Romneys are 'Downton Abbey' fans

[brooklynite]

Politico:

His lordship would be proud. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife are watching the British drama “Downton Abbey.”

In an interview with Piers Morgan airing Thursday, Ann Romney says they’re fans of the PBS show, according to CNN’s Jonathan Wald.

“Downton Abbey” follows the story of the Granthams, an upper class British family, and their servants who work and live on their estate.

The jokes just keep writing themselves...

[Matt_in_STL]

1. Do they think it is a reality show?

I am guessing they think it is like Survivor or something like that.

[tularetom]

2. There's a shocker

They probably look at it as an amusing portrayal of middle class life in pre-WWI England.

The "middle class" being the Granthams.

[JaneQPublic]

3. Calling PhotoShoppers!!!

How about doctoring the below photo to make a "Downton Romney" pic (i.e., replacing Crawley family members with the Romneys).

[truebrit71]

4. My wife and I are big fans of the show as well...but we're more from the angle of..

"Why don't the staff just stab the rich bastards and be done with it?"...

It is a truly excellent show if you've never seen it...no punches pulled about what a bunch of self-absorbed bastards the Granthams are...it will be interesting to see how they deal with the societal changes that evolve as the show progresses in years..

(I always wonder, looking back, why the indentured servitude lasted so long, was it sort of a Stockholm syndrome?)

[Bluerthanblue]

6. me too- It's a great show. Upstairs Downstairs was too.

The fact that the Romney's claim to enjoy it doesn't change anything.

[truebrit71]

7. Nor for me either...

..although I am sure they view it quite differently than 98% of the rest of us...

[noel711]

10. The employees downstairs weren't indentured servants...

To 'be in service' was a reputable role for the working class prior to WWI-
but no one was forced to do it.
It was a choice to work 'in service' or be in the coal mines,
or be a free lance 'char lady..' or shear sheep.
Not too many options for working class, under educated folks.
To be 'above stairs' was to be 'to the manor born...'
you couldn't earn it.. no matter how much you made.
That was evident in "Downton' series 2 by Lady Mary's suitor,
a kind of media magnate who was filthy rich, but totally
unsuitable to the upper classes.

indentured servitute came into being especially during the colonization
of our nation; immigrants came escaping war and poverty in Europe
and volunarily sold themselves for a period of time until their debts
were paid off. "Indentured" was the term because the document
of term servitude had 'teeth' (in-dentured), not only philosophically,
but it was 'torn' and the own held one half, the servant the other.
When his/her time had expired, he/she kept both piece to prove
their freedom, and was given a fresh set of clothing, tools of their
trade, and a small amount of money. Any personal items given by their
'owner' or any education given while in servitude (that was often suggested:
'teach these peasants how to read').. was a bonus.

But voluntary 'in service' was not a bad thing; my grandma had to
quit school in 8th grade to work as housemaid because her family
from Norway was so poor. She always regretted not going back to
school. But she did what she had to do; lower classes had little choice.

[MissMarple]

11. One of my great aunts was the head housekeeper in one of the big houses

on the east coast. She had her own apartment. When she retired she moved back home to her Swedish community in the midwest. It was considered that she had done quite well. Basically she managed the staff of a large hotel.

[Enrique]

5. it reminds them of the hard times

when they were young and struggling.

[RedStateLiberal]

9. They probably enjoy looking down

on those less fortunate than them.

[CobaltBlue]

8. No regard

I love Downton Abbey; am thrilled by its Emmy nominations; and I have no regard for political candidates' tastes.

Sorry if I seem cold. I just don't care about the Romneys' entertainment pleasures.

[MissMarple]

12. What is wrong about "Downton Abbey".

It is an interesting look at how things were. Times changed fairly rapidly after the war, although it probably is fair to say that we are in another "gilded age". But it is far too hard to fully staff a home like those today. Well, unless you are from the middle east oil money. Besides, it is in such bad taste. Save for the queen, of course. There are standards.

And I have a friend who has had a horse trained for dressage. And no they don't have pots of money, or staff, or any of that stuff. And she takes care of her own horses.

Like the poor, the rich will always be with us. They just need to learn to pay their fair share.

[brooklynite]

13. I don't begrudge anyone watching "Downton Abbey"...

...but Mitt Romney isn't "anyone". He's an ultra-rich elitist who feels the need to pander to a working-class voting bloc which is far less likely to watch Masterpiece Theater if there's a Sunday night football game, and he feels the need to pander to a Tea Party movement which hates Public Broadcasting. There's no good way this is going to humanize him in the minds of his voters.