Romney’s Terrible Tongue

     A less than spectacular home along the Hudson River
     south of Albany, NY. (August, 2012 photo by C. Leck)

Candidate Mitt Romney has some strange ideas and occasionally he says things that show a strain of bitterness. I think he’d make a terrible President. I really do?
by Charlie Leck

Romney was caught on video the other day, saying something really stupid and untrue about Americans and the average American worker. David Brooks, in a column in the New York Times, straightens out the facts and straightens up Mr. Romney, too.

Romney, who criticizes President Obama for dividing the nation, divided the nation into two groups: the makers and the moochers. Forty-seven percent of the country, he said, are people “who are dependent upon government, who believe they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to take care of them, who believe they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it.”

This comment suggests a few things. First, it suggests that he really doesn’t know much about the country he inhabits. Who are these freeloaders? Is it the Iraq war veteran who goes to the V.A.? Is it the student getting a loan to go to college? Is it the retiree on Social Security or Medicare?

It suggests that Romney doesn’t know much about the culture of America. Yes, the entitlement state has expanded, but America remains one of the hardest-working nations on earth. Americans work longer hours than just about anyone else. Americans believe in work more than almost any other people. Ninety-two percent say that hard work is the key to success, according to a 2009 Pew Research Survey.

To swipe a Billy Madison quote that I just really enjoy…
Someone in that gathering in California, upon hearing what Mitt said should have stood up and quoted Billy Madison (one of my favorite lines)…

Mr. Romney, “what you just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”

“Okay,” Billy Madison replied, “a simple ‘wrong’ would’ve done just fine.”

If you want to watch the surreptitiously made video (and I wouldn’t waste my time if I were you), I’ve posted it below.

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