The World from Berlin 'Romney Message Too Closely Tailored to White Men'

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http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-commentators-take-aim-at-the-republican-national-convention-a-852964.html




Republican Party faithful have turned out in Tampa this week to cheer on their presidential and vice presidential choices for the Nov. 6 national election. Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan made his plea on Wednesday night. When former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney takes the stage Thursday night he will make his own attempt to win over voters in a nationally televised speech.

The official convention theme is "We Believe in America," and the gathering has taken aim at President Barack Obama's handling of the nation's economy. The pair's fiscally conservative policies call for lowering corporate and personal tax rates, eliminating several tax loopholes and rules out tax increases. They have called for cutting government spending on social transfers and for slimming down government regulation, while maintaining defense spending.
Romney has also called for a repeal of Obama's national health care law. In addition the ticket takes a much tougher stance on illegal immigration than both the current president and his Republican predecessor George W. Bush.

Still, for all their focus on policy, the convention has been overshadowed by social issues, particularly the Republican stance on abortion. On the eve of the gathering, Missouri Rep. Todd Akin caused a stir when he intimated that women have ways of not getting pregnant in cases of "legitimate rape" while defending his opposition to abortion in all cases. That blanket rejection of all abortion is also a view held by Romney's running-mate Ryan.

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1. There should be a warning about that pic. BLECH!!! n/t