Posted on 05/17/2012 8:26:34 AM PDT by Bigtigermike
Mitt Romney’s campaign manager rejected efforts to use President Obama’s former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, in ads attacking the president, as reportedly planned by a “super PAC” working toward electing Mr. Romney in November.
“Unlike the Obama campaign, Gov. Romney is running a campaign based on jobs and the economy, and we encourage everyone else to do the same,” the campaign manager, Matt Rhoades, said in a statement on Thursday morning. “President Obama’s team said they would ‘kill Romney,’ and, just last week, David Axelrod referred to individuals opposing the president as ‘contract killers.’ It’s clear President Obama’s team is running a campaign of character assassination. We repudiate any efforts on our side to do so.”
[.....]
Statements like that from Mr. McCain may be part of the reason Mr. Romney’s campaign quickly rejected the idea of using Mr. Wright as a way of attacking the president. Already, advisers to Mr. Obama have raised the question of whether Mr. Romney will speak out like Mr. McCain did.
“Stunning! Will Mitt stand up, as John McCaln did? Or allow the purveyors of slime to operate on his behalf?” David Axelrod, a senior campaign adviser to Mr. Obama, wrote on Twitter early Thursday morning.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...
I have a suggestion for Romney’s campaign, anew slogan: “WE CHOOSE TO LOSE!
I have a suggestion for Romney’s campaign, a new slogan: “WE CHOOSE TO LOSE!
Remember Christine O'Donnell?
Remember Joe Miller?
Remember Sharron Angle?
How long will it take for the "no choicer" crowd to figure out that the GOP-E views CONSERVATIVES as the enemy, not Obama and the Democrats. And that includes Romney and his campaign.
Now is not the time to bring it up.....the time to do it is after the convention. If you made a big deal out of it now, there still is too much time for it to wear off.
Patience, Grasshopper.
Your reaction choices:
1.) Be a ‘Mr. Nice-guy’ candidate
2.) Be a stupid ‘Mr. Nice-guy’ candidate
3.) Be a stupid ‘Mr. Nice-guy’, ‘I want to lose’ candidate
4.) During your last debate, craft a preemptive concession speech like McLame did and admonish all of us that we "...shouldn't be skeeered of..." a second Obama term.
I think this is wise for Romney. There’s certainly enough out there on Wright and the PACs can do as they wish. There is an ongoing vetting of Obama that should have occurred the first time around.
For Romney’s part, the focus is clear and right. He can of course attack Obama on his leadership and decisions and his views. It should be based on what Obama has done in office and what will happen if he stays in power.
I expect there will be quite hard-hitting ads on this from Romney; but not on Wright/Ayers, etc. The time for that was 2008, in context of what he would do if elected. We already know that now, and that’s the proper line of attack.
Romney shouldn’t touch these arguments, and his campaign is right to reject them. That way, he can stay “above the fray” and claim the moral high ground, while the surrogates attack.
Romney needs to talk about the reasons TO vote FOR HIM. There are lots of others who can talk about why not to vote for the other guy.
Because we all know that Mutt only plays for keeps against conservatives.
McCain used the same “polite” tactics during the general that he used during the primaries.
Hopefully Romney will employ his same goon squad to kneecap Obama that he used during the primaries...while he gets hover above the fray.
change takes time...it ain't gonna happen overnight.
Absolutely. It's all part of plan within a plan within a strategic gambit that makes Napoleon look like a pre-schooler. I mean, Mitt Romney plays ten-dimensional chess and moves the pieces with his mind!
Well, let's see. There's pro-life issues.
Oh, wait.
How about socialized medicine?
Oh, wait.
How about 2A?
Oh, wait.
How about his record appointing judges?
Oh, wait.
How about great hair?
What would even be the point of running an ad on this now?
After we are acting indignant over the gay marriage distraction attempt, we are now demanding that Rombot run ads on something that should have had traction 4 years ago?
To what effect? To change the subject OFF the economy, because that is all you are going to get.
Which is, of course, why against Conservatives Romney's team:
Bachmann: "Maybe she's a little crazy...innoculations causing brain damage..."
Perry: "Did you seen what was written on the rock at the ranch they used to hunt at?"
Gingrich: "THREE Wives! Omigosh!"
Santorum: "Birth control...did he say you couldn't use birth-control?"
