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maddezmom

(135,060 posts)
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:17 AM Jul 2012

How The Romney Campaign Decided To Take The Gloves Off

¬snip¬

Indeed, facing what the candidate and his aides believe to be a series of surprisingly ruthless, unfounded, and unfair attacks from the Obama campaign on Romney's finances and business record, the Republican's campaign is now prepared to go eye for an eye in an intense, no-holds-barred act of political reprisal, said two Romney advisers who spoke on condition of anonymity. In the next chapter of Boston's pushback — which began last week when they began labeling Obama a "liar" — very little will be off-limits, from the president's youthful drug habit, to his ties to disgraced Chicago politicians.

"I mean, this is a guy who admitted to cocaine use, had a sweetheart deal with his house in Chicago, and was associated and worked with Rod Blagojevich to get Valerie Jarrett appointed to the Senate," the adviser said. "The bottom line is there'll be counterattacks."

The reference to Obama's past drug use seems to suggest that former New Hampshire Governor John Sununu wasn't going off-script after all when he dinged the president for spending "his early years in Hawaii smoking something" during a Tuesday morning Fox News appearance.

Returning fire with personal attacks on Obama offers both emotional satisfaction to Romney and many Republicans, and an answer of sorts to relentless Democratic attacks on Romney's time as an executive. It has so far failed, however, to quiet the growing, bipartisan chorus of voices demanding Romney release more of his personal tax returns. Obama campaign officials privately admit that the Republican has, at times, been effective in beating down attacks on his business record — but they've yet to see a way out on the tax issue.

more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mckaycoppins/how-the-romney-campaign-decided-to-take-the-gloves

40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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How The Romney Campaign Decided To Take The Gloves Off (Original Post) maddezmom Jul 2012 OP
Am I supposed to believe that rmoney was going to take the high road? ryan_cats Jul 2012 #1
Boo Hoo TomClash Jul 2012 #2
Is that what you are going to say when they turn Obama into a druggie? dkf Jul 2012 #5
are you still on the fence about who you'll be voting for? maddezmom Jul 2012 #6
I'm like all the other DUers who are not completely satisfied with Obama but who has no other option dkf Jul 2012 #20
She is Obama's Secretary of State TomClash Jul 2012 #33
I love that story Kingofalldems Jul 2012 #38
+1 ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2012 #35
I'm not sure engaging you is a wise strategy\tactic at this point, but here goes: coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #24
+1 ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2012 #36
So you think "the system" ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2012 #30
"Turn Obama into a druggie"? Arkana Jul 2012 #34
+1 ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2012 #37
No, I would fight back by making Romney's life a living hell TomClash Jul 2012 #40
ok, take the gloves off Romney... handmade34 Jul 2012 #3
This is not good. dkf Jul 2012 #4
Wasn't all this brought up before? cyberswede Jul 2012 #14
agree, he's pulling out Sara's playbook maddezmom Jul 2012 #15
Yeah, it's terrifying, I know. Marr Jul 2012 #18
That's not the proper word...disheartening would be better. dkf Jul 2012 #21
I suppose I'd be disheartened in your position, too. Marr Jul 2012 #23
what is not good? The Romney is going to repeat Palin's failed strategy? magical thyme Jul 2012 #25
Rmoney was never going to take the high road. backscatter712 Jul 2012 #32
LOL. bemildred Jul 2012 #7
yawn warrior1 Jul 2012 #8
Time to bring up magic underwear and the cult in utah GusFring Jul 2012 #9
In other words, Mitt has nothing C_U_L8R Jul 2012 #10
bring it on, Rmoney! all of this has been brought up in the past--if you don't have anything WI_DEM Jul 2012 #11
Exactly, the more he does it the more desparate he looks nt flamingdem Jul 2012 #17
That's the point. They've got nothing. Renew Deal Jul 2012 #31
didn't work for McCain KurtNYC Jul 2012 #12
Romney has not been effective beating back attacks on his business record Tom Rinaldo Jul 2012 #13
pretty weak if that is the best Romney can do justabob Jul 2012 #16
Yep. kentuck Jul 2012 #19
Right justabob Jul 2012 #27
"an intense, no-holds-barred act of political reprisals" Ganja Ninja Jul 2012 #22
Don't forget subtle and not-so-subtle racism - n/t coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #26
Or perhaps a desperate attempt to look less impotent. nt bemildred Jul 2012 #29
Wasn't Bush a recovering coke user and alchoholic? Renew Deal Jul 2012 #28
their counterattack is to twist the presidents message into hating succesful ppl Johonny Jul 2012 #39

ryan_cats

(2,061 posts)
1. Am I supposed to believe that rmoney was going to take the high road?
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:21 AM
Jul 2012

Am I supposed to believe that rmoney was going to take the high road?

