First Thoughts: The silly season

We’ve entered the silly season… In fact, there have been three manufactured controversies in the past month (Etch A Sketch, hot mic, and Hilary Rosen)… What yesterday did teach us: It didn’t take much for conservatives to rally to Romney’s side… Team Obama’s not-so-good week… Romney calls Obama “incompetent” after North Korea’s “incompetent” missile launch… Romney addresses NRA at 2:20 pm ET, while Obama gives a speech in Tampa, FL at 1:20 pm ET and sits down for interview with Telemundo before departing to Colombia… Lugar gets Super PAC help… And “Meet” interviews Treasury Secretary Geithner.

*** The silly season: If this first week of the general election has taught us anything, this is going to be a long next six months. It started with the Obama White House and campaign hammering away at the "Buffett Rule," which was more of an effort to embarrass Mitt Romney (and his low effective tax rate) than a realistic policy proposal. And then on Wednesday and Thursday, the Romney campaign seized on comments by Hilary Rosen, a Democratic strategist with thin ties to the White House, who said that Ann Romney has never worked a day in her life. It was a manufactured controversy -- fueled by Twitter and social media -- because no serious political actor in this presidential contest is criticizing stay-at-home moms or the value of the work they do. In fact, Rosen was referring to the Romneys’ wealth, not Ann Romney’s decision to raise her five sons at home. While the two major parties are fundamentally divided (over taxes, entitlements, the role of government, and national security) and while so much is at stake (control of Washington, potentially two Supreme Court justices), we find ourselves smack-dab in the silly season.

*** Three manufactured controversies in the past month: Of course, manufactured controversies are nothing new in American politics. There was Nixon’s famous “Checkers” speech. Even four years ago, political observers were obsessing over Michelle Obama’s patriotism and John McCain’s seven homes. What is new, however, is how much faster and professionalized -- due to Twitter and the drive to make something go viral -- these manufactured controversies have become. Indeed, we’ve now seen three of them in the past 30 days: Etch A Sketch, hot mic, and Hilary Rosen. Now all three were related to a bigger issue or narrative (doubts about Romney’s true beliefs and ideology, conservative suspicions about Obama’s intentions, and a real gender gap in American politics). But, unfortunately, we talk about the manufactured controversy and not the real story here (that a general-election candidate always moves back to the center, that a president’s second term with no more elections on the horizon does give him more flexibility to do certain things, and that women do have real anxieties about the balance between working and raising a family). The fact is, these next few months before the conventions are probably going to be filled with these manufactured “shiny metal object” controversies because of what we noted -- just how professionalized both political parties are at creating them. And some in the media are easily susceptible to helping these manufactured controversies go viral because they are seen as simply “more interesting” than the serious “eat your vegetables”-like issues that divide the two parties.

Steven Senne / AP

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks with his wife Ann.

*** Rallying around Romney: Yesterday also taught us something else: Conservative elites are going to rally around Romney. They needed just the tiniest spark (Hilary Rosen) and they went into overdrive for Romney. It remains to be seen whether conservatives will stick around the former Massachusetts governor when the going gets tough -- that’s the true definition of a strong base (see African Americans for Obama, evangelical Christians for George W. Bush) -- but the folks in Boston have to be pleased with the past 24 hours. But today will be an interesting when Romney addresses the National Rifle Association’s conference in St. Louis at 2:20 pm ET. After all, it’s been well chronicled that Romney, who only became a “lifetime member” of the NRA in 2006, lacks a natural appeal with gun-rights groups, having supported some gun-control measures in the past. But so far this cycle, he’s avoided awkward missteps like in the ‘08 cycle, when he said (falsely) on Meet the Press that he’d been endorsed by the NRA, claimed to have been “a hunter pretty much all my life,” and the “Varmint” hunter press conference. By the way, expect a lot of anti-Obama chatter out of the NRA convention. While not surprising, do consider this so-called anti-gun president signed one of the largest expansions of rights for gun owners in recent history, allowing loaded guns to be carried in National Parks.

*** Team Obama’s not-so-good week: This was supposed to be a week when the White House and the Obama campaign focused on tax fairness and Mitt Romney’s wealth, punctuated by today’s release of Obama’s and Biden’s tax returns (more on that below). But the last seven days have been rough for Obama. There was last Friday’s disappointing jobs report (which led to a nervousness and recalibration on Wall Street and in the economic community in general), the rallying around Romney (due to Rick Santorum’s exit and the Hilary Rosen flap), and the Romney campaign’s success in manufacturing a distraction (when Romney was having a rough time erasing his gender gap). Even yesterday, one of Obama’s local TV interviews didn’t go so hot, with the RNC clipping this exchange. That said, it shouldn’t be lost that Obama has had a GREAT last three months -- with strong jobs numbers, the divisive GOP primary season, and the GOP’s focus on abortion and contraception. But the last seven days haven’t been as good for Team Obama, and these last 7 days constitute the first REAL week of the general election.

