Tuesday Reads: Media Reactions to Romney Revelations and Other News
Posted: September 18, 2012 Filed under: 2012 presidential campaign, A My Pet Goat Moment, morning reads, The Bonus Class, U.S. Economy, U.S. Politics | Tags: Barack Obama, David Corn, leaked videos, Michael Dukakis, Mitt Romney, tank photos, the 47% 62 Comments
Good Morning!!
This is going to be mostly a link dump with little commentary, because I have a lot of news to share and I’m still tired from last night.
Yesterday was a day that will very likely go down in presidential campaign history along with the day Mike Dukakis posed for photos wearing a silly-looking helmet and riding in a tank. In a series of surreptitiously recorded videos/audios, we heard the real Mitt Romney–a man who truly believes that he and other wealthy people got where there are on merit alone and that those pathetic Americans who are not so “successful” are worthless, lazy drones who have the nerve to think we are entitled to food, shelter, health care.
Late last night, Romney finally responded to the firestorm over the leaked videos at a hastily called press availability. He looked desperate–his hair mussed and bags under his eyes, his expression sheepish yet defiant, but he stood by his statement at the May 2012 fundraiser that 47% of Americans are dependent on the government and pay no taxes.
For your reading pleasure, I’ve gathered some of the media reactions to yesterday’s stunning events, but before I get to those, there’s even more from David Corn this morning. After yesterday’s big scoop and his appearances on MSNBC last night, Corn released another episode from the Romney fundraiser bootleg videos: SECRET VIDEO: On Israel, Romney Trashes Two-State Solution
During the freewheeling conversation, a donor asked Romney how the “Palestinian problem” can be solved. Romney immediately launched into a detailed reply, asserting that the Palestinians have “no interest whatsoever in establishing peace, and that the pathway to peace is almost unthinkable to accomplish.”
Romney spoke of “the Palestinians” as a united bloc of one mindset, and he said: “I look at the Palestinians not wanting to see peace anyway, for political purposes, committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel, and these thorny issues, and I say there’s just no way.”
Romney was indicating he did not believe in the peace process and, as president, would aim to postpone significant action: “[S]o what you do is, you say, you move things along the best way you can. You hope for some degree of stability, but you recognize that this is going to remain an unsolved problem…and we kick the ball down the field and hope that ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it.”
Romney did note there was another perspective on this knotty matter. He informed his donors that a former secretary of state—he would not say who—had told him there was “a prospect for a settlement between the Palestinians and the Israelis.” Romney recalled that he had replied, “Really?” Then he added that he had not asked this ex-secretary of state for further explanation.
Video at the Mother Jones link.
Also at Mother Jones, a list of likely guests at the Romney fund-raiser.
Joe Coscarelli at New York Magazine: How Jimmy Carter’s Grandson Helped Leak the Secret Romney Fund-raiser Video
The damning video of Mitt Romney telling a room of wealthy donors how he really feels about the freeloading 47 percent of Americans “who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it,” among other candid things, has been floating around online in bits and pieces for three months, but didn’t hit the big time until it was published by David Corn at Mother Jones today. Credited as a “research assistant” on the story is James Carter IV, the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, who has been toiling online as an opposition researcher and is “currently looking for work,” according to his Twitter bio. “I’ve been searching for clips on Republicans for a long time, almost every day,” said Carter this evening. “I just do it for fun.” But by connecting Corn with the mysterious uploader of the clip, Carter has uncovered his biggest story yet, one that could potentially affect the outcome of the election. (And get him a job.)
Carter told Daily Intel that he first noticed a portion of the video in which Romney discusses using Chinese labor while working at Bain Capital. That clip, uploaded by a YouTube user named “RomneyExposed” in late May, and then again in late August by an account called “Rachel Maddow” that has since been deleted, eventually made it to Buzzfeed and Daily Kos.*Additional pieces of the tape were then added to a YouTube account called “Anne Onymous” starting three weeks ago. “There was a minor uproar about it on Twitter when I found [the first clip], so I kept doing research on it and that eventually led me to be able to narrow down who it originated from,” said Carter. Via Twitter, he contacted the person who claimed to have secretly taped and uploaded the video, and then sought to help publicize the remarks. “That seemed to be the purpose of [the filming] — to get it to a larger audience,” Carter said.
