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Subscribe to RSSAll it took was a $22,000 ad buy in five swing states today to set off a war of words, conference calls and emails that seemed like a preview of a possible general election match-up between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
This morning, the Democratic National Committee unveiled a new website and ad campaign entitled "Mitt v. Mitt," featuring new television ads airing in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and North Carolina, as well as in the District of Columbia. The TV ad, which takes the form of a movie preview, splices video clips of Mitt Romney in 2011 with those of Romney from his previous presidential campaign, and from his time as Massachusetts governor. Online, a much longer version of the ad lays out a far more comprehensive list of alleged flip-flops, on issues ranging from gun control to abortion to TARP.
To get the word out, the DNC further announced a slate of so-called "amplifying events" -- mostly conference calls -- with Democratic officials around the country, further tweaking Romney for perceived flip-flops of note locally, particularly in swing states and early-nominating states like Florida, Iowa and New Hampshire.
On a morning conference call explaining the ad campaign to reporters, DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse said it was important to highlight Romney's evolving record on various issues, and that if Romney's GOP rivals weren't up to the task, the DNC was happy to help out. Woodhouse said he thought the ads would draw a response from the Romney campaign, including belittling the size of the ad-buy, because the new DNC campaign "stings."
But if the DNC was looking for a reaction from that sting, the Romney campaign seemed happy to oblige.
Before most Americans had finished breakfast, the campaign released an official on-the-record response to the ad, in which a Romney spokesperson ripped the president's economic record, and said that "instead of focusing on the economy and creating jobs, President Obama and Democrats are focused on tearing down Mitt Romney," and pushing back on the veracity of one of the ad's supposed flip-flops.
By midday, the Romney campaign had announced their own panoply of conference calls to push back against the DNC assault, led by the campaign's national co-chair, and former Romney opponent, Tim Pawlenty.
"Before the first vote in the Republican primary is even cast, the democrats are blasting Mitt Romney and trying to tear him down," Pawlenty told reporters. Why? "Because they don't want to focus on their own failures."
All told, Romney's campaign put on a dozen so-called "response" calls of their own, using surrogates like Nevada's Lt. Governor Krolicki and former Pennsylvania Congressman Phil English to attempt to hammer home the same message: the Obama campaign doesn't want to talk about the economy, they only want to tear down Mitt Romney.
As the conference call and email marathon wore on, it became apparent that the subject matter of the ad itself -- and the fact that President Obama frequently talks about the economy, as he did last week in New Hampshire -- was almost secondary to the Romney campaign's response strategy. Woodhouse, the DNC spokesman, noted in an email to reporters that the Romney campaign only aggressively pushed back against one of the eleven flip-flops they highlighted.
Instead, as a number of analysts pointed out today across cable television and on First Read this morning, the Romney campaign seemed to revel in becoming the primary target of Democrats, firing off press releases with titles like "OBAMA CAMPAIGN AND DEMOCRATS DO NOT WANT TO RUN AGAINST MITT ROMNEY" and "PRESIDENT OBAMA FOCUSED ON TEARING DOWN MITT ROMNEY, NOT CREATING JOBS."
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Nobody flip-flops more than Obama. He still hasn't closed GITMO. He promised us that unemployment wouldn't go over 8% and now he's telling us 9.1% is good enough to reelect him. He promised us he'd unite the country, but he's divided it further. He told us Bush's policies in Iraq and Afghanistan weren't working yet he's continued them. He told us he'd mend relationships with other countries and instead more hate us than before. How can you tell Obama is lying? His lips are moving.
Everything you just said is a lie! EVERYTHING!!!
so JC, gitmo is closed?
As CinC, obama could have vacated both afganistan and iraq in 2009. At least he kept with bushes iraq agreement in withdrawal by 2012. Did obama say in 2008 that if elected he would send more troops to afganistan? Not sure myself, how about you?
So just what did obamas economist staffer christine roamer say about the unemployment rate goal of president elect obama? It wasn't a lie because he didn't directly say it, but his economist did?
You don't consider congress being so strongly ideologically divided as being a result of the POTUS CEO obama? As CEO of America obama was expected to both lead America and congress towards a common goal. That is one of the functions of the executive branch. Regardless of how the populace looks at congress as a legislative body, hasn't obama also failed in leading us in economic recovery? I for one didn't expect obama to perform a short term miracle but at least he could have shown us all, optimism for recovery rather than blaming someone else. When over 65% of the country think we are going in the wrong direction that is on the head of the potus.