*** Obama campaign to urge Romney to release his tax returns: Speaking of tax returns, the Obamas and Bidens will release theirs today -- with a statement calling on Romney to do the same, the New York Times reports. “While Mr. Obama has long acknowledged being in the nation’s high-income echelon, thanks largely to sales of his best-selling books, he and his wife, Michelle, have paid an effective federal tax rate nearly twice that of Mr. Romney and his wife, Ann, according to tax returns released by both couples. The Obama campaign will post the 2011 tax return for the Obamas, as well as those dating back to 2000, on the campaign’s Web site, an official said. It will also post tax returns for Mr. Biden and his wife, Jill. In January, under intense pressure from his Republican rivals, Mr. Romney released his tax return for 2010, plus an estimate of his tax payment in 2011. But he has not released returns from earlier years, when he was governor of Massachusetts or a financial executive at Bain Capital.” Obama gives a speech in Tampa, FL at 1:20 pm ET and sits down for interview with Telemundo before departing to Colombia.

*** Romney calls Obama “incompetent” after North Korea’s “incompetent” missile launch: Last night, Romney released a statement criticizing Obama for North Korea’s failed missile launch. “President Obama sought to appease the regime with a food-aid deal that proved to be as naïve as it was short-lived. At the same time, he has cut critical U.S. missile defense programs and continues to underfund them. This incompetence from the Obama Administration has emboldened the North Korean regime and undermined the security of the United States and our allies.” Two things jump immediately to mind with this release: 1) Wasn’t the real incompetence was on North Korea’s side due to the failed launch and the nation squandering its chance at food aid? 2) The tone of this statement appears to reinforce a growing perception in serious foreign policy circles that Romney is willing to say anything, no matter how knee-jerk, to try to get an upper hand on these issues. What would Romney do when it comes to North Korea? Isn’t his criticism of Obama on North Korea also a criticism of  Bush’s handling of the country as well?

*** On the GOP trail, per NBC’s Adam Perez: As mentioned above, Romney speaks at the NRA conference in St. Louis at 2:20 pm ET, while Gingrich addresses it at 3:00 pm ET.

*** Veepstakes watch: NBC’s Jamie Novogrod reports on Rob Portman stumping last night for Romney in Pennsylvania: Portman began his academic-feeling speech with a lengthy tip of his hat to Santorum in an effort to nurture a spirit of party unity. But later, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), the evening’s keynote speaker, seemed to resist Portman's entreaty, stopping short of rallying would-be Santorum voters behind Romney. “We’re going to have a presumptive nominee for 2012 really soon,” Blackburn said tepidly, per Novogrod.  Blackburn, in fact, did not mention Romney by name during her speech -- and only later, during an on-camera interview with NBC, did she say: “I will support our nominee.  We are moving to having that presumptive nominee, and it’s going to be Gov. Romney from what it appears, and I look forward to supporting the nominee.”

*** Lugar gets Super PAC help: Politico: “After massive ad buys against Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar by national conservative groups like the Club for Growth, the establishment cavalry is coming to his rescue, with the American Action Network launching a nearly $600,000 broadcast buy just in Indianapolis… The ad, called ‘Problems,’ is an ad slamming Lugar's primary opponent, state treasurer Richard Mourdock, accusing him of ‘receiving illegal tax breaks,’ and hitting his ‘failed stewardship’ of his government office, according to a release. The ad, which launches tomorrow on broadcast, will run through May 4. The cost of the flight is $590,000. There will also be a digital ad component, and a limited statewide mail buy, in the AAN campaign.”

*** On “Meet” this Sunday: On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” NBC’s David Gregory will interview Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and have a roundtable featuring Hilary Rosen, Michele Bachmann, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, Harold Ford Jr., and Mike Murphy.

Countdown to the CT, DE, NY, PA, and RI primaries: 12 days
Countdown to Election Day: 208 days

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Hell NBC, DON'T TELL US, tell ETCH-A-SKETCH, he's the one who keeps bringing it up! Why did he burden his wifey with 5 children in the first place! We're OVER-POPULATED NOW! The other thing is with ALL THE MONEY they have stolen from the 99% American People, they could have certainly afforded a MAID! Who's s--ting who??

99% Americans, VOTE STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC, the life you save may be your OWN!!

This comment is being made by a DEVOUT REPUBLICAN disgusted with corrupt corporate Republican political rule! We can't even feed our families because of the OIL CORPORATES & WALLSTREETERS that think ONLY OF THEIR SELFISH GREEDS!!! They stole our PENSIONS & gave us THEIR 401k as INSURANCE FOR THEM when the economy fails (caused by them), they don't have to worry about pensions; but we, the 99% Americans can only watch our 401k disappear because of corrupt corporate GREED!

Vote STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC, the life you save may be your OWN!!

    Reply#184 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 2:36 PM EDT

    Comments straight out of the Barry Soetoro Coloring Book of Internet Responses for Obamateers. How did you manage to leave out "bigot," "racist" and "blame Bush"?

    • 2 votes
    #184.1 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:34 AM EDT

    Wake up kid! Blindly voting along a Party line is an outdated tradition that no longer accomplishes what it was once meant to. We are now dealing with two wings on the same bird of prey, a corrupt Washington Establishment, and if you, the people, want to regain control of your government, you should seriously think about a third Party...one representing the people, not Elitist special interests groups.