Now for those reactions…
Charles Pierce: The Worst Thing Romney Has Said About Americans Yet
Joan Walsh: Mitt Romney insults half the country. Walsh repeats her previous prediction that Romney “will never be president.”
Chris Cillizza: Mitt Romney’s Darkest Hour. Chris transmits what is probably the reaction of most Villagers–that the videos are just a distraction and won’t spell the end of Romney presidential campaign.
Jonathan Chait finally faces the reality that Romney is not a moderate Rockefeller Republican: The Real Romney Captured on Tape Turns Out to Be a Sneering Plutocrat
The New Republic staff: Three things we learned from the secret Romney video.
Right wing nut blogger Erick Erickson announced that he has given up on Romney winning the election.
Dave Wiegel: We Are the 47%: The Lousy Math Behind Romney’s Gaffe
Brad Plummer at the Wonkblog: Mitt Romney versus the 47%. Plummer explains why Romney is wrong about half of Americans being shiftless louts who contribute nothing to society.
David Graham at the Atlantic: Where Are the 47% of Americans Who Pay No Income Taxes?
Ezra Klein: Romney’s theory of the “taker class” and why it matters.
Ben Smith at Buzzfeed: The Long Strange Leak Of Mitt Romney’s 47% Video
The Guardian: Mitt Romney ‘victims’ gaffe: key players
In Other News…
The Nation: What’s Behind the U.S. Embassy Protests in Egypt
Reuters: Chicago teachers meet Tuesday to decide whether to end strike.
LA Times: ‘Innocence of Muslims’ doesn’t meet free-speech test
PBS News Hour: David Souter Gets Rock Star Welcome, Offers Constitution Day Warning
WaPo: US Aid to Egypt Stalled
WaPo: National Zoo welcomes baby panda
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
grayslady
mablue2
Minkoff Minx
peggysue22
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Fox’s Varney: Romney Is Correct In Comments On The 47 Percent, “Half The Population Is Living Off The Other Half”
Smug little Varney is detestable.
What a group of clueless idiots. Maybe eventually they’ll get too far out for their viewers.
Well sure, unless you read Forbes.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2012/09/17/memo-to-mitt-romney-the-47-pay-taxes-too/
good article!
Loop holes and write offs…………….huh Mitt.
millionaire investors wouldn’t have millions if nobody bought what they were selling.
TPM: Romney Camp Silent on Whether Bain Purchased Brutal Chinese Factory
American Bridge pac posts new video with previous Romney comments on worthless not-rich Americans!
Mitt, don’t forget to turn the lights off when you leave!!!!!
Krugman: The Real Romney
For the life of me, unless you are one of the 1%ers I can find no reason why anyone in this country would want to vote for Mitt Romney.
His contempt for the poor and working class, along with his ineptitude when it comes to discussing foreign affairs, is enough in itself to never want to see this man in charge of anything.
He presents an agenda that would reach out and decimate most of us in way form or another, has shown he has absolutely no compassion toward anyone outside of his privileged state of life, and the failure to reveal his tax returns speaks to who he really is.
Yet there seems to be enough braindead people out there eagerly awaitng the opportunity to vote this man into office knowing full well is he both unqualified, unethical, and dismissive of them.
HIs comments about the Palestinian situation reminds me of George W. Bush who did not understand the difference between Sunni and Shias when he made plans to bomb their country, or Sarah Palin to had no idea that Korea was divided in half.
And these are the types of people we encourage tor un this nation? Astounding.
There was nothing wrong with RMoney’s fundraiser remarks except he failed to serve them on damask with homemade scones, clotted cream, and jam. I’m sure he’s learned from his faux pas.
Now move along, folks. Nothing happening here.
BB, thanks for all the links. I don’t know how you manage to do this every day but I am grateful to you and the other front pagers.
You’re welcome, Beata. It’s not always easy to do it, but fun and rewarding in the long run.
Me too BB. You and the other front pagers do a great job of keeping us informed. TY!!!
