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Republican presidential candidate and former Senator Rick Santorum holds up an Etch-a-sketch while addressing supporters at a "Get Out The Vote" rally in Mandeville, La., March 21, 2012.
ARBUTUS, MD -- Mitt Romney said he plans to run on the same issues in the general election as he has in the primary in response to a top aide's comment likening Romney's pivot to the general election to an Etch A Sketch.
Romney acted to hastily control the damage resulting from comments by adviser Eric Fehrnstrom on CNN, which prompted a day's worth of attacks from Democrats, as well as Romney's Republican rivals.
Romney told reporters following his lone event today that while his campaign will change organization, the issues on which he'll run "will be exactly the same."
"I'm running as a conservative Republican," he said. "I'll be running as a conservative Republican nominee."
The comments gave Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich a new weapon to use against Romney, figuratively and literally illustrating their case that the former Massachusetts governor is only a conservative of political convenience.
Mitt Romney said he plans to run on the same issues in the general election as he has in the primary in response to a top aide's comment likening Romney's pivot to the general election to an Etch A Sketch.
The two men, who lag behind Romney in the delegate count, jumped at the opportunity to attack Romney after a senior adviser, Eric Fehrnstrom, this morning compared moving into the general election campaign to the children’s toy this morning, saying, “you can kind of shake it up and restart all of over again.”
Both Gingrich and Santorum brought small Etch A Sketch toys to their afternoon events in the state of Louisiana.
“We're not looking for someone who's the Etch A Sketch candidate,” Santorum said after pulling out the toy during his event in Mandeville. “We're looking for someone who writes what they believe in in stone and stands true to what they say."
Santorum even told the crowd it was “the first of what I’m going to now call my ‘Etch A Sketch Tour of America.'"
“Given everybody's fears about Gov. Romney's flip flops, to have his communications director say publicly to all of us, if we're dumb enough to nominate him we should expect by the acceptance speech he'll move back to the left, triggers everything we should worry about,” Gingrich said as he began his town hall in Lake Charles, where he appeared holding the toy. "I think having an Etch A Sketch as your campaign model, raises every doubt about where we're going."
The former House speaker handed the popular childhood toy to a little girl sitting in the front row of the Harlequin Steaks and Seafood restaurant and joked, “You can now be a presidential candidate.” (Gingrich went on and autographed the toy for her after the event.)
Santorum said he purchased his Etch A Sketch at a Toys R Us store “down the way” while the Gingrich campaign simply said they bought the “Cars” themed toy today.
But the two candidates themselves were not alone in their purchases.
More than 2,000 miles away outside Romney's Arbutus event, Santorum’s press secretary was passing out mini Etch A Sketches in the parking lot.
Holding the one remaining toy she had yet to distribute, Alice Stewart told reporters this “gaffe” from a top Romney advisor “confirms what a lot of conservative have been afraid of.”
“The campaign acknowledged that his [Romney’s] conservative credentials can come and go with the climate, just like an Etch A Sketch, and we can’t have that,” Stewart said.
Romney had initially refused to address Fehrnstrom’s Etch A Sketch comments while asked several times on the ropeline following his event in Maryland.
“I’m not doing a press conference right now, OK?” Romney told reporters.
One group that does seem happy with all the buzz of the children’s toy today is the Ohio Art Company, the Etch A Sketch manufacturer.
"Happy to see Etch A Sketch, an American classic toy, is DRAWING attention with political candidates as a cultural icon and important piece of our society," said Nicole Gresh, spokeswoman for the manufacturer. "A profound toy, highly recognized and loved by all, is now SHAKING up the national debate. Nothing is as quintessentially American as Etch A Sketch and a good old fashion political debate.”
Alex Moe reported from Lake Charles, LA. Jamie Novogrod reported from Mandeville, LA.
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Little girl who was handed the etch-a-sketch, enjoy it because it is the only useful thing that is coming out of this year's election cycle!!
That's Romney, as the wind blows so Romney goes. Best stated by the current Mass. Governor, "Romney is interested in getting the job but not interested in doing the job". Or something like that. Being from Mass. Romney sucked as a governor. Raised every fee possible and introduced new ones. Cut back on elderly health care, etc, etc. The governorship was only a stepping stone for him.
Don't really expect to much from him if he is elected, which I doubt sincerely he'll be.
Have voted republican for the last 30 years or so, but I must say this party really sucks and the Dems. aren't much better. God help this country as our corrupt government can't or won't. American Spring???
I vote Democrat but you made some good observations.
This guy is so dumb he can't be trusted with the presidency. I think his brain is an Etch-A-Sketch. He shakes it up every morning and then comes up with a whole new bunch of nonsense.