Dave may have stretched it a bit when mentioning moving lips.
Like obama saying that raising debt ceiling was a failure of leadership back in what 2007? but was perfectly acceptable in 2011.
Have you checked on Congress' approval rating lately? Worst by far in the history of our country and much lower than the Potus'. They are the ones drafting legislation in this country. Gee, I wonder what their plan is? Easy, kissing the top lobbyist in D.C. grover norquist's butt in order to put the final nails in the coffin of the American middle class and poor. Good luck with that.........
Obama did have to deal with the realities of the Party of No, and filibusters. They would be much more fun it the party doing the filibustering would actually have to start talking continuously, instead of simply announcing the Filibuster, and going home.
You have obviously been watching Faux news, the political division. Gitmo is not closed down because the GOP will not allow it. In 2007 the economic meltdown caused by incompetent GOP failed polices had not blossomed in full, making raising the debt ceiling necessary, You obviously don't comprehend but for the massive infusion of money into the economy, we would now be in a full blown depression, instead of 9% unemployment. Then of course we have the Party of NO, blocking any attempts to rebuild the economy, in a reckless, vain attempt to keep America miserable thereby winning in 2012.
David you got that right.....Obama is running scared with his failed policies chasing behind him!
This president does flip-flop more than any other in that position; make a statement, then change it depending on the response from the public.
Cain is under attack, Mitt has had the first salvo of the DNC fired at him, with a continuing series of attacks to follow. Newt will be the next target for the DNC smear campaign.
But what can the Obama campaign do other than begin the most negative attack campaign in election history. He certainly can't run on his record.
Does your nose ever poke anyone in the eye as you speak?
No Chris, I am not like the president, my nose doesn't grow with each lie told.
Cain is under attack. We are told of his phone messages with the lady (?) and she has text messages. OK. Where are the hotel receipts with their names? And what does the text messages say? I'm surprised Gloria Alred isn't standing there with her - she missed that one.
Cain may or may not be involved sexually with that woman. I'll wait to judge, but with his statement on reassessing his campaign, it's over for him. And whether innocent or not, it will always be over his head.
Score one for the DNC. Let's investigate Obama more to see what his background finds.
Oh how original, do you know when Mittsy is flip flopping his lips are moving, sorry dude couldn't help myself. but seriously there needs to be real debates between candidates and sorry to say mitt is one of the more rational ones if he would just settle down.I think Obama would kill him during a debate to bad his own party doesn't really like him.
You must have been doused with agent orange ........Obama beat Mitt in a debate ha ha ha ha ha ha........wait and watch.
Without Obamys teleprompter feeding his answers he won't have any. The jerk is a mumbling bumbling fool at best. Don't worry the lame stream media will surely give him all the questions ahead of time and let him cherry pick the ones he might be able to have talking points on. I have heard the POS speak without his teleprompter and it sad at best. Hes is out of touch with reality and can hold up under real scrutiny.
Let's be completely honest shall we? From the moment Obama became this nation's president, the word went forth from the GOP that they would do whatever they had to in order to make Obama a one term president; so, from the start and until now, they have tried to block everything he has proposed. The other thing is that America is still very racist and Obama has been very naive with regard to this point. Like a simple-minded child, Pres. Obama, trusted the re_PUBS and believed that they would work with him to heal the economy but the re-PUBS have done the complete opposite; they have shot down his every effort!
How many people have referred to Obama as a white president? NONE! Yet, he is as much white as he is black! How many presidents have been asked to provide proof of their place of birth? Name one!? How many sitting presidents have been asked to produce their college grades? How many? Let's be for real; the President's biggest problem is in all the lies that racist whites tell on him. How many black-Americans have complained, maybe a handful, if that?
President Obama is not among those who signed an agreement with Grover Norquist to NEVER raise taxes no matter what. Congress should be impeached for being in violation of another oath they took first which was to serve the people of these United States first and foremost! They had no right to sign such a document because since they did; now, even if they agree with Obama they must still vote against anything he proposes with reference to raising taxes on the mega-wealthy. Perhaps Grover Norquist should pay Congress's salaries since they abide by what he says. The truth is, we pay them to serve our needs so they have in affect committed treason by pledging allegiance to another constituency other than the best interest of the American people.
The Republican controlled Congress with influence in the Senate, is working against the people in order to DEFEAT Obama in the next election cycle. They are more concerned about the fact that Obama is NOT one of the good ol boys and therefore should not hold the seat of the highest office in this nation. He should be a butler or a cook or maybe their shoe-shine boy but certainly not president!