    Don't be so fast to offer yourselves up as sacrificial lambs to the predators on The Hill.

      #184.2 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:36 AM EDT
      Reply

      While Buttwheat is off chasing hookers in Cartagena, Joe Biteme is off playing more small ball, biting at everything that comes close. Kinda reminds you of a nasty little lapdog. But then, he is a nasty little lapdog.

      • 1 vote
      Reply#185 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 2:52 PM EDT

      Guys like bfitz will return to chronic bedwetting after President Obama is reelected, no doubt about it.

        #185.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 2:59 PM EDT
        Reply

        Hillary Rosen is a fat A$$SS rich Jew slut who does not care about the working poor.

        Obama does not care about the working poor.

        Wake up America..........

        • 2 votes
        Reply#186 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:07 PM EDT

        Nice try Obama, Hillary Rosen is your girl, she has been on CNN for the past 4 years campaigning for you.

        The truth is in the pudding, Barack is a liar and he is not for the working poor....

        • 2 votes
        Reply#187 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:14 PM EDT

        (1) Since Obama has done nothing to control guns or weaken the Second Amendment, Romney's speech had to be pitched in the future tense. "Obama WILL do this. Obama PLANS to do that." It only encourages fear and anger against the president, which is the whole point. The paranoids believe there is a plot afoot to do something in the future, so let's take preemptive action now. It's the attitude that got us into Iraq and may yet get us into a war with Iran. Too bad. Fifty years ago the NRA members were responsible gun owners -- hunters and serious target shooters -- who promoted gun safety. Now they have a virulent political agenda.

        (2) The GOP is very good at rhetoric when it comes to women's behavior. They've successfully switched the discussion from "abortion" to "contraception." The ultimate goal can only be a return to the 40s and 50s, when a loose woman who had sex and became pregnant was punished by having to raise an unwanted child. The current GOP push to define abortion as murder and to ban contraception will also sweep up any number of legally married women and burden them too with unwanted children, but that's not the stereotype the GOP has in mind. Rush Limbaugh put it most clearly -- punish the sluts and prostitutes. Of course, we can return to the illegitimate abortions of the past -- the coat hangers in the back room. Or, for the wealthy, they can fly to Sweden for an abortion, as they did before.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#188 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:14 PM EDT

        At least they are not distracted by racial charged violence in Chicago....Over a 3 day period in March of this year, 41 people were shot and killed, mostly young Blacks, 10 of which were killed in Obama's former neighborhood. Hardly made the news. Not a peep out of Sharpton or Jackson. I guess numbers don't count.

          Reply#189 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:46 PM EDT

          this is going to be tuogh decision for voters this year by reading some of these comments.

          some of believed the lies of the media and the faricated wars, some of relied on false or twisted information: i would;nt trust anything from moveon.org,aarp, etc.

          it is certain that we have a strange administration who are on thier own- a hitler like socialist administration who is leading this country to destruction like the Jews.

          its time for every American to realize that our liberties are threatened, the country is close to bankruptcy because of the socilist big government policies and regulation.

          the admin has policy of printing more money which devaluates the value of the dollar which raises the prices of fuel,clothing, and food.

          its time for people to realize that the U.S. dollar is currently the world monetary currency and that when Obama waste money on stimulus, unproven green energy,regulation and regulators to enforce policies which increases the size of the big socialist machine ALL THIS DEVALUES THE DOLLAR and OPEC: WALL STREET ETC are going to respond and adjust prices accordingly.

            Reply#190 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:51 PM EDT

            WE NEED GREEN EENRGY YOU MORON. Oil won't last forever and even if it would the damage it causes to the enviornment is henious. Only an absolute moron would be saying drill more oil at this point. How much evidence of global warming do you need? Is every green energy start up going to pan out no but that doesnt mean we don't need to invest in them. Take away every tax break the oil companies get they don't deserve any of them, and comparing Obama to Hitler is just idiotic

            • 1 vote
            Reply#191 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:44 PM EDT

            Let the markets invest in green energy when the technology becomes available to enable them to do so. The government is incompetent to invest in anything, especially this congress who has already lost billions of our taxpayer's money to invest in green companies. You should think about consequences before you post. You should know that taking away the tax breaks from the oil companies will result in even higher prices at the gas pump. If you are so against oil, go buy a Chevy Volt, better yet, go buy a solar panel and let us know how they work for you!

              #191.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:50 PM EDT

              What is the MPPPS on your auto? (Miles Per Pound of Pond Scum). The future measurement of the Prince of Pond Scum and the 4th greatest president of all time (in his own words).

                #191.2 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:38 AM EDT

                Dee, if he buys a solar panel it would be made in China, where this industry is taken seriously. We guarantee loans to green companies like Solyndra -- which failed, as many start-up companies do in a capitalist free market -- but China doesnt guarantee loans to green companies. It gives them outright grants.

