You've got to hand it to Mitt Romney.
Acting under no duress or even the influence of a strong frappuccino, Governor Bushwood stood before the NAACP on Tuesday and chose to lambaste our first African American president.
Hey, Mitt, Charles Bronson called and wants his Death Wish back.
In my jaundiced view, this type of move from the presumptive Republican candidate emanates from one of two schools of thought:
1) The man has testes the size of recess balls, which explains the high-waisted airiness of his stone-washed mom jeans.
2) He's performed an act of stupidity not equaled since 2005, when Laura Bush was out for the weekend getting her hair refinished, and George decided to try a frozen pizza. Man, did it taste bad all frozen.
Romney wasn't even afforded an opportunity to choke out the rest of his sentence about nixing Obamacare before he was hosed down with a thick stream of boos and heckles. Nonetheless, he stood and looked blankly, freezing into that erect posture and odd half-grin to which we've grown accustomed.
Look, at least most of us can empathize with the situation the guy thrust himself into. Whether or not we agree that it was ill-advised for Mittens to court America's black vote on the merits of his platform, we've all entered the hornets' nest at one time or another.
While vacationing with my family in a cozy, coastal Oregon town a few years ago, I opted to wear my "Not My President" t-shirt, showing George W's monkey mug, front and center. One guy, who'd apparently just procured a delicious double scoop of rocky road on a waffle cone, looked at his young son and remarked, "Look, Mikey. That guy's a communist."
First of all, if I'd known that Cannon Beach, Oregon was a hotbed for conservative thought, I may have worn my "Go ahead and keep huggin' that tree while I get my chainsaw" tank top.
And secondly, who uses the words "communist" anymore? It's as dated as the terms "negro," "housewife" and "She's not here right now. Can I take a message?"
After the catcalls subsided, Romney persisted. He appealed to his audience to put race aside and consider which candidate offers the best prospects for putting Americans back to work. Let's break that statement down a bit.
Romney's ascendancy in church leadership positions coincided with his rising stock in the business realm. He was promoted to vice president at Bain Capital in 1978, a year after he'd been appointed counselor to the president of the Boston Stake of the Mormon church.
1978 was also the year LDS elders finally allowed African Americans admission into its lay priesthood, a privilege which had previously been denied. A younger faction of the church had been pushing for such reforms during the student activism of the 1960s and 70s, but Romney didn't partake in the protests.
Fast forward to Tuesday's NAACP speech. Governor Romney claimed, to paraphrase, "I'm your guy. I've always been your guy. You just didn't know it."
Has he? Back in the 1970s, back when he held lofty positions in his spiritual community, he stood silent in the face of discrimination. Do you think he acted differently at his day job as a private equity consultant?
Did Mitt Romney look out for the best interests of African Americans on an economic level while blocking their full membership in his church? If so, his convictions are as sociopathically compartmentalized as someone who sells rabbits for pets or food.
And now he expects black America to believe that he knows what's best for them.
What an insult.
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Comments
Lezlie
The mistake is to underestimate Romney. Compared to Bush he's a fucking genius. If the country re-elected Bush after he started a war under false pretenses, it is capable of electing Romney by a landslide and carrying both branches of the congress.
You think times have been bad for the working and middle class? You ain't seen shit yet. I don't think the fight is with the right, cause they're too far gone, it's with "liberals" still waiting for the messiah.
Ben, absolutely right about American voters. As weak as he was, I didn't think there was any way Kerry could lose.
as for speaking before the naacp, is it just possible this is a tactical move to get votes which is too sophisticated for you average amurricans to figure out?
This is as far as I got. So Romney is to go easy on one of the most incompetent, inexperienced, and philosophically unwholesome presidents in history because he's black. Talk about stupid.
Romney had the courage to address the loyal opposition, suffer its discourtesy, and press on with a message unadjusted for his audience--an art lost on Obama who slips into his gospel rhythms and class warfare rants whenever the occasion dictates or permits.
Our first black president hid under his desk, spoke via video without fear of questions or audience reaction, and sent his aptly named Number Two to do his work. What a guy.
Al, define "better." Does richer mean better to you?
Gordon, is that as far as your attention span lasted? Something tells me that providing ten more million Americans with healthcare isn't something you can do from under a desk, but you never know with stealth technology.
I'm not saying Romney needs to go easy on President Obama in front of the NAACP, but if he gets his way, these people will be first on his checklist for disenfranchisement.
Class warfare is a reality when we're experiencing the greatest income disparity since the 1930s and coming out of the greatest Depression since that same era.
Of course the inattentive voters don't hear the dog whistle and the MSM wouldn't dare point it out. Everyone else knows the GOP will only get 4-5% of the black vote against Obama and only 5-6% against any Dem candidate. Isn't it strange how a political party can't gain ground with groups they scapegoat?
The funny and unsurprising thing is the average Gordie Q. Conservative voter is so delusional and benighted they don't realize it's a Dog & Pony Dog Whistle and Phony Show.
As much as I try to give our right side brethren courtesy for their participation I could wish that they were as courteous in that participation, but as well, I no longer ride horses and have never been able to fly ;). But for pity's sake ya'll could you at least expand your vocabulary to find a different way to speak your point/s?
As for Romney, in my opinion mind you, I think he's simply following the tried and true pattern of his predecessors ; "Say anything, 'they' will believe it's truth just because we say it is.".
Why shouldn't he and his preceding fellows follow that? They're rarely ever called out, when they are their minions grow exponentially more vociferous, and sometimes shamefully the tactic even works. Not broke, why fix?
Rated for depressing.
The NAACP is not about the advancement of people of color anymore, they are a liberal group pure and simple.
I watched that speech and it was an adult talking to adults-if that is stupid then, keep cheering for the current Present--erhh President.
We are another six trillion in the whole and the only improvement is the President's handicap.
I did get a chuckle out of Cranky Cuss' notion that anyone could ever accuse Obama of seeking cheap photo ops. He has enough of those in inventory to last a lifetime.