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Tx4obama

(36,974 posts)
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 05:22 AM Jul 2012

Why Obama and Romney Are Going Mano-a-Mano



Why Obama and Romney Are Going Mano-a-Mano

WASHINGTON -- This presidential campaign is shaping up as one of the most personally nasty in modern times -- and more quickly than experts thought it would. "It's only July and the two candidates are going after each other in a personal way," said presidential historian Michael Beschloss. "If you are looking for something new, that's it: how early it is."

For the most part, and most of the time, vicious public campaign attacks are carried out in advertising (Think: the "Daisy" ad in '64, Willie Horton in '88 and Swift Boating in '04) and are paid for, increasingly, by PACS with no official ties to the candidate or his campaign. The mano-a-mano stuff tends to happen late, and often almost by accident in debates or the give-and-take of the daily wars.

But, as even casual observers know, Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama already are in choreographed hand-to-hand combat mode. The GOP's presumptive nominee has angrily demanded an apology from Obama himself for a campaign staffer's suggestions that Romney may have committed a felony by misstating his role at Bain Capital in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Romney called the remarks "outrageous" and "beneath the dignity" of Obama and the presidency.

Not only did the president not apologize, he all but scoffed at his foe. Obama did not pawn off the controversy onto his campaign staff or position himself above the fray as a sitting president with much more lofty work to do.

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-fineman/obama-romney_b_1678914.html




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Why Obama and Romney Are Going Mano-a-Mano (Original Post) Tx4obama Jul 2012 OP
Bah. Likes it's usually some reasoned debate about policy. bemildred Jul 2012 #1
I do not agree with Howard's definition of 'personal'. Calling attention to a person's actions Bluenorthwest Jul 2012 #2

bemildred

(90,061 posts)
1. Bah. Likes it's usually some reasoned debate about policy.
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:11 AM
Jul 2012

It is always like this, the only thing unusual is the economic policy differences, that assholes like Rmoney are actually being subjected to criticism for their greed and egotism.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
2. I do not agree with Howard's definition of 'personal'. Calling attention to a person's actions
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 01:05 PM
Jul 2012

in their work and career life is not 'getting personal'. Saying Mitt is an old and ostentatious coot who thinks his underoos protect him might be a tad personal. Mentioning his facial work, the make up, the hair coloring, his rotten taste in ties, that is personal. But when a candidate says his business record is THE reason he should be respected, that record must be inspected.
That's not personal, that's simply common sense.

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