                But maybe you're right. All this fuss over green energy is stupid. And oil is the energy source of the future. The American Petroleum Institute would certainly agree with you.

                • 1 vote
                #191.3 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:15 PM EDT
                Reply

                I guess I missed something. What's so silly about what amounts to an alternative minimum tax on millionaires? If the criteria is whether the Republicans in Congress will consider it, then anything the president proposes is silly. He could ask for a resolution proposing that December 25 be designated as Jesus Christ Day and the Rethugs would accuse him of trying to raise taxes.

                • 1 vote
                Reply#192 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:47 PM EDT

                Obama doesn't do anything without calculating the political gain to him. Taxing the rich is a political move to buy poorer peoples votes. Their is no intention, on his part, to solve any financial problem of the country. Same thing with pushing through the payroll tax cut (where they reduced the amount of tax taken from your check for social security and medicare). It was a ploy to buy votes. It served no purpose to solve any financial problem of the country, in fact, it made it worse by reducing the funds available to those programs. If he and the dems truly wanted to take steps to solve the deficit and debt problems they could come up with some common sense savings (like eliminating duplicate federal programs). It's easy, just do it.

                  #192.1 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:54 AM EDT
                  Reply

                  The American people are getting exactly what they will tolerate, and it turns out they will tolerate almost anything which supports the propagation as well as the vindication of their "End Time" religions. So enjoy your "End Times", American people! You certainly have earned them, if nothing else. - Rick Carter

                    Reply#193 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:53 PM EDT

                    (The one thing which these three "End Time" (Abrahamic) religious beliefs all share in common is expectation of the eventual collapse and complete destruction of our entire modern day human world, so their blessed savior and redeemer can finally return to set up his future totalitarian theocratic kingdom over our entire planet, and perpetually rule as the supreme military demigod dictator over our entire world. If you get enough people hoping and praying for this kind of thing to eventually come to pass in our world, there is a very good chance it will eventually happen. But I am afraid their concept of an ideal world will never be my idea of a New World Order. But personally I will no longer try to stand in the way of all these hopes and dreams of theirs coming to pass in our world, if only because there are hundreds of millions of them and just one me. Personally, I look forward to a very different kind of redemption myself.) - RC

                    DO YOU WISH THAT WE SHOW UP ?????????????

                    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHTytdRYRAs&feature=related

                      #193.1 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 2:13 AM EDT

                      (Even so, come quickly, Free Galaxy Powers!) - RC

                        #193.2 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 2:34 AM EDT

                        ((I am ready to leave anytime, FGPs! I personally DO NOT hold out much hope for this world myself. Their minds are closed to most of what I have tried to say to them over the years, when it comes to sharing with them "The Truth". I am personally ready to give up trying to reach them anymore. I just want to leave them to their own devices from here on out. Have I sufficiently done my part to try to change things for the better ????????????? If so, then I am personally ready to go RIGHT NOW !!!)) - RC

                          #193.3 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:23 AM EDT

                          Please understand that I (Rick Carter) have been TOTALLY AND FOREVER discredited by the U.S. government in all my EXTREMELY GRAVE assertions for over sixty (60) years now! The latest official effort by the U.S. government to TOTALLY AND FOREVER discredit me actually comes from the Obama White House itself. Please understand that President Obama himself promised as one of his foremost campaign promises to the American people (in the process of getting elected as POTUS in 2008) that he would NEVER, EVER lie to the American people. Please also understand that President Obama has the very highest "need to know" security clearance of ANYONE in the U.S. government. There has clearly always been plenty of "need to know" (particularly in recent years, when many governments including the U.N. itself have repeatedly requested that the U.S. government share what they know about ET/UFO activity around our world.) Please understand that I personally lived at Wright Patterson Air Force base from 1951 to 1953, but this was as a VERY YOUNG CHILD. I have been basing virtually all of my EXTREMELY GRAVE assertions upon what I was exposed to there as a VERY YOUNG CHILD. I (Rick Carter) was born in 1951 with a (fairly common) congenital birth (developmental) defect which needed surgical repair. My parents sent me to live with my grandparents at Wright Patterson Air Force base shortly after birth (approx. 6 weeks old) because my older siblings (1 yr. & 2 yr. older than me) were still of the crying age, and this risked serious complications to my birth defect. My grandfather was 2nd in command there at that time, and he was personally involved in the background investigation into the Roswell Incident. He faithfully followed his own line of investigation, but it was one which led him into a veritable "minefield of religious issues", anyone of which could have potentially blown up in his face and ended his distinguished military career. So the point came where he could no longer share his findings with his military peers (especially this close to the end of WWII), so he was forced to turn to his wife (my grandmother, Dorothy E. Carter) as his main confidant in the Roswell investigation. At the time I had to be in my grandmother's presence 24/7 due to this congenital inguinal hernia which needed surgical repair, which in turn gave me a front row seat to the Roswell investigation. Back then they had very poor anesthetics and analgesics for very young children, so they had to wait until I was approx. 6 months old to finally operate on me, and then there was a post operative recovery period as well as other primary family problems which extended my stay there virtually 2 full years. I always knew I was far to young back then to tell the difference between theory and actual fact, so I dedicated over 2 full decades of my life to conducting my own personal INTIMATE investigation of the Christian religions, and that from a multi-denominational angle in order to independently confirm what I was exposed to, before finally making the decision to go public with what I knew. (During that time I was also secretly working on an immunization for the human mind designed to counter these ET installed terminal religious belief systems, which are also highly virulent and mutagenic ET designed and installed Human Software Viruses (HSVs) known as the Abrahamic religions.) (The rest I have already put out there countless times over the last 12 years) - Rick Carter

