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For Romney in Detroit, a message lost in the empty seats (More on Mitt's stadium debacle...)
Seattle Times ^ | 2/24/12 | NYT, WP, AP

Posted on 02/25/2012 4:56:33 AM PST by jimbo123

Mitt Romney set out Friday to deliver a sweeping and sober vision for how to revive the economy in a major policy speech. In the end, he delivered something else: an unintended lesson about how poor visuals and errant words can derail a candidate's message.

In an unusual choice, Romney gave his speech at Ford Field, a 65,000-seat indoor football stadium. The speech appeared perfectly normal to the television audience. The audience of about 1,200 people filled the screen as they applauded.

But that is not all that matters in the age of Twitter and the Internet. Before Romney had uttered a word, reporters were posting pictures showing the stadium from every angle — almost empty, except for chairs on the turf, near the 20-yard line.

On the Web, a storyline began to take hold that undercut Romney's words: big speech, tiny crowd.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: emptystadium; mattrhoades; michiganprimary; norinos; romneycare
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More on Mitt's stadium debacle. Matt Rhoades, Matt Drudge, Ann Coulter and the GOP-e must be proud of their man.
1 posted on 02/25/2012 4:56:35 AM PST by jimbo123
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To: jimbo123
Way to display that fiscal conservatism there Mitt. So how much donor money did it cost to rent Ford Field for this?

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2 posted on 02/25/2012 4:57:54 AM PST by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: jimbo123

Ouch, babe.


3 posted on 02/25/2012 5:00:55 AM PST by ez (When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail.)
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To: ez

Lets hope he didn’t rent Comerica Park next door for the overflow.


4 posted on 02/25/2012 5:02:10 AM PST by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: jimbo123

Sarah would’ve had that place packed to the top.


5 posted on 02/25/2012 5:04:59 AM PST by albie
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To: cripplecreek

This is outside of Detroit. If you ask to rent the field for six hours....with no lights...and just heat on....I’ll bet it’s less than $10k. For charities and political events...no take at the gate. If you have a concert....the gate is going to get a percentage of what comes into the place.


6 posted on 02/25/2012 5:05:33 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: cripplecreek

In Michigan, the trees are the right height. The football stadiums are quiet and empty...


7 posted on 02/25/2012 5:06:05 AM PST by jimbo123
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To: albie

Probably not in Detroit but she would pick an appropriate venue and fill it to the top.


8 posted on 02/25/2012 5:06:22 AM PST by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: jimbo123
Poor planning on his part, if you knew South East Michigan where else would he have gone?

Cobo Hall? Nope, Street Rod Show this weekend taking up the building.

Some fancy resturant in "Detwaa" that can hold 1200? Really? Their isn't one...

Rock Financial up in Novi? Can't tell ya, my guess is they have something going on...

The only other arena's about this size might be smaller ice rinks w/ stadium seating i.e. Detroit Skating Club or the Compuware Arena, again why didn't his team think of it or were they not available as well. (They could have put plywood down and covered with rugs etc...)

I think they pulled this one out of their ear at the last minute, this is much to do about nothing.

And for the record I am in Newt's Camp, I can't stand Romney, but I can't stand the spin on this story either....

9 posted on 02/25/2012 5:06:39 AM PST by taildragger (( Palin / Mulally 2012 ))
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To: jimbo123
Michigan trees are happy little trees.

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10 posted on 02/25/2012 5:07:36 AM PST by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: taildragger

Empty stadium debacle, brought to you by Team Romneycare.


11 posted on 02/25/2012 5:09:09 AM PST by jimbo123
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To: cripplecreek

Now, let’s be fair to Rotney. It was NOT JUST the huge crowd in the seats. To be completely fair about it, you HAVE TO add ALL the other people! There are AT LEAST a dozen on the left sideline... and LET US NOT FORGET that some guy, clearly a FERVENT Rotney supporter, is standing at the fence in the foreground.


12 posted on 02/25/2012 5:09:49 AM PST by C210N
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To: jimbo123

If this had been Newt or Rick you can bet this would be front page Dudge with a red banner.


13 posted on 02/25/2012 5:11:00 AM PST by KansasGirl
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To: taildragger
Poor planning on his part, if you knew South East Michigan where else would he have gone?

I'm betting Ford Field has plenty of larger sections/rooms for marketing events and expos, etc.

Most major stadiums here in Boston do. I've been to plenty of seminars and expos at the Boston Garden (Bruins, Celtics) and Gillette Stadium (Patriots) where the event is marketed at "Boston Garden" or "Gillette Stadium" but held in a huge conference room or large hall.
14 posted on 02/25/2012 5:11:16 AM PST by nhwingut (Sarah Palin 12... No One Else (Maybe Tim Thomas))
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To: jimbo123

I don’t think this was Mitt’s decision. He was scheduled to speak at the Detroit Economic Club and they booked Ford Field because they couldn’t accommodate the size of the crowd at their usual venue. I don’t like the way this is being portrayed and I hate the thought of defending him because I’m not a supporter-AT ALL.


15 posted on 02/25/2012 5:11:16 AM PST by FrdmLvr (culture, language, borders)
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: cripplecreek

Wow, we’ve just been having our family get-togethers at my Mom and Dad’s house when I guess we should’ve been renting a stadium.


17 posted on 02/25/2012 5:13:00 AM PST by nodumbblonde ("The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity." - Ayn Rand)
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To: FrdmLvr

Agreed. This is what is irritating me so much about the leftist’ tactics being use by our side.

If our side is just as bad as the other, what the hell is the choice?


18 posted on 02/25/2012 5:19:37 AM PST by SouthTexas (You cannot bargain with the devil, shut the government down.)
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To: ez

Reminiscent of McCain landing in NH in 2008 for a campaign stop and only one person — a reporter — showed up to greet the presidential contender.


19 posted on 02/25/2012 5:20:04 AM PST by TomGuy
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To: jimbo123

This was a setup from the start. The Lame Stream Media was insinuating that the event was for big donors only.

I’m hoping Romney doesn’t get the nomination but expect this “stadium” comparison game to go on for whomever the nominee is. This is the oldest trick in the book.


20 posted on 02/25/2012 5:25:26 AM PST by tobyhill
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