Sure, now Obama forced him to go negative. Who is going to believe this?

Yeah right, he was Mr Nice guy during the primaries, who is he kidding? I guess he expects to give his supporters red meat but still won't release his tax returns. To bad the tax issue isn't going to go away.


 

dkf

(37,305 posts)
5. Is that what you are going to say when they turn Obama into a druggie?
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:32 AM
Jul 2012

This is supposed to be a time to examine and debate policy so that we can understand the implications and what it means to our lives.

Instead we focus on the past and on smearing each candidate.

This system is incapable of properly educating the populace on the real choices and consequences of the decisions we are making. Sad.

 

dkf

(37,305 posts)
20. I'm like all the other DUers who are not completely satisfied with Obama but who has no other option
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:56 AM
Jul 2012

Next time give me Hillary Clinton and I'll be a happy camper...except if she goes all hawkish. That is the one concern I have about her.

TomClash

(11,344 posts)
33. She is Obama's Secretary of State
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:18 AM
Jul 2012

If you don't like his foreign policy then you don't like hers.

I have reservations about Obama on some specific issues, but I would much, much rather have him than Romney.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
35. +1 ...
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:22 AM
Jul 2012

Maybe if President Obama would focus solely on his accomplishments ... that folks, even here at DU respond with "Yeah, he did do that, BUT ... (I still don't have my unicorn)", romney will continue laying out his detailed and specific plans for all that's wrong with America and the system can properly educate the populace on the real choices and consequences of the decisions we are making ...

Oh wait ...

 

coalition_unwilling

(14,180 posts)
24. I'm not sure engaging you is a wise strategy\tactic at this point, but here goes:
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:01 AM
Jul 2012

Romney touted his tenure as a businessman while at Bain as one of the credentials that qualifies him for President. As such, Romney chose to open his tenure at Bain to scrutiny. Romney could as easily have touted his experience as Governor of Massachusetts as his primary credential but chose not to do so, because of his tactical decision to run away from his record on RomneyCare (antecedent to ACA) and other relatively moderate stances that would not play well with the Republican electorate.

In other words, scrutinizing Romney's tenure at Bain is hardly a 'smear,' since Romney himself invited said scrutiny.


 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
36. +1 ...
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:29 AM
Jul 2012

On all three of your points ... the second of which accurately and correctly explains why the third is correct.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
30. So you think "the system" ...
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:12 AM
Jul 2012

was intended to "properly educate the populace on the real choices and consequences of the decisions we are making?

Yep ... Real sad.

Arkana

(24,347 posts)
34. "Turn Obama into a druggie"?
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:21 AM
Jul 2012

The clean-cut first black President who has the picture-perfect family and personal favorability ratings in the stratosphere?

Yeah, unless Obama gets caught doing lines off the Resolute desk I don't think Romney's going to have much luck with this line of attack. Obama has already admitted to trying cocaine when he was younger, in addition to smoking pot. He wrote about it in his books. It's not a fucking secret.

Romney's getting desperate.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
37. +1 ...
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:38 AM
Jul 2012

The only people that would have President Obama as a druggie already have him as an "uppity dictatorial crypto-christo-islamist kenyan with a nazi-marxist, socialistic agenda to destroy the economy so that he can take our guns, by detaining true patriots in fema camps, so he can ban christianity and bring Sharia Law to America."

So I'm guessing, it won't hurt too much.

TomClash

(11,344 posts)
40. No, I would fight back by making Romney's life a living hell
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 12:02 PM
Jul 2012

By the way, they will turn Obama into a "druggie" or "commie" or "hippie" or whatever, no matter what we do. They already have tried this and will do worse.

Did taking the high road work for John Kerry in 2004? Al Gore in 2000? When was the last time that worked? Never.