President Obama has restored the American brand abroad! Gone is Al Awlaki, Osama bin-Laden and Mommar Gadhafi and happy are the people of those land! He has led this nation with dignity and distinction and no one can say shoes have been thrown at Obama. He is welcome anywhere he goes. He invited 45 nations to a sit down and 47 nations actually showed up to meet him, to get to know him. How about Bush? Bush chased and killed the wrong man. Saddam did nothing to American and had NO WMD as he said he did not but rather than admit to one mistake; George Bush allowed thousands of our children to die on foreign soil for the sake of oil we would never get our hands on! What a pity...an awful pity!
The most recent CBO accounting shows 3-mil jobs created by Obama's stimulus money appropriation; not to mention nearly every governor from every state has availed themselves of this nasty money but then typical of the re-PUB brand, they turn right around and try to make the stimulus sound like something filthy.
Whites in America can't play fair; if they do they will lose, at everything! This I remember from high-school basketball. Playing on a much better team; we never won the state title because if we started winning the refs blew the whistle every five minutes until our whole team had fouled out! White Americans are cheating again! Accusing Obama of failing before his term of office is even completed! Trying to make it SEEM as though he has failed because he is black and they don't want him to have a great legacy. Whether everyone agrees or not, the health care bill needed to be passed because the elderly and those who are physically challenged could not pay such absorbent prices for their medication or hospitalization. You all hate him for being compassionate; a human trait that every one of you lacks!
I doubt that a guy who believes Joseph Smith is the prophet and that the Garden of Eden is in Missouri will have much luck with Evangelical Christians.
Newt is the only viable candidate they have.
JimmySD - Newt is not viable for much longer, It will come down to the last man standing and that man will be the only honest one since the beginning, Ron Paul.
How sad for our once proud Nation. Willard Romney whos says corporations are people, and Newt who's first wife was quoting Next as saying " people don't care what I do they only care about what I say." So this is the choice?
You are truly a blue collar.......stupid much? The corporations are people statement meant people make up corporations did you think buildings made up corporations?
Yeah, T-Paw, let's focus on Obama's failures. Health care for people with pre-existing conditions - FAIL! Death of Osama bin Ladin - FAIL! Death of al-Awlaki - FAIL! Getting out of Iraq - FAIL! Geez, if you metaphorical turkeys think this is a winner, you'll wind up like Thanksgiving dinner!
You have bought into the sinking ship lemming!
Pawlenty the wimp who quit after losing in a straw poll? Is that who Liar Mitt has to fall back on for support? I can see that campaign a flip flopper and a dead fish.
Dems need to be careful. Romney is the end result of what started with the James Carville "War Room" and escalated to the Karl Rove instantaneous social media response. Combine this with the free Fox 24/7 outlets and what you will have is a response/attack before you even know there was an Obama/DNC ad. If you thought the baseball season was too long and meaningless - it will be a blessing compared to the hell of the next 13 months. The best thing that could happen would be for China to actually hack our electric grid and shut down power for months. We might be poorer and in the dark, but we will be a hell of a lot saner in the end.
I think Romney as well as most of the politicos running would say anything to get elected. I don't see anyone's candidacy based in bedrock beliefs. Sterling Greenwood/AspenFreePress
What is really sad is none of the so called republicans are debating any thing, it's just Obama bashing with lies and damn lies all to put more money into anti Obama ads without end 13 month of bull coming to you.
as an independent voter....well maybe just a tad to the left...i guess mittens/willard would be ok......1st year he'd be a repug....2nd year a dem.....3rd year repug....last year dem................ go flip flop 2012
You are so silly I bet you thought that was funny right? NOT
Why do you guys hate our president so much. What has he done to you to warrant such hatred? Please tell me. This man is smart, honest and ethical. Not cheating on his wife and not lying to the population about anything. This president is the best we've had in my lifetime.
It is not only what he has done it is what he has not done....where have you been? So not cheating on his wife is enough to get him re elected.....you make me afraid you are one of the idiots who voted for a nobody who has systemically destroyed our economy!!!
Some of the people may hate the President; sad, but their choice. Personally, I don't care for any president speaking to the people in a manner that President Obama does. For example;
The push for the Payroll Tax Reduction extension. First, it's geat to offer the middle class a tax cut. However, the Payroll Tax is how the Social Security Trust is funded. (So here's your money now, from your Social Security) The bill is "to be paid for" by raising taxes on $1MM earners.
