Dan Griffin – Special to The Southern News –
Mitt Romney’s secret tape statements about the 47% appear not to be his opinion anymore.
“In this case I said something that’s just completely wrong. And I absolutely believe however that my life has shown that I care about the 100% and that has been demonstrated throughout my life,” Romney said in an interview to Fox News Thursday night. “This whole campaign is about the 100%. When I become president it’ll be about helping the 100%.”
This is the same person who said on tape that 47% of Americans, “…are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing.”
Immediately after these comments were released a few weeks ago, Romney retaliated by stating how the comments were directly related to his campaign. “It’s a message which I’m going to carry and continue to carry,” he said in response when asked if he stood by his statements.
Now, days after the first debate, which many people are claiming he “won,” he comes out with opinions that directly contradict his campaign to appeal to more voters.
It seems as if Governor Romney believes his sudden celebrity status from Big Bird tweets and internet memes gives him the chance to refresh his campaign.
His ideas have very well thought-out, economic backing. But when it comes to campaign, ,I think he has started to detour to mass appeal more than defending his opinions.
The website Thinkprogress.org found that Romney told “27 myths in 38 minutes,” during the debate on Wednesday. If now, he is repenting on comments that he was recorded saying and immediately defended, how can we even believe anything he is telling the American public?
When I envision a President, I see a person who stands by his word, is confident, and cares about the people. From what I see of Romney, he is just a man who is trying to sell votes. It seems as if he is so focused on actually becoming president that he has not thought about public appeal.
Washington Post reporter Susan Brooks said, “We have entered the age of ‘post-truth’ and our entire political process has degenerated as a result. Our politics looks more and more like episodes of ‘Survivor.’” I agree with her.
The debate and both national conventions were huge TV events that got shown across all networks. It is wonderful to see American politics on the air but so much money is being used to put on the event that it seems too over the top.
Romney spoke on national airtime aboard an aircraft carrier to announce Paul Ryan as his running mate. To me, it seems like more production than politics.
If Romney wants American votes, I believe he should make a stance and stick with it. He can’t change his opinions and expect people to follow him. At this point in the campaign Romney may have made another crucial mistake.