                            #193.4 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:02 AM EDT

                            (To whatever degree I had remembered these things, I always knew there were other Free Galaxy powers out there who stand in the way of overt military conquest in our Milky Way galaxy. I want to state for the OFFICIAL RECORD now that these Free Galaxy Powers have been FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR TOO LITTLE HELP TO ME IN ALL OF MY DESPERATE EFFORTS TO SAVE THE HUMAN RACE. ETERNAL SHAME UPON THEM FOREVER FOR THIS FAILURE TO PROPERLY ASSIST ME, FGPs, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE FUTURE OF OUR ENTIRE MILKY WAY GALAXY IS ULTIMATELY AT STAKE. ETERNAL SHAME UPON YOU, FGPs !!!!!!!!!!!!! ETERNAL SHAME !!!) - Rick Carter

                              #193.5 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:30 AM EDT

                              "No one really knows, what the future holds in store;

                              the time is getting near, we are learning more and more,

                              and someday, in that great unknown,

                              we will find we are not alone."

                              Thank you, Leonard Nimoy (aka, "Mr. Spock"). (My soul has clung to the words of this wonderful song of his for absolute dear life ever since the late 1960s. The tears are whelming up in my eyes right now out of sheer gratitude for his visionary album back then.)

                                #193.6 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:22 AM EDT

                                "What will you do when you finally meet them,

                                will you greet them or turn them away?

                                Will you show them how to run a world,

                                will you teach them war, will you teach them hate?"

                                (Sorry, I cannot stop crying right now, like so many countless times before.) - RC

                                  #193.7 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:31 AM EDT

                                  Please understand that I AM NOT solely dependent upon these Free Galaxy Powers (FGPs) for my future help, since there are far older (and far greater) Universal Free Powers out there which I can potentially look to as well, when it comes to rescuing me from this outside offensive 'cultural singularity' which covertly threatens our emerging human world. Please understand that these (so called) Free Galaxy Powers have been virtually complicit in this covert conspiracy of territorial conquest which spans thousands of Earth years against emerging mankind and our extremely precious celestial real estate. (Have you never heard of sins of commission, as well as sins of omission, FGPs ????????????? DUH, you J.A.s !!!) So it is really no longer these sorry FGPs which I look to in telling you all these tragic things, people of the Earth! From here on out I look to the Universal Free Powers (UFPs) which (apparently) reside outside of our Milky Way galaxy !!! (J.A.'s, FGPs !!!) - RC

                                    #193.8 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:29 PM EDT
                                    Reply

                                    I can't help it. rotflmao, you poor desperate fools are still sucking down the obama koolaid as fast as he serves it up. it is truly funny to observe your pant pissing party(whynnie babies)

                                    Your godman deity is off on another toot in Columbia telling so. america how much he loves them or whatever it is hees doing there "don't really care" all he does is lie and you just gobble it up like manna from heaven. in october britebart ins. will smack him with a really good halloween trick he'll love that and you'll just crap your pants and i will lmao

                                    vote November 6th 2012

                                    • 2 votes
                                    Reply#194 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:12 PM EDT

                                    Let's all forget the distractions. The only question that matters is "Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?" If you are, you owe Obama your vote. If you're worse off than you were 4 years ago, you owe it to yourself to help defeat Obama.

                                    • 3 votes
                                    Reply#195 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:10 AM EDT

                                    This election is a referendum on the job Obama has done. Plain and simple. It is not about race. As the last one was. It is about the economy. It is about the job many of you had in 2008, but have lost in the past 4 years. It is about surviving, as a family and as a country.

                                    • 3 votes
                                    Reply#196 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 6:52 AM EDT

                                    The Hillary Rozen comments can be labeled "manufactured" until the cows come home, but the Amercian people know how the left truly feels about stay at home moms and the liberals were exposed on the topic when she opened her big mouth on CNN.

                                    • 1 vote
                                    Reply#197 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 6:52 AM EDT

                                    Thank you Hillary Rosen for showing exactly how you liberals denigrate sucessful women who are not in love with your communistic philosophy. Thank you Barack Obama for reacting exactly like the disloyal rat you are in throwing this ugly broad under the "Yes We Can" bus.

