Cookiegate: Mitt Romney’s Latest Foot-in-Mouth Episode
Posted: April 18, 2012 Filed under: 2012 presidential campaign, education, Republican presidential politics, U.S. Economy, U.S. Politics | Tags: Bethel Bakery, Bethel Park PA, Cookiegate, gaffes, Mitt Romney, taxes 12 Comments
Turtle Thumbprint cookies from the Bethel Bakery
On Tuesday, Mitt Romney met with several preselected middle-class couples. They sat around a picnic table in Bethel Park, PA and discussed taxes. “over a table of lemonade, pretzels, chips and cookies from Bethel Bakery.” The Bakery is beloved by the community and is considered a local “landmark.”
The meeting got off to a rocky start, however, when the governor sat down at a picnic table set with food and made an apparent attempt at humor.
“I’m not sure about these cookies,” Mr. Romney said. “They don’t look like you made them,” he said turning to one of the women at the table. “Did you make those cookies? You didn’t, did you? No. No. They came from the local 7-Eleven bakery or wherever.”
The cookies, in fact, were donated from the popular Bethel Bakery around the corner from the community center, and once Mr. Romney’s comment was broadcast on local airwaves offended residents took to Facebook and Twitter to complain.
Next, the locals attempted to explain to the oblivious and smirking Mr. Romney the need for community services like teachers and good schools.
One woman at the gathering said she was scared about the fate of her public schools, given deep cuts to the state budget (incidentally, the man who pushed those cuts, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, endorsed Romney today). “I don’t like to see cuts made in anything in education,” she said, citing her daughter’s experience. Another man chimed in, noting that “the fat” had already been trimmed and now important education programs were being hit.
A man then told Romney,
“None of us like to pay more taxes, but sometimes that’s necessary.” Another woman added, “It’s a necessary evil.” “Right, right,” a third person said as everyone in the group nodded.
Later, the Bethel Bakery offered a “Cookiegate special.”
Julie Lytle, the bakery’s sales and marketing assistant, said the popular local fixture since 1955 “turned a negative into a positive” by printing a sign offering customers a “CookieGate Special!” — a free half dozen cookies with the purchase of a dozen cookies today and Thursday.
“I was a little shocked,” Ms. Lytle said. “I didn’t think too much of it at the time, and I didn’t think it would blow up like it has. We decided to have fun with it and not to get offended.”
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
More of these, Mitt! People need to see again and again what an absolute dick you really are.
What a guy! Foot in mouth disease doesn’t even cover it. He’s like normal people-disabled.
What an ass!
Romney’s a frickin’ comedy act. Sometimes I laugh so hard at these “bits”, tears come to my eyes.
Am I the only one who has this reaction?
No. You should have heard me yesterday laughing about all the Seamus lies.
It’s like Thursday night on NBC, except that you can’t make this stuff up….
Hillary 2012
Guess this will be Romney’s last “sit down” with real people. If he does any more of these events, Obama will have to start paying him as a consultant for the Obama campaign. And, 7-11? One of Romney’s staffers must have written the joke for him after explaining just what 7-11 is. Let’s all sing a chorus of “What Do the Simple Folk Do?” from Camelot. Seems like an appropriate theme song for the Romney campaign.
roflmao
He’ll have to keep doing these though. Otherwise voters will decide he doesn’t even WANT to connect with real people (which he doesn’t, but he has to pretend to want to).
Are we absolutely certain he isn’t already being paid off?
Definitely being paid off. He gets to occupy the White House and pretend to be prez while Karl Rove runs the country.
Mit Romeny will Flip Flop and claim he never said the comment. This guy will accidently insert foot in mouth and have us in WAR! We do not need a President who does not know how to talk to people….keep Romeny home with Ann and the kids! Maybe once they become poor or middle class they will learn how to connect with real people! Ole Stiff Mitt!