August 30, 2012
Ann Romney, dressed in Nancy Reagan red, was simply magnificent earlier this week when she spoke to the RNC and the world. Her task: Humanize Mitt, show the softer, gentler side because Americans want their presidents to feel their pain. I don't care if the president feels my pain. I just want him to end it. This reminds me of that gritty conundrum: for major surgery, would you pick the surgeon with the kind bedside manner and checkered outcomes -- or the s.o.b. who always gets it right? Do we need a president who's a regular guy -- or one who can fix the economy, among other things? They are not mutually exclusive nor are they guaranteed tandem. Mrs. Romney -- a courageous, intelligent, well-spoken woman -- and a bevy of speech writers did their best to soften the facts, which are that Mitt Romney was born wealthy, lived for most of his life in an enclave of privilege, made a fortune on his own. He faced adversity on his two-year Mormon mission, but his mission was in France, not Bangladesh or Nigeria. I hear the food's pretty good in France. Plus, he picked up a useful language. I noticed a few gloss-overs in Mrs. Romney's address: She told us about their first home, a basement apartment where they subsisted on tuna and pasta. I did not hear that Mitt was then attending Harvard or that the "pasta" was mac and cheese. Believe me, young working-class families in the 1970s didn't call it pasta and Harvard isn't a state university or community college. Somebody paid. A few nights ago I watched the 90-minute CNN special on Romney's life and times, including his romance and marriage. Ann Romney spoke from their Lake House in New Hampshire, after a weekend hosting 18 grandchildren. She mentioned how many loads of sheets she had to wash. Of course Mrs. Romney didn't mean this as disingenuous .... but hopefully their gorgeous vacation house comes with a housekeeper. Can't believe a multi-millionaire's wife who suffers from MS washes the sheets. She shouldn't. Nobody expects that. It's OK, Ann. You're human enough. You seem to have raised nice sons. You're allowed the dressage horses. You showed class when, the next morning (dressed in bright pink), you didn't scold Chris Christie for ignoring your speech and not mentioning hubby til the last half of his. As for the candidate, can't we judge him on his ideas, his plans, his methods instead of how much time he spent with the boys, his tenderness for a sick wife, his willingness to wear dress shirts from Costco? Uptightness is no a disqualification in my book, nor is wealth or religious affiliation. But I do wonder about that off-shore money. Figuratively speaking, I haven't decided whom to vote for -- Michelle or Ann. We'll see how Michelle comes across next week. I don't really care whether our First Ladies buy J.Crew or Balenciaga. It's awful that the guy with the best hair usually wins. I wish we (especially we-the-media) could move beyond that stuff and concentrate on, as Ford used to say, Job 1. In the meantime, Ann's a worthy helpmate.
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Comments
catomax 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Yes, Mitt has been pretty darn skimpy on the details that will affect us!
skylinefirepest 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Wow, what skimpy details. Of course I'm talking about the Obama administration...since the details are really skimpy as to how Obama is going to turn this country around in another four years from the absolute disaster he has made of the FIRST FOUR. I'd vote for Mickey Mouse over this America hating piece of pig dung...Oh, excuse me, as a former Muslim I guess Obama doesn't like pigs.
Courseaire 8 months, 3 weeks ago
sfp - I can now start to understand Dusty's dislike of you, but calling POTUS what you did is totally dispicable, whether you like him or not.
catomax 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Seriously SFP? Please specify what evidence you have that our president is "America Hating." Or is it just that FOX News says it, you believe it and that settles it?
moonchild7 8 months, 3 weeks ago
I watched an interesting segment on one of the cable news shows last nite (sorry can't remember which one, I was flipping around so much). Anyway, they were showing Mitt's Official Portrait Painting as Governor of Massachusettes. He's sitting on his desk with a nice photo of Ann to his right but in FRONT of her photo is a leather binder with a medical seal, representing the Massachusettes Health Care Legislation that he endorsed. It's in front of Ann's photo! When anyone RUNS TOTALLY AWAY from something they've done that's so good and helps so many people, what are they like when they've done something bad? The Republicans told an over abundance of LIES this week. They can't even be truthful with themselves and they have drastic problems with women; so it's more than obvious who should get your vote Deborah. Next week in Charlotte is gonna be great.
babiehop 8 months, 3 weeks ago
I feel like I missed a good speech. I didn't watch, but I don't think she could humanize him any more than does his wearing blue jeans with a nice suit jacket. It does not make me think of him as a regular guy or even one that pays the same tax rate as me. It just makes it look as if he's trying too hard. Maybe he could pull it off wearing khakis with the suit jacket or jeans with a casual jacket, but he couldn't look much more ridiculous if he wore a tuxedo with Bermuda shorts. I'm sure that he has a gentle side and also that his wife never had to worry that treatment for her very serious medical conditions would cause her family to lose their home due to overwhelming debt because the cap on insurance left them choosing between her life and a roof over their heads. I'm sure the Romneys sympathize with the crushing financial problems people face, they just can't empathize with them.
oceangypsy 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Love your blogs, Deb. This website below and all the hits on other Romney hits listed within it are one big reason why Mrs. Romney, et al, might have felt the need to try to portray Mitt as a regular guy even though he is clearly the best qualified presidential option being offered by the two parties. Anyone who can survive thru all that crap and jumping thru all the hoops maybe deserves to be President.
http://www.romneyrobot.com/
Behan 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Romney rich, spends his money=bad.
Obama rich, spends my money=good.
Gotcha.
debsalomon 8 months, 3 weeks ago
This was a test and most of you all passed with flying colors. Only took two postings for the mud to fly. Thank goodness none of it stuck to Ann Romney. Honestly, I feel sorry for these spouses. Don't care how many limos are at their disposal...private jets, catered meals, make-up and hair people at their sides..the life must be exhausting. Please give me credit for not mentioning Mrs. Paul Ryan (is it Jenna?). I will predict, however, a Made-in-China bauble-head likeness in stores befote the week is out, with a smile button. Oh my, the agony Sarah Palin must be going through.