Paul: "He's a little bit crazy, and Rand is a little bit rock and roll."
Ahh, yes, the high road. /Sarc
Letting the Democrats determine your campaign strategy. Typical Republican MORONS.
Worse. If a candidate has no balls in the campaign, what kind of strength of will can be expected as President.
I fully expected this. But jeez, I am tired of being right.
My 28 yo daughter would, in a 3 way debate with Mittens and Zero, decimate both of them without getting out of breath. Together they don’t add up to half her brain (or real world common sense).
We are so screwed. Our Presidential options are men that are honestly barely qualified to flip hamburgers. Intellectually and morally.
What do you mean ‘following...’?
Aren’t they the same bunch who ran McCain’s ‘successful’ campaign?
Why should Romney cut “O” any slack for the “Reverend” Wright video, when the President’s supporters would bust his hump over a HS prank?
Exactly. Romney is ruthless. This is what they say for public consumption. Probably saying this sort of thing to undercut the Obama campaigns soon-to-be effort to paint Willard as a "weird" Mormon. The reality is, Romney and his people are absolutely viscous and will do anything they feel will give them political advantage.
And Wright's philosophy which is obviously shared by Obama has nothing to do with our dismal economy? The most we get of Obama's philosophy comes from his speechwriters. Wright's sermons are a window into Obama's soul.
D*mn wright, it's an issue.
ML/NJ
According to Federal Election Commission advisories, Super PACs are not allowed to coordinate directly with candidates or political parties. This is intended to prevent them from operating campaigns that complement or parallel those of the candidates they support or engaging in negotiation that could result in quid pro quo bargaining between donors to the PAC and the candidate or officeholder. However, it is legal for candidates and Super PAC managers to discuss campaign strategy and tactics through the media.So, if an independent PAC decided to run ads covering Rev Wright, allegations of Obama's gay lovers, etc, in theory there would not be any way for either Romney nor Obama to stop them.
I imagine the Romney campaign will not bring up Wright until the word “Mormon” is drilled into the national conversation on a scale like nothing we have seen. That will happen sooner than planned due to Obama’s sagging poll numbers. The war on women/attack Anne Romney thing didn’t work, dog-gate didn’t work, Romney as a bully fell apart, so religion has to be coming up fast. Romney shouldn’t use it until Obama does, then hit him hard. They have counter-punched a lot better than I had expected to this point, so there’s no reason to think they won’t with this issue. It might be the easiest one.
actually ... you haven’t seen ANYTHING of what Axelrod has in store of the celestial god child from the planet kolob .... which is located in the constellation cancer (i’m not making that up, either) ....
“Go Mormon on us, and we’ll go Muzzie on you.”
Yep. Then Florida, I think there were several other states as well.
I will not vote for that liberal called Romney.
What you said! I'm already prepared to vomit all over my ballot just to get Comrade Zero out, but this is just too much like McQueeg back in 08.
Romney hitting anyone hard other than a conservative is laughable.
True. Nevertheless, some folks who've decided to vote for him are finding it necessary to engage in fairy tales about him. The other day, someone was talking about how tough a fighter Romney is, and how he's going to chop Obama to pieces, LOL.
Romney will only fight conservatives, and in the most vicious way he can manage. When it comes to his own kind (liberals), he's a quisling.
The D.C. politicians sing together ... Eye in the Sky ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euhgMBgTB34
Just because McCain made this mistake doesn’t mean that Romney can’t make it too. Where are the Swiftboaters when we need them the most.
“Now is not the time to bring it up.....the time to do it is after the convention. If you made a big deal out of it now, there still is too much time for it to wear off.”
I agree that closer to the election would be more effective but again, it would seem the battle would be over and much of the ammunition would remain safe and never fired much like McCain did.
I am sure the enemy within, the democrats, will fire everything they have, real and fabricated. Dirt will be the only ammunition the democrats can use as their utter and complete failures in the last 3+ years do not make for a good platform from which to fight.
Well said, and I think that might actually be their stance. It would be a smart one. Mutually assured destruction on the subject of religion, but Obama’s goons will bring it up because they know they have the media.
No, McCain didn't have the support of Jimmy Carter.
Well, this decision may be based on the fact the Wright is doing the job for him. Considering what is out there already, why not stay out of it. Romnuts is still a pansy A@@, and will make McCpain proud.