Bill Clinton survived impeachment by fighting back. He was right.

Whether you like it or not, politics is a rough, dirty game. It is not about educating the masses on policy. It's about obtaining or maintaining power to implement as much of your agenda as you can. This is a tall order for the left and it makes it even more difficult when you play by a set of rules your opponent ignores.

handmade34

(22,755 posts)
3. ok, take the gloves off Romney...
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:25 AM
Jul 2012

Obama has opened up his past, wrote about it and we know what he did... what is Romney hiding? What has Romney done? they can attack but until they resolve unanswered questions...

cyberswede

(26,117 posts)
14. Wasn't all this brought up before?
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:51 AM
Jul 2012

I mean, Obama has run for president before. Didn't the opposition bring up all this stuff (to no avail) last time?

I think it makes Romney look desperate.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
25. what is not good? The Romney is going to repeat Palin's failed strategy?
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:02 AM
Jul 2012

I doubt there is anything they can raise that Obama is not aware of and ready for, or unable to respond to on a dime.

backscatter712

(26,355 posts)
32. Rmoney was never going to take the high road.
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:14 AM
Jul 2012

Did you really think that it was going to pull its punches?

C_U_L8R

(44,897 posts)
10. In other words, Mitt has nothing
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:40 AM
Jul 2012

and proves himself to be such a shallow hateful person
that the majority of this country throws up a little
at the mere sound of his twitchy gameshowhost voice

WI_DEM

(33,497 posts)
11. bring it on, Rmoney! all of this has been brought up in the past--if you don't have anything
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:40 AM
Jul 2012

new then you are running a sorrowful campaign. I imagine you'll bring up Rev Wright, too?

BTW, what the campaign is bringing up about Romney's business deals, taxes, etc isn't below the belt but a legitimate campaign issue.

Renew Deal

(81,802 posts)
31. That's the point. They've got nothing.
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:13 AM
Jul 2012

And negative personal attacks will tarnish Romney more than Obama. Americans already say they don't like Romney's campaign.

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
12. didn't work for McCain
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:42 AM
Jul 2012

won't work for Romney. If yesterday's faux 'insult to small business' is them taking the gloves off then taking the gloves off means 'more of the same' eg. lies.

Romney's biggest problem is that he comes off like an asshole AND a liar. "Taking the glove off" ought to make that even more clear.

Tom Rinaldo

(22,911 posts)
13. Romney has not been effective beating back attacks on his business record
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:44 AM
Jul 2012

The difference is that he hasn't been totally routed on that front as compared to on his taxes. The attacks on Romney's business record are to a large extent why the focus on his refusal to release his taxes has had such potency. Romney started this campaign season believing that his record as a successful businessman was the perfect foil to Obama who they like to say has no understanding of what makes business work. Obama has shattered Romney's message. If anything the debate is now on how Romney made HIS business work and whether that model is good for America, with Romney getting the short end of that stick to boot.

justabob

(3,069 posts)
16. pretty weak if that is the best Romney can do
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:54 AM
Jul 2012

Smoking pot years ago isn't exactly the same level as the ugly knot of skeletons that Romney has in his closet (and his are the result of choices made as an adult, in the very recent past!). Beyond that, I think the number of people who have smoked pot at some point in their lives is more than enough to blunt this kind of attack. Smoking pot is a lot more acceptable to a lot more people these days. I am sure some of the righteous drug warriors will fuss for a minute, but they won't get much mileage out of it.

Ganja Ninja

(15,953 posts)
22. "an intense, no-holds-barred act of political reprisals"
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:57 AM
Jul 2012

Translation: Lies, Distortions & Name Calling.

Renew Deal

(81,802 posts)
28. Wasn't Bush a recovering coke user and alchoholic?
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 11:09 AM
Jul 2012

They didn't seem to have issues with that. And if I remember correctly Obama had nothing to do with Blago's decisions. In fact, I think Obama's team reported Blago. The Chicago house stuff is old nonsense and always has been.

They can go at Obama with personal attacks if they choose. It doesn't change the fact that people just don't like Romney and like him even less when they get to know him. That's why the primaries took forever.

And I don't think the Bain attacks are unfounded or unfair. They are based on documents Romney signed.

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