                                    • 1 vote
                                    Reply#198 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:05 AM EDT

                                    Poncero and Bob, you are right in part when you say Rosens comments "manufactured" and she was thrown under the liberal bus. But the real "dirty little secret" is, the DNC gave Rosen the orders to make the statement, in the first place. You see having a wife at Romneys side, and her him making statements about his wife giving him "advice" on womens issues, detracts in part the whole Republicans "out of touch" on womens issue thingy. So by painting Mrs. Romney as a "rich bitch" pampered white lady, it sets up the "template" for the left to discredit her. Obama and Axelrod knew full well that taking "shots" at a breast cancer survivor and someone living with MS, was going to be "touchy" at best, but template had to be put out there. Sal Alinsky's "Rule for Radicals" states that, "Ridicule's man's most potent weapon". The question then becomes, how do you nullify a "threat", and "take out" someone like a Ann Romney(someone who the public may sympathize with because of her health problems without appearing callous), but still set the template? Answer send in a pit-bull to take the arrows for you. Template set minimal damage to Obama, and if you don't believe me just watch future "stories" from the liberal media and how they portray Ann Romney in the "news". DONT DOUBT ME..............

                                      Reply#199 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:53 AM EDT

                                      Hussein Obama referred to Hillary Rosen as "somebody on TV making comments". He didn't seem to know her, just like he never heard what Rev. Wright was saying about America. Phony.

                                      • 1 vote
                                      Reply#200 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:45 AM EDT

                                      obama knows 3 jeremiah wrights, so yeah, it really depends which one you are talking about ;-)

                                        #200.1 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:42 AM EDT
                                        Reply

                                        The article contends there have been three manufactured distractions in the last month: Etch A Sketch, hot mic, and Hilary Rosen. But I remember another really, really big one that started this whole "war on women". President Obama went against the advice of Biden and Axlerod by insisting that religious based organizations should pay for contraceptives even though it went against their religious belief. The Catholic Church was the main push back for this constitutional show down that was sure to ensue. Experts were called before the House to testify about the potential constitutionality of this unprecedented move. The Dems (who don't control the committee) wanted Sandra Fluck to testify. She is not an expert in constitutional law on this subject. She hasn't even graduated college yet, so the House committee said there is not purpose for this young lady to testify since she does not have constitutional information on the subject. Dems, not being deterred, masterfully called their own news media event in which Sandra Fluck, who by most people's standards has lived a privileged life, was allowed to complain that she should not have to pay for her birth control. Still not sure why she believes everyone else should. Most objective people will agree that birth control, in most cities, can be obtained for free from health clinics and even in the event one could not get the free product the cost is extremely minimal. Then Rush Limbaugh called her a bad name, totally in bad taste, but just like Hilary Rosen who does not speak for all Dems, Rush does not speak for all Repubs. At this point, even with an apology from Rush, the Republicans were now supposed to be engaged in an all out WAR ON WOMEN. Masterful. Sad that anyone would even believe that. I could not turn on CNN, MSNBC, or FOX news without hearing about this. In the mean time, gas prices are rising, my food bill is rising, I haven't had a raise in three years and members of my family have been looking for a job for months and months. The Dems started the ficticious War on Women. I do not subscribe to this type of politics but to tell you the truth, when Hiary Rosen said what she did, and the Republicans starting hammering away just like the Dems did, I did smile. Don't play with matches unless you don't want to get burned.

                                        • 2 votes
                                        Reply#201 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:47 AM EDT

                                        great post but you left out my favorite manufactured controversy, the attempted race war/baiting by the left on the martin killing, NBC's very own manufactured controversy.

                                          #201.1 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:40 AM EDT

                                          I have been advocating those who wish to "inform" others about Obama and his liberal legions , please read Sal Alinkys "Rules for Radicals". This continued and on-going attempt to cloud the REAL issues facing this Nation, can be found there. By knowing your enemy(thats enima when speaking about liberals and the easiest way to get rid of them), then you can understand the WHY behind their disception and tactics of misinformation. The whole "war-on-women" tactic" can be explained by a "Rule for Radicals", (manufacture a war on woman crisis)pick the target,(keep it in the news) freeze it, (parade "victims before the camera's)personalize it(Fluke), and(keep hammering it home) polarize it. They have "picked the target", the "war on women", and now they are going to hammer it home. Thats why its called "drive by", liberals drive by and "sling crap" and hope it sticks, it doesn't matter if there is any truth in what they're slinging, they feel if they sling enough of it, some will stick. In other words "polarize it". Its been "personalize" with the claim that women are "victims", then the "template" is, "Obama is the only one who can SAVE the day". And yes I agree SuzieIII, start hammering and pointing out LIES from the left, and don't let up. I don't think average Americans will like being payed as fools, and will reject the lefts tactics.

                                          • 1 vote
                                          #201.2 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:44 AM EDT

                                          alinsky is a great read for those wishing to understand the progressive side of the dem party. also, if you want to see where obamas policies would take us, if left unchecked, i suggest starting with "Tragedy of the Commons"

                                            #201.3 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:48 AM EDT

                                            Great studyas well, I suggest Alinsky for those who first wish to have an "understanding" about the tactics of liberals posting "comments" on these vines. You will see a a pattern, especially, alot of "childish" name calling and personal attacks against those who disagree. If you read Alinskys "Rules for Radicals", a tactic Alinsky promotes is "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon". Obama was a avid believer and follower of Alinsky, by knowing this when you see him "staging" photo-ops surrounded by "victims", by informing Americans they are being duped, the public will reject the newest crisis being "manufactured". As I said "only by knowing your enemy, can you truly defeat them". And liberalism must be defeated, it is an internal enemy as VILE and dangerous, as any outside our border enemy this Nation faces.

