactics. Birds of a feather. And the best part HAS NOT CREATED ONE DECENT JOB.
While he was Gov. in MA he fixed the hole in the safety net for homeless families by charging them $147 a month to be housed in a motel while they waited for a shelter opening.
What is your source for that information?
His parnters in Bain, men who worked with him for 25 years, admit they do not know the real Romney. They do know that he was a ruthless businessman. About his comment that he wishes he was Hispanic - OH REALLY- how is it that he has never visited his Father's relatives in Mexico. This man does not have a heart, soul and has one thing on his mind. Power and Money.
If you can't include the entire quote, why use it? And by the way, Anybody can go into a Mormon church...the Temple is a different building, and as for the secrecy of the Mormon church...I don't know of many adults in the US who have not had Mormon Missionaries on their doorstep, so if you want to know more, invite them in!