Will the revenue from the new tax actually offset the lost of Payroll Tax revenue? Will the new revenue actually go to the Social Security Trust? Or is this just more revenue to spend elsewhere at the cost of S.S.?
This from a President who has promised not to change S.S.?
Don't know about you, but I don't like being "lead" like that....
They hate him so much because he's African American. They'll try and claim otherwise but their white hoods give them away everytime.
Spend us into a 50 year debt that can't be repaid. The mans an A-hole right to the core. He is breeding a dependant style country by promising too give more to the ones that don't deserve any more by taking from the wealthy. Ombamination is playing the race card and class warfare and has no worthy ideas of his own. The community organizer in chief is downright scared to death to face off against Romney for the November election. he has proved this by already starting his negative attack ads when the election is a year away. His absolute abysmal record with the economy and embarrassing real hard working Americans will see him as a total failure and a one time president.
is it just me or do the republicans spend the majority of their time during these so-called debates lying about Mr Obama? Can anyone honestly called these events debates? A debate is defined as a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers. Please people wake up before you vote for someone who will damage this country. Not anyone on the republican side is interested in truly working with the democrats to solve this country's problems. They have clearly stated that their most pressing objective is the prevention of the reelection of this gifted president.
there is more than one type of debate.
Rather humorous that you say the right doesn't want to work with the left.
Obamas FY2012 budget v. 1.0 had $73 billion/year in proposed spending cuts in addition to increasing revenues. Yet the left fought tooth and nail aginst the $61 billion in annual cuts proposed by the right in the FY2011 budget plan. The right then settled on $38 billion only to see it only realize only about $12 billion in annual cuts.
Then who can forget obamas v. 2.0 FY2012 budget plan when he invited ryan and other republicans a front row seat and then ridiculed them publicly. That is really showing us all on how the left wants to work with the right. Interesting on how obama talked about working with a revenue neutral plan in his 2011 state of the union address and then rakes the republicans over for presenting such a plan.
It is nearly December 1 and still the government has no FY2012 budget. While the house passed one and sent it to the senate. The senate has yet to debate it or even offer a FY2012 budget of their own. I guess senate leader reid (D) or obama thinks one is necessary.
If the lefts actions above are good for the country, liberals indeed need to wake up.
Oh the ignorance they are debating each other you fool so a front runner can be named.......aye caramba
obama, 2012, bank on it.
Yes with some of the bailout money no doubt......sound like you are trying to convince yourself!
Not a chance
In reality the DNC doesn't need to spend a dime on advertising. All they need to do is let this collections of clowns the Republicans have running for president be themselves -- the largest collection of con-men, flip-floppers, religious fanatics, morons and all around crazies ever to run for any office in the history of this nation.
@ Charlie
The reality is that the DNC is choosing to spend money on a negative ad campaign. It is my opinion that Mr. President should run an ad on himself. I know, what a novel idea...
Charlie are you serious Obama has already lost hence the desperate ads against Mitt Romney!
The scariest part is that this is the best that the bagger party has to offer.
ROMNEY 2012 !!! He is the person to beat Obama, and that is why they only go after him because the DNC knows he is the biggest threat to them. Mitt (which is his second name) has changed his point of view on some issues but it is not enough to call him a flip-flopper. He has explained why his point of view has changed, and he is an honest man. People say he has no core. He does have core value and belief system so great it is unbelievable. His values are of a good person. People are skeptical of his character because in a way, he looks fake. I do know people who are this way. Kind of like Monk on USA Network. He is very tidy and likes thinks to be as perfect as they can. Great Person Romney is !
Romney has compromised his values in order to pander to the religious and political conservatives in the Republican Party. His integrity is at stake.
The Republicans are so compromised and convoluted that they no longer have a vision for America beyond wanting to have right-wing zealots in power. A sickness has swept through the Republican Party. The symtoms are greed and religious exclusiveness. They have melded into a disease that encourages irresponsibility for the sake of ideology.
@ WGN
As a point of reference; would those compromises be akin to 2008 promises made to the Hispanics?
Be fair, politicians morph to improve their appeal to the voting masses. Since the advent of television, the political process has been reduced to image management/enhancement and negative campaigning.
Romney has more important things to worry about such as what the RNC is going to do when the right wing christian lunatic fringe refuses to support Ronmey because of his religious affiliation. Southern religious organizations have made it clear publicly and privately they will sit out the 2012 presidential election altogether rather than vote for a godless Mormon. Since the GOP has assiduously cultivated these christian extremist groups it is now reaping the bitter harvest it has sown.