                                              #201.4 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:25 PM EDT
                                              Reply

                                              Distractions and attacks are the game plan for Oblahbo, he can't run on his miserable record. Speeches full of statistics and distortions, hot air, class warfare attacks, that's the plan.

                                              • 1 vote
                                              Reply#202 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:52 AM EDT

                                              my favorite part was when the rabid progressive left attacked rush for calling a slut a slut, but the rosen thing, thats all manufactured. LOL

                                              obama2008-YES WE CAN!

                                              obama2012-I THOUGHT I COULD!

                                              obama2013-You want fries with that?

                                              • 2 votes
                                              Reply#203 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:26 AM EDT

                                              You're clever, but humor doesn't solve the systemic problem...corrupt, tyrannical, and oppressive government. Talking about trivialities, or symptoms are distracting and devisive. If ever there was a time for solidarity amongst Citizens against the Washington Establishment it is right now.

                                              We must act to install a third Party that respects, defends, and acts on the Priciples that this Nation was founded on...the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We have allowed government to drift too far from their original purpose of being.

                                              Theft, deception, and violence has become this governments, and its supporters, means to their self-serving ends.

                                                #203.1 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:48 AM EDT

                                                i agree somewhat, we must remove all progressives from the left and the right, the left is more heavily populated with them, a good start would be removal of all those in the dem progressive caucus. my mom and dad are in their 70's life long democrats, they recognize that obama doesnt reflect anything that they believe in......because obama is not a democrat. we need to fix the lingo as well. saying that a progressive is for "progress" to me is like putting a turd between 2 pieces of bread and calling it a hamburger. its looks like it from afar, but when you examine it you will see it for what it is, a turd sandwich.

                                                  #203.2 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:53 AM EDT
                                                  Reply

                                                  That's because rozen is right Ann Rommney hasn't worked an actual job. And please her family has soo much money she had the best medical care and best nannies available I'm not about to feel sorry for a woman married to someone responsible for moving thousands, if not tens of thousands of US jobs overseas just so he could make more money. I'll admit I'm to the left of Obama on issues why because I've seen the way corporations act they need more regulations to force them to do the right thing. Progressives are for progress we need some form of socialized medicine it's incredible to me that insurance companies get more money by denying people coverage to me it's assanine that a CORPORATION and not a DOCTOR get's to decide what's mdecially necessary or not. It's insane that a COMPANY can choose not to pay for life saving drugs for people and then when someone gets sick charge more money for their insurance that's BS plain and simple. Corporations are NOT people they do NOT deserve rights

                                                  • 1 vote
                                                  Reply#204 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:17 PM EDT

                                                  shouldnt you be out pooping on police cars?

                                                    #204.1 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:28 PM EDT

                                                    And how can someone actually claim to be farther "left" than Obama? The only reason Obama hasn't leaned farther left, is because he want's to be re-elected, that and he's afraid if he leans any farther left he would fall over.

                                                      #204.2 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 2:31 PM EDT
                                                      Reply

                                                      Also it's not progressives that need to be removed but conservatives I despise the very word. Conservatism never got anyone anywhere our society must move forward not backwards

                                                      • 1 vote
                                                      Reply#205 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:19 PM EDT

                                                      spoken like a true entitlement baby. why in the world would you think, that by being born on U.S. soil, that I owe you anything? that is twisted. does self reliance or personal responsibility play into anything offered by the progressive left? lmao

                                                      • 1 vote
                                                      #205.1 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:25 PM EDT

                                                      not only that moron, but my mom stayed at home too, raised 3 boys and a girl. my father has owned a small business for 40 years and worked very hard to allow my mom to take care of us. rosen is a moron and an insult to ALL moms.

                                                        #205.2 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:27 PM EDT

                                                        Tiffany since you are so opposed about supporting someone who ships jobs overseas, then maybe you should be "progressive" enough to research GE and Immelt(and that GE has been outsourcing to China for years thousands of jobs), and supporter and advisor to your progressive leader Obama. You might also research what you defend about socialist, sorry social healthcare, and ask yourself why Obama "deficit nuteral" plan, just double in cost. Or maybe you are one of those "progressives" who doesn't care that an entitlement cost to much, its the thought that counts.

                                                          #205.3 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:41 PM EDT

                                                          Or I know Tiffany lets go with the Buffet rule, and punish those who have been successful. Taxing them at a higher tax rate will do nothing bring down the deficit, but its "fair" and being "progressive" means its not "fair" that someone is more successful than you, and they must be punished...........right?

                                                          • 1 vote
                                                          #205.4 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:10 PM EDT
                                                          Reply

                                                          "Also it's not progressives that need to be removed but conservatives I despise the very word. Conservatism never got anyone anywhere our society must move forward not backwards".........exclaimed the 99%er as she crapped on a police car.

