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Subscribe to RSSRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says he "repudiates" a PAC plan to attack President Obama's link to Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Mitt Romney convened a rare press conference Thursday to explicitly distance himself from a controversial, racially-charged ad campaign reportedly planned by a Republican super PAC.
His campaign subsumed by a political firestorm first sparked by a New York Times report on a proposed campaign attacking President Obama for his ties to the controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Romney appeared on camera to disavow the strategy.
"I want to make it very clear that I repudiate that effort. I think it's the wrong course for a PAC or a campaign," Romney told reporters after his rainy event here today. "I hope that our campaigns can respectively be about the future and about issues and about a vision for America."
First Read: Race front and center in 2012 campaign
The press conference -- a rarity for those following the Romney campaign -- reflected the urgency with which Romney and his advisers felt compelled to distance the candidate from the controversial proposal. Romney had initially passed on commenting this morning, saying he hadn't seen the story, before taping a radio interview this morning condemning the proposal.
Mary Altaffer / AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, speaks May 17 at the River City Brewing Company in Jacksonville, Fla.
The plan, which was presented by Strategic Perception and GOP ad man Fred Davis to Joe Ricketts, the owner of the Chicago Cubs, earned heavy backlash from the Obama campaign and many Republicans on Thursday. By mid-afternoon, Ricketts had disavowed the plan, and Strategic Perception had taken sole responsibility for the proposal, on which they said no action was taken.
Ricketts: I'm not going to use Jeremiah Wright
Vice President Joe Biden, campaigning this afternoon in Pennsylvania, condemned the proposed ad campaign, saying its proponents "act like it's 1942."
"I think these guys like that so misunderstand the state of the nation," he told reporters at an unscheduled stop at a Washington, PA BBQ restaurant. "They act like it's 1942. I mean, I think the public is so far beyond that."
Biden said that he'd heard reports that the proposed ad had been rejected by Ricketts.
"I mean look there are certain things that are sorta so morally clear and straight and straight-lined about it," he said. "You almost don't even wanna comment."
Republicans anxiously discourage racially-charged super PAC strategy
But for as much as Romney's press conference served ostensibly defensive purposes, the presumptive Republican nominee used the moment to go on the attack, as well.
Romney said he was "disappointed" in what he claimed was the president's campaign of "character assassination," complaining that ads recently released by the Obama campaign attacking Romney's work at the helm of Bain Capital were inaccurate and unfair.
Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty talks about a GOP Super PAC's idea to bring back into the spotlight President Barack Obama's link to Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
"There's this fiction that some have that somehow you can be successful by stripping assets at an enterprise and walking away with lots of money and killing the enterprise. There may be some people that know how to do that. I sure don't," Romney said. "Our approach was always to try and make the enterprise more successful. And the purpose of the president's ads are not to describe success and failure but to somehow suggest that I'm not a good person or not a good guy."
But the controversy of the day largely overshadowed Romney's bread-and-butter campaign speech about the economy. And for the political class, the Wright controversy also sidelined a more favorable story about the Romney campaign's fundraising success last month.
In Jacksonville, Romney argued the election ought to turn on who has the best plan for "jobs and kids," a catchphrase he was first heard using at a fundraiser last month in Palm Beach, where he will return later this evening for another fundraiser.
The Sunshine State has been good to Romney's campaign financially. Pool reports from his fundraisers show he raised more than $2 million apiece at stops yesterday near Tampa Bay and Miami. Romney declined to say whether Florida was a "must win" for his campaign, but closed his press conference by saying it was a state he was "counting on to be successful in."
Carrie Dann reported from Washington, Pa.
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How can anybody be so simple as the extreamists involved in this election?