I hear the gentle sandy sound of an etch-a-sketch being reset.
Independant voters do not want a big conservative or a left wing liberal. Independants will decide who wins in the end. they always do.
Romney:
balanced the Mass state budget annually as governor and left it with a surplus (after inheriting a huge deficit)
didn't raise taxes
cut the size of the state government (including the governor's staff)
served for FREE
vetoed more bills than any other governor in the state's history
This is a true fiscal conservative. He did this will a mostly Democratic legislature. He did not spend his career in Washington. His own life is that of a true conservative. He has 5 children and has been married to the same women for most of his adult life. This guy is the real deal.
Like Santorum said in one of the debates, given your criteria, Michael Dukakis would also be the real deal, huh.
Santorum who never voted to cut funding for the NEA. The NEA funds "art" such as cruxifixes in urine. Santorum couldn't debate his way out of a paper bag and he suggests that Democrats vote for him to throw off Romney's numbers (as if they need to be reminded). He can't seem to move the conversation beyond his personal thoughts on birth control pills.
served for free? who cares?
didn't raise taxes? hmmm :
In fact, Romney increased taxes by $309 million, mainly on corporations. These tax hikes, described by Romney apologists as loophole closures, totaled $128 million in 2003, $95.5 in 2004, and $85 million in 2005. That final year, Romney proposed $170 million in higher business taxes, the Boston Globe reports. However, the Bay State's liberal, Democratic legislature balked and only approved an $85 million increase.
Tax rates on many corporations almost doubled because of legislation supported by Romney, Boston Science Corporation chairman Peter Nicholas explained in Jan. 6, 2008's Boston Herald. Also, from 5.3 to 9.8 percent, Romney raised the tax on subchapter S corporations owned by business trusts, an 85 percent hike. Romney went further than any other governor in trying to wring money out of corporations, the Council on State Taxation's Joseph Crosby complained.
Romney also created or increased fees by $432 million. He was not dragooned into this by greedy Democratic lawmakers; Romney himself proposed these items. In 2003 alone, Romney concocted or boosted 88 fees. Romney charged more for marriage licenses (from $6 to $12), gun registrations (from $25 to $75), a used-car sales tax ($10 million), gasoline deliveries ($60 million), real-estate transfers ($175 million), and more. Particularly obnoxious was Romney's $10 fee per Certificate of Blindness. Romney also billed blind people $15 each for discount-travel ID cards.
I'm not against romney, i'm for real facts about candidates.
123ang - nope, that doesn't play with me. The topic here in this mini-thread is your statement that Romney is the real deal. No getting frustrated and lashing out at others (especially other Republicans... what would Reagan say?).
R W Reagan signed tax increases - big deal. He also got the Congress to lower federal income rates as well. Look at the Big Picture. The largest Peace Time economic expansion in the USA's history.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha
What a Mitthead.
Could even say a mittwit
what do you expect ..he has a tin foil hat
can we call the republicans the dumb down party..now
hum....I wonder which party gets more votes from high school drop outs?
hahahaha
That would be an interesting thing to see, 123ang.
To me, as an independent, the funniest thing here is I know all the Democrats just assume it would be the Republicans, and all the Republicans just assume it would be the Democrats.
Per the liberal Pew Research
Republicans More Knowledgeable on Many Issues
Republicans, on average, answered one more question correctly than Democrats (5.9 vs. 4.9 correct). These differences are partly a reflection of the demographics of the two groups; Republicans tend to be older, well educated and male, which are characteristics associated with political and economic knowledge. Still, even when these factors are held constant, Republicans do somewhat better than Democrats on the knowledge quiz.
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1478/
That's a hoax! dumb azz!
Okay, right, sure...
It takes me back to the 2008 election when Obama supporters couldn't name his running mate after casting their vote.
Larry Robinson - I can tell you are Republican by the reference to men as an important qualification.
123..Oh thats right we had a 999 plan in the making
angryreader- your calling a well respected liberal polling organization a hoax? Sure
I'm not a Republican, I'm a libertarian. I made no direct reference to men. The important point in CONTEXT was the claim that conservatives are less educated. Even the liberal Pew Poll disagrees with that conclusion. THAT WAS MY POINT, not gender.
Hey Larry,
Evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa at the the London School of Economics and Political Science correlated data on these behaviors with IQ from a large national U.S. sample and found that, on average, people who identified as liberal and atheist had higher IQs.
The reasoning is that liberalism and atheism both go against what would be expected given humans' evolutionary past. In other words, none of these traits would have benefited our early human ancestors, but higher intelligence may be associated with them
hey republicans lets play the game scramble
I just wish I could shake my tv like an Etch-A-Sketch and make all the Republican candidates disappear!
that would be nice..