Behan 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Ms. Salomon: Your ramblings appear to be indicitave of some type of degenerative mental condition. Do you have family nearby who can take your cat out of the fridge and your wet clothes out of the oven?
Behan 8 months, 3 weeks ago
DS, here is how you come across to the average reader:
Governor Romney has skirted the issues when it comes to health care. Speaking of skirts, what gives with that ugly little blue number Anne Romney wore the other day? I guess it made some sense because tonight is a blue moon. Blue Moon was a great song. The Cowboy Junkies did a great cover of that song. What a funny name for a band. There probably aren’t many cowboys who are junkies, but then again, maybe there are. I wonder what drug cowboys would be most likely to use. Probably meth—cocaine seems far too cosmopolitan. I had a cosmopolitan the other night—that is vodka, cranberry, and some triple sec. That last one is funny because it is almost like you were going to say “sex,” but changed your mind at the last minute, and stopped at “sec.” You should be able to stop at the last minute if you want to. After all, no means no. Although probably not in the Romney household—he did end up having all those kids. Why is he so opposed to reproductive rights—I mean, seriously—isn’t 3 kids enough? Although that show with Dick Van Patten claimed that 8 was enough. But Dick is short for Richard—as in Richard Nixon. Coincidence? I think not! In conclusion, cowboys do meth, no means no, and Romney’s war on women is directed by Richard Nixon’s ghost and reruns of a 1970s ABC sitcom.
If any of that sounds nutty to you, it was just a test, and you all failed. So did I.
Now, where is that cat?
Noluv4thugs 8 months, 3 weeks ago
http://belligerentact.org/
catomax 8 months, 3 weeks ago
The average reader, Mr. Behan? You write as though your heart quite a bit colder than that.
Behan 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Too much?
skylinefirepest 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Course and Cat...so it's all right for the extreme left to call Bush whatever name comes to mind, many of them considered cuss words in today's society...but if I give an honest opinion of how I feel about a man who got elected with no credentials, no leadership experience, and a lifetime's worth of shady relationships, and has since taken this country into the pits of fiscal dependence on parts of the world that hate us, then that's bad?? Seems like the left can't see the forest for the trees here. Obama DESERVES no respect...look without the rose colored glasses at what he has done TO this country since he was elected and try, if you can, to tell me much of anything good that he has done, or said about this country, the greatest on earth.
skylinefirepest 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Course, Cat, and Deb...Respect is given to a president when he is elected and is expected, whether earned or not, to be given always. Sorry about that, I don't live by those rules. I gave Obama his due "elected official" respect for the first year and after that HE DID NOTHING TO EARN IT!! He wants, by his own words, to "fundamentally change" the United States and we reject and don't want his change to Socialism. The cabinet and administration picks he has made have been a joke of tax cheats, incompetents, and America haters. Do just the slightest bit of looking at Rahm and the AG and their incompetence in office. Look at the lies that are told every day. Look at the loss of respect around the world now, look at the lack of secure borders and the lack of overall security for the country. Look at the bowing to foreign leaders, look at the insane borrowing of money and the lack of any fiscal responsibility. I could go on for quite a while but every day in office with this joker is a slight to the country. The media loves this jackass and he has done more damage to the country and to the office of the presidency than any other president in my somewhat long lifetime. So to again answer your comments I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR OBAMA!!! He hasn't earned it just as he has not earned a second term.
JD 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Pestilence and Behan thread bombing. Staying classy and being best bros.
I predict more trolling by JD
Behan 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Um....what?
Actually, nevermind. I don't think I care to hear the "classy" explanation.
JD 8 months, 2 weeks ago
And no one cares to hear from you. Yet here you are trololo-ing along. Type more mental pauses makes you look witty.
Behan 8 months, 2 weeks ago
I disagree. I seem to have quite the following. That seems to make you uncomfortable. Why is that?
JD 8 months, 2 weeks ago
oh and theres that lack of wit again. And 'quite the following' thanks for the laugh. You and your alt accounts what a cheering squad...
by JD
fatboy 8 months, 1 week ago
After reading this you will know more about this candidate than you do about the current occupant of the White House, and it's only one paragraph long. Mitt Romney from his Mitt Romney 2012 Site: After going to both Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School simultaneously, he passed the Michigan bar, but never worked as an attorney. As a venture-capitalist, Romney's first major business deal involved investing in a start-up office supply company with one store in Massachusetts that sold office supplies. That company, called Staples, now has over 2,000 stores and employs over 90,000 people. Romney or his company Bain Capital (using what became known as the "Bain Way") would go on to perform the same kinds of business miracles again and again, with companies like Domino's, Sealy, Brookstone, Weather Channel, Burger King, Warner Music Group, Dollarama, Home Depot Supply, and many others. Got your calculators handy? Let's recap : - Volunteer campaign worker for his dad's gubernatorial campaign 1 year. - Unpaid intern in Governor's office 8 years. - Mormon missionary in Paris 2 years. - Unpaid bishop and stake president for his church 10 years. - No salary as president of the Olympics 3 years. - No salary as MA governor 4 years. That's a grand total of 28 years of unpaid service to his country, his community and his church.
Arestorer 8 months, 1 week ago
fatboy; It does appear that being born into $ makes a bit of difference....I assure you he was not going hungry or doing without...
ericfriar 7 months, 3 weeks ago
@arestorer --- funny how the left didnt have a problem with John Kerry being rich. Much richer than Mitt Romney. Mitt earned his John Kerry married his....
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