Ditto, ditto, ditto!
What they said!
Glad I didn’t watch NBC news yesterday. Nothing to see here, move along. Brian Williams is no damn better.
SteveM: CHUCK TODD: GOP DADDY DIDN’T REALLY SAY WHAT HE ACTUALLY SAID
LOL! I saw Rick Davis on CBS This Morning saying that this latest crisis was an “opportunity” for Romney. Reminded me of working in corporate America where executives’ fuck-ups were “opportunities for success!” 😀
Yeah, no doubt that Romney calling half of America lazy freeloaders, could turn out to be a real Wind/Wind situation. 🙂
It’s a great opportunity all right. An opportunity to drown in your own bile. 😉
The Vulture Class knows how to circle and reap the rewards from roadkill.
Atrios: Being Poor Sucks
Bring me to this fantasy world where the welfare gravy train just gives all the poor people free car elevators.
😀
Reuters/Ipsos * Likely Voters (through 9/17)
Obama 48.0 %
Romney 43.0 %
The only poll where RMoney still leads is the (R)Assmussen where he leads by 2.
Since his remarks are up for interpretation, this may be what he meant:
He doesn’t give a rat’s ass about minorities, the disabled, the Vets, the seniors, the college students, the working poor, the unemployed, the health and welfare of those who depend upon government aid to survive.
HIs focus is and always has been on money and the monied class who he believes are the only ones who can “steer the ship of state” since the rest of us are incapable of “earning” ourselves much beyond the serf class from the moment of birth.
Pornography kings, munition sellers, Wall Street thieves, corporate owners, sleazy grafters, all capable of owning multi residences, fancy vehicles, paid servants, and hefty campaign donations are welcomed into the Romney life of privilege while those who actually work for a living are directed to the backdoor of the McMansion, cap in hand.
Romney speaks the language of the plutocracy with shades of Ayn Rand peeping through to remind the majority that their lot in life will be determined by them and them only as democracy itself has no place in this rarified land.
Their vision of “achievement” will be met the day a college education costs a million dollars a year and admittance is dependent upon “legacy”.
For those born without that “silver spoon” you are officially on your own.
A look backward to the days when Dickens wrote of the same social issues that plagued an empire that was brought to its knees following WW1.
The GOP: ridding the world of democracy one election at a time.
For the life of me, I cannot understand a group of people who think that you should take responsibility for every aspect of your life, pay for your own health care, and yet are not allowed to make the decision to have an abortion or use birth control without their approval. HUH?
I never expect common sense from these people. It’s not there.
I wish this satire didn’t ring so true
Slavery wasn’t so bad, says book published by OR Republican for Congress
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2012/9/18/115343/926
Yes, and in Louisiana this stupid shit curriculum is being funded with my tax dollars.
I love Randy Newman! Great songwriter.
I agree Janey. Their messaging is so conflicted I don’t know what keeps their eyes from crossing.
Today’s Mitt tape release is on Israel and is almost as bad as yesterday as middle east policy goes.
Jon Chait: Mitt: Palestinians Are the 47 Percent
I love the Pierce link above … this debacle is so up his alley.
Doesn’t mittens make you feel like your a Goonie and keep watching the folks from the country club steal your home?
Pierce is pretty much always right on with Mittens. It’s like he knows him inside/out.
David Frum has the right idea for why that 47% number is held in such esteem by the wingers.
Here’s Why Mitt’s 100% Wrong on the 47%
Hmmmmm! That’s interesting.
That is exactly what I thought when I heard the figure when the right started to push that figure last year.
Andrea Mitchell just interviewed John Sununu and I thought he was going to stroke. He blamed everyone except Romney for Romney’s words and went into a gravity defying pretzel twist to try to explain those words as misunderstood. He took out David Brooks and wasn’t very happy with Bill Kristol, but in the end he blamed Jimmy Carter’s grandson who was instrumental in finding the owner of the tapes and getting the tapes released. Isn’t that sort of like blaming the entry door for the home burglary? Mitt said what he said, he can’t reel it back in, he can’t pretzel twist his way out of the meaning of those words, he can’t do anything but own it and his handlers and butt-men need to accept that and move on. No amount of Sununu whining and finger pointing will change that. If Mitt is to be saved it will happen during the debates and no sooner. Mitt’s entire campaign has been episode after episode of the bird shitting in it’s own nest then complaining that it’s nest is nasty and blaming the other birds.Turn off the lights when you leave Mitt.