Tustana,
You can! It's called "cancel your satellite subscription." And, best of all, it is not only COMPLETELY FREE, you will actually get money BACK!
Yes YOU Can!!!
Tustana - Don't worry they will disappear right after the presidential election.
Well we know Romney like to fire people...looks like his campaign managers will be next...lol
If he can't run his campaign any better than this, how can he run a country?
Come on ppl!
Obama 4 more years!
dboygoode:
If you are going to quote someone, at least have it correct.
Wow, Obama another four years! How horrible would that be? Let's not talk about all his gaffes, his people who disagree and embarass him, etc. Let's look at the real issues. Obama has failed. Time for new blood. Anything can be better than that.
Homer...nice name btw. But I wasn't quoting. Notice the lack of quotation marks.
Concernedma, would you be interested in giving specific details of where President Obama has failed?
I'd like to know why teachers who aren't good at their job haven't found a new line of work. He's said that repeatedly. My kids are still in a crappy public school. Taxes pay nearly $10,000 per kid in my state. The local private schools are less than $4,000.
I don't think Obama is failing at what he set out to do at all. It was all spelled out on his website in 2008....a big leftist train wreck waiting to happen.
123ang: if it's so bad you should look into private school then. Since you seem to support repubs you must have the money. Since they are trying to take money out of social programs and raise taxes on the poor and middle class, there agendas must not effect you.
dboygoode:
Do not get too excited Homer Adams is just a user name.
I am similar to Romney, I enjoy the right to terminate companies that do perform as promise - which is what Mitt stated.
Much to do about nothing...
Santorum is a big government Republican that is fiscally liberal - Mister Bridge to Nowhere.
I believe it's "Much ADO about nothing"....
Well said, American girl
The Circus continues ! ! ! ROTFLMAF
if romney is smart he woulld now stand up to the right wing lunatics including hanity and rush and say I will save social security, medicare and defend them what we are looking for say he rejects the ryan plan and this country has much gigger issues than destroyin ssi which many have paid into for 40 years or more the same with medicare, privitisin it would basically end it for all, but will he i doubt it obama and the dems will win because face it true capitalism means no social programs like ssi and medicare, unemployment, child tax care credit, welfare, medicaid deuctions for house payments in taxes and interest none of it sure they could cut the oil companies and others off there corporate welfare-its so un fair grandma who doesnt drive anymore must give up her money to pay for us who do drive but thats the way it is- could say more but will in future posts im stunned the gop woulld actually come out and say medicare must be privitised and social security too-must give the tea party credit there gettin there way
Hey, can someone tell me why all the women reporters on FOX NEWS are attractive, and all the reporter women on CNN and MSNBC are, well, um, unattractive?
not just reporters...good god look at Rosie O'donnell, Babs Streisand, BawBaw Wahwah, Oprah, the list goes on...fugly mutts all...oh and the first lady, and Clinton, and ...geez too many to list
let's not forget that annying whining Joy Behar and WHoopi
Not that it is relevant, but I am looking at a very attractive female reporter on CNN right now. But please enlighten me on how that is relevant to any polical issue.
Becuase the repubs want their woman who are getting vaginal probes to at least be attractive. lol
It's because of the tone that Rupert Murdoch sets in his tabloids. The page 3 bimbo in the tight bikini. Serious journalism.
what we need is less government and the original constitution back in place
If we followed the original constitution completely African Americans would only be considered 3/5 of a person, and woman would have no rights and used only to bare children. If that is something you are in favor of good luck.
Where did it go?
The aide told the truth, now the Mittster has to scramble to try to tell just one more lie. Mitt, how many lies are you going to tell? Is there a limit?
The incompt in the White House is out of excuses.
____________________________________________
4 million jobs gained in the past 2 years = 4 more years from Obama.
Auto industry # 1 again while Bin Laden rotting in H$ll = President Obama # 1 again while GOP rots.
Sorry GOP, you lose again. Better Etch-a-sketch-or-a$$es a better candidate next time!
Heywords:
The Articles of Confederation?
Who will show Santorum how to operate an Etch-A-Sketch? He has yet to master his chatty cathy. He tries hard, thouigh.
Once again the idiots on MSNBC puts out a headline like Romney said it.
Santorum and the "Newtster" are just crying "sour grapes". Oh yeah, you can throw Obama in there too!
Obama does not want to run against Romney, it's that simply, that why Obama has "David Axelgrease" out there....
Clean house: First of all, congrats on your impeccable grammar. And how do you figure that President Obama is threatened by Romney?
You can get gullible people to think they are Ipads.