I don’t think it’s bad NOT to use Rev. Wright. With the short-term memory of most of the electorate, they’ll first ask “Who?”, then when they hear it was something from four years ago, they’ll dismiss it as ‘ancient news’. It might excite some conservatives, but most folks will just ignore it. I think it will be more important to concentrate on the economy, and the idea of religious liberty.
Romney will cave/already has.
Rev Wright would be a winning issue I believe, here`s hoping the superpac goes ahead with it anyway.
I remember well McCain staggering around debate stages and yelling at his supporters.
MSNBC and CNN are freaking out over the possibility of this being a issue. This outrage was a way for them to cut this off at the pass, sounds like it`s working, Romney team running scared.
Truth is it`s a winning issue and libs know this, our side is not bright enough to understand
It’s ok to go negative, but not before making sure people know what you are “For”......don’t put the horse before the cart.
STUPID MOVE.
Kind of ironic because I mostly reject Romney. John McCain must be giving him his winning stategy.
True, however; the media will demand that Romney denounce the Super PAC’s responsible demand that they stop defaming such a nice guy and stand up for Obama. I think Romney is trying to head that off at the pass.
I find it concerning Romney had no compunction when bashing other Republican candidates, even lying about them. When it comes to Obama the best he can muster is he is a ‘nice guy’ but mislead or in over his head.
Reagan was the master of being able insult his opponent in such a way it was funny and didn't seem offensive. Romney can't do that, when he was chewing out the Republican candidates he seemed vengeful, in my opinion.
In this historic election to determine the future direction of our republic, this is a bad strategy in three critical respects:
1. Any improvement in the economy (whether in fact or if the regime with the help of the MSM can, by torturing the data, sell the idea that the economy is improving) -- and I think we can agree that a truly improving economy would be good for Americans -- would render, with this strategy, Romney's primary argument for voting for him much less effective.
2. Conservatives always perform well in national elections where character, social issues and values are "pounded home" to characterize the stark contrasts in each candidate's vision for the country. In this case, I think it is critical to remind people -- especially those who vote but who don't follow politics closely -- that they must choose between a socialist who is openly determined to undermine -- if not convert -- our Constitutional Republic to European Socialism, versus (despite his questionable Conservative stance on some issues) one who loves America and traditional American values.
3. You can bet -- a sure-thing really since it's already started -- that Romney will be attacked mercilessly by the left on his religious values. If he does not fight back he will look -- and be portrayed as -- weak rather than being applauded for claiming "the moral high ground".
My friend, this election is a fight we who love America and the blessings we have received through our capitalist system and our traditional American values (i.e., our Judeo-Christian values) simply cannot lose. I think we -- and our candidates -- need to do whatever is not outright dishonorable to win.
With what is happneing right now, Romney probably thinks he doesn’t have to get his handss dirty, heck, Wright himself is going after Obama, claiming in a taped interview that the Obama campaign tried to bribe him to keep him silent, and that as Obama’s Pastor he made it easy for Obama to come to his church and keep his Isslmaic roots, and when asked on the tape if he was certain that Obama had converted to Jesus Christ, Wright said, “I cannot say that.”
So, let them tear each other apart and let Hannity and the PACS do all the work. Hannity has the tape anbd will air more of it tonight. Good stuff too.
Romney will take the fight to Obama, and he is getting the RNC to do the same. Thay have already unleashed more attacks on Obama, and more directly, than McCain did as a candidate, and Romney is not even the nomniee yet.
I believe he has to go after Obama and he has to do it wisely, but directly using his own words and his own people against him. Who better to use against Obama than Wright himself who cannot contain his mouth about his anti-American sentiments, and who is ticked off at Obama for being dissed by him and his admin.
Let’s see how it plays out. To announce this and then to allow Hannity and the PACS to take care of business would not be a bad move given the environment and what is already happening, ie. Wright himself upset and saying these things about Obama.
Obama’s Disasterous Firsts as President
http://www.jeffhead.com/obama1sts.htm
As a Mormon leader, and a Bishop, Romney has to tread carefully, especially in regards to blacks.
He’s not my first choice either. But he’s what we’ve got, and he’s better than Obama.
I didn’t mean to imply that nobody should use these arguments. The candidate should be positive. Surrogates should be making the negative case.
Of course he won’t.
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