Bwahahahahaha That sums up the Mittens campaign in a sentence!
Sarah, Proud and Tall takes a tour of the wingnuttery so we don’t have to. It’s full of juicy bits and very funny while their takes on Mitt’s taped comments are quite insane.
balloon-juice: Sitting on the Corner, clutching a joint and a glass of booze
BB, once again you’ve done such a good job with all the links it’s taken a long time for me to check them out. Great round-up!
Soledad strike again.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/18/soledad-obrien-grills-romney-aide-your-campaign-is-just-a-hot-mess/
William Black says Romney did a “Full Murray”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-k-black/romney-47-percent_b_1892995.html
Charles Pierce has written another great speech for Rmoney. 🙂
The Comeback Speech Romney Should Be Giving
That guy is amazing.
Seems the guy who hosted Rmoney’s fundraiser doesn’t want any part of his debacle.
TPM: Golden Parachute
Nothing says “traditional Republican values” like hiring people to perform sex acts at your fab pool party. Just ask Rmoney fundraiser Marc Leder.
Exactly Beata, it is disgusting: Meet Marc Leder, The Romney Fundraiser Host And Private Equity Manager Who Threw Sex Parties | Mediaite
Poll: Obama Leads By 8 Points In Virginia
Here is Part 2 of the Romney Video. It’s clear in this video that the camera was on a serving table or under the shelf of a serving table in an adjoining room. Waiter-Staff is moving all around the table and around the room where Romney is speaking. I’m hoping that it is these WORKERS who laid the knock out blow to Mitt. If so the headline for this video should be
Karma teams up with Irony to knock out Romney
Jimmy Carter’s grandson was just on Hardball, and he said that the person who taped the event was not one of the guests. You were right mouse. It was probably a server.
Thanks BB.
I looked at the MJ link about the possible donors at Mitt’s little Florida soiree and picked out one because the company of the guy sounded like some type of medical thing.
Dr. Roger Medel, Mednax Inc. which has a website,
http://www.mednax.com/homepage.cfm
Can’t put two links in here but go give them a looksee. Under investors and news, it seems like what they do is to go out and buy individual medical practices in pediatrics and anesthesiology and combine them into one large national organization. I’m willing to bet they practice at any number of hospitals and are more than willing to take payment from, and will know how to extract the maximum from the insurance companies. So Dr. Medel makes his living off of the insurance of the folks in the 99% who have insurance which then allows him to be in the 1% which looks down upon the rest of us. For his pedes business I wonder if they take medicaid in the form of CHIP (medicaid for kids) payments?
Good catch, Fredster.
A large part of Mednax, Inc., the Pediatrix Medical Group, does take Medicaid according to their website. Pediatrix provides care to more than 300 neonatal ICU’s, among many other medical services.
Aha!! He’s one of those people who are sucking off the govt teat! The hypocrisy astounds. Just like Paul Ryan using soc. sec. bennies from his dead father. Have they no shame? Well, of course not.
Let’s find out how some of the winger’s play with others for this little interesting thing:
Longreads @longreads
“Jesus said to them, ‘My wife.'” @arielsabar, @SmithsonianMag on historian Karen King’s findings http://lgrd.co/U9Iec9 #longreads
You knew this was coming:
They’ll say she’s an affirmative action hire who doesn’t even know who Jesus is, Scott Brown is clearly more qualified for her position and the real red flag is she came to Harvard from Occidental. 😉
Cool! There is the point that the norm for Jewish males in that era was to be married. The article notes that the emphasis on celibacy started at least 100 yrs after the founding of Christianity.
I really did think when Mitt mention those who don’t pay taxes and live off of the government with feelings of entitlement he was talking about himself and the one percenters.
I’m glad to know there’s someone out there dumber than I am.He he he.