There's just no way around it. The Etch-a-Sketch story is not a good one for Mitt Romney, and it seems to play into the fears of every detractor on the right.
Romney did a pretty good job offering up an explanation for the ill-conceived remarks of his Communications Director, but the plain truth of the matter is that it was a very simple and straightforward question, one in which it is difficult to find nuance. Eric Fehrnstrom's answer is a disaster, the kind of thing you don't expect from the "well-oiled machine" that is the Romney Campaign. Just when it looked like Romney was ready to administer the
estocada, this happens. Hopefully they can regain their footing--quickly.
The 'I don't care about poor people' and 'I like firing people' were supposed to be killers too. This too shall pass. He'd be in more trouble if he himself had uttered the line.
ReplyDeleteI just think it's too bad it overshadowed the Jeb Bush endorsement.
May be Sally but he spends the day trying to dig out of a hole created by his own people rather than talking about what he wants to talk about. He doesn't have a compliant media like the opposition. If he keeps making these stupid unforced errors his greatest asset -his competence- will erode away.
ReplyDeleteI liked what Mary Katherine Ham had to say on the Fox Allstars, if the question had not been about Romney's ideology, the answer would not have mattered. However, the question was about Romney's ideology, it was about whether he had moved to the right during the primaries, and his communications director's answer essentially confirmed what every conservative has been thinking, that Romney has attempted to talk a conservative line, but will tack to the center, renouncing conservatism to win an election and then "govern from the center" on important issue. I do not see how any conservative can vote for Romney with any confidence. He will always flip-flop for political expediency.
ReplyDeleteWow, I sure wish I had written what Mary Katherine Ham said and what you have recounted. Had I only taken the time to find an etch-a-sketch photo and an appropriate link, then jotted down a few words to describe how this incident played into the fears of detractors on the right. Wait....I did do all of that.
ReplyDeleteThe "well oiled machine" needs some oiling if it's to survive until November.
ReplyDelete