                                                          lol tiff, poor child

                                                            Reply#206 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:31 PM EDT

                                                            Exactly right, Mruseurhead

                                                            Every, thing that BHO, Axlerod & DNC along with the willing participation of mainstream media is calculated in a political application format. From what Barack eats for breakfast right down to how he ties his shoes.

                                                            I mean everything there is controlled, handled viewed thru/with political machine precision they are not living like real people, more like just acting out a movie script. Hillary Rosen was just the latest actress to play her part in this for public consumption epic presentation of "FUNDAMENTAL TRANSFORMATION" The Movie \ sadly it's a Reality show that has dire consequences. However this is being played out in real life so there are variables. but when reality kicks in they have a innumerable team of production assistants and damage control specialists to spin the script the way they need to for the most politically expedient and correct(in their eyes) public relations & manipulation outcome.

                                                            All this being a Gross disservice and maniacal wrong perpetrated on firstly the American people and for that matter the entire world. Case in point; fast and furious op. resulting in our own immigration official being killed. (granted the criminals that killed him would have used any weapon available fact remains it was a gun traced to f&f op.) Also countless hundreds or even thousands people in central and south America affected by this. Not much outrage displayed or Legal ramification reported in mainstream media. { keep it quiet} convenient lies!

                                                            Another point: trillions in debt, especially wasted money sent to political cronies for failed and still failing propositions (won’t elaborate any more than that you know what I mean.)

                                                            Bottom line is America, you/we can continue to just play a part in this fallacy or we can collectively roll the credits on this flick. And move on to a Reality based upon truth, justice and the American exceptionalism that has honestly propelled us thru well over 200 years of prosperity unseen anywhere else in world history.

                                                            1. I really don’t want to hear your arguments about he said or she said, racism or past bigotry or any other victim status based, down trodden whiner excuses, for behavioral auspices displayed by any one. Remember, “You are where you are because you want to be” this is America 2012 most everyone has the opportunity to be all they can be by the fruits of their labor. Granted some have special needs and those needs should be addressed appropriately and can be, especially when our nation is in prosperity mode, this is the land of plenty after all.
                                                            2. Where do we go from here? I believe we all deep down care about each other and want what is best. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are stalwarts of our very existence. America has nothing to apologize to any one for our exceptional presence in the world. the world is a better place because of the "shining city on the hill" 1 case in point where would we be now if the United states of America had not engaged in ww2? "ZEIG HIEL mine furer" just saying. we have had our good times and our bad times made mistakes and right-full choices this divisiveness no matter where it emanates is counter productive. There can be a balance and cohesiveness shared among us all were all Americans
                                                            3. This is one My favorite speeches "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.'… I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the Content of their character. Question is what are the player's in this part of the play doing to promote this Mantra? Better ? Are there people who wish for division to remain the norm, or perhaps even deepen the divide amongst the people of this nation? think about it... pray about it... do with it what you will...

                                                            vote 2012

                                                              Reply#207 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:33 PM EDT

                                                              The distract business is very productive, so it is not wise to be too distracted, by excess twitterations, costly also.

                                                              We the human species, for so called natural reasons, stop thinking the moment someone mentions sex or prostitution.
                                                              It follows that if you want men to stop thinking; just show him a little bit of leg, bosom or cute walk suggesting some fantasy.
                                                              To compromise a man of high station having an active calendar and you needs lots of money.
                                                              For a price of making of a more than a few opportunities, you can own that man, or may depose that man anytime you want.
                                                              This does not mean that he would not have taken advantage of these opportunities by himself, but with little help.
                                                              This idea allows the following links to instruct a creative mind to the possibility that someone may want you to stop thinking.

                                                              Who among us fails to accept that many tens of billions of profit potential, is at stake, in laws, investigations, political funding, and nearly any level of activity is justified to grab the unlimited power of the US Presidency. Just for the trivial cost of playing to some perverted dementia to gain the control by distraction and play international hijinks you can stop millions from thinking.

                                                              If it stayed in Las Vegas or relocated outside of the country then there are more possibilities. Suppose you had billions of throw away money, made on who know what scandalous methods, a 1,000 million dollar bills. You could open operations throughout the world, just to make your odds better. Using open information, or by spreading the wealth around, you can know what hotel looks promising for important foreign visitors, and provide all the free services any many might be tempted to take. It just about as important to trust your political operatives, as is to trust that honest fellow running against you. No prize, in thinking is there, and so you will not, and money is no object, the worst thing to do is to trust.

                                                              . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcx5e_W0CBQ
                                                              . http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/27/eliot-spitzer-wall-street-fallen-angel
                                                              . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Spitzer
                                                              . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securities_fraud
                                                              . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_settlement
                                                              . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html
                                                              . http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14704060/ns/business-us_business/t/two-charges-against-aigs-greenberg-dropped/
                                                              . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_International_Group
                                                              . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Mutual-fund_scanda

                                                              Pay no attention, none at all, you'll be so, so happy.

                                                              • 1 vote
                                                              Reply#208 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:01 PM EDT
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