It is about jobs stupid. It is not about religion or most of the faux issues being generated by both sides to cover their unwillingness to grab the real focal issue in this pivitol time for working class Americans, who will vote this issue. It's like these folks have on headphones and they are listening to heavy metal. Romney seems to get it. He might flip and screw us royally but right now he has only one ball in the air, and that is the economy which is synonymous with jobs.rightisright-5861504
yeah ap. bush was soooooo bad with the 4 percent unemployment AND record revenue to the federal govt. and so much work i had to turn alot down. Terrible man! LOL
DUDE what color is the sky in your world? Record revenue? Record revenue spent. Financial bailout and two front war that didn't need to be fought. He made the dems look like tight wads. He also set up any administration that followed for one big financial debacle. Obama or McCain it didn't matter.
They were screwed from the get-go.
Ah Feisty....always have to be first.....AGAIN!
Five of eight stories in the Politics section of the MSNBC front page are about the Jeremiah Wright story, AFTER it was denounced and REJECTED by Romney. Talk about beating a dead horse ! How many different takes can there be on "But if he did run it............"? He didn't and that's that.
Overlooking your bigotted attacks on religion, one is left with the simple fact that you liberal freeloaders can't fathom a candidate with morals, because you can only judge from your candidate who has none.
Religion has no place in todays world. It is the reason we are no longer #1 in any category. Before 1980, we had enough sense to keep the silliness out of politics. Hell, Reagan even knew better, even though he eventually caved in to evangelicals. I wish a smart politician could speak the truth and not have to lie about his personal beliefs in order to be elected.
You very apooparently weren't around during the religious debate that went on during the 1960 Kennedy campaign. It was nearly as acrimonious as the statements that have gone on lately about Mr. Romney and his religion.
"Romney is a liar and a hypocrite"
How long have you known him now?
Charles Krauthammer put it best:
Krauthammer, during the panel segment on the May 17 Special Report with Bret Baier on FNC:
Did they ever find out why Donald Young ...that gay choir guy... was killed in that racist OBummer church?
Why did they have him killed?
Jello heads
This would seem to be a case where the liberal news media really dropped the ball. If they want Obama to win, they should have said nothing and just let the ad campaign air.
It is really weird, though, that supposedly no contact is allowed between SuperPACs and the actual campaigns. By having this strategy "leaked" to the press, it is basically allowing Romney to provide input directly to the PAC through the "filter" of the media.
It will be a very good day when we finally pass a Constitutional Amendment modifying campain finances. This is going to be one seriously long and ugly campaign season.
Romney take the high road and attack Obama on his political record.
1. Unemployment still is over 8%. (Depending on who you listen to a net job loss of a half a million jobs)
2. A failed Stimulus (I know Bush signed it in, but Obama did not try to prevent it or scale it back in any way)
3. An unconstitutional ACA (not popular with most Americans)
4. The continued perpetuation and waging of war (broken campaign promise)
5. Overregulation in almost every aspect of banking
6. Gitmo remains open
7. Still a trillion dollar deficit (broken campaign promise)
His record speaks for itself. Now every negative ad needs to be on Obama's record, not on his associations with racist bigoted preachers.
How presuptive of Willard to assume that there is any character there to be assassinated in the first place.
Have you ever noticed that the Mittster looks like a younger Ron Popeil selling a chop o matic when he is on the stump? Check out the Youtube videos of Ronco.
Sherman....you are right..there is no "character"..."no morals"...only an arrogrant radical racist Barrack Hussein Obama...
Super Pac.....run the damn ad's..
I hope Romney plays the Faith Card. Then the country would really see what the Mormon faith is all about and all the crazy things Romney really believes in.......
Come on now we know what this is really about. Mittens don't want to go there on religion because he knows that it will turn back on his religion. Don't think he is doing the dem's a favor.
why would obama listen to or have anything to do with rev wright? remember, wingnuts, obama is a muslim! why would he associate with a christian and take advice from him? you people are insane! today he is muslim, tomorrow christian. today he was born in kenya tomorrow hawaii - today he is black and white. tomorrow he is white and black - at least when you tell lies, remember to be consistant - no wait - the great unwashed majority have a real short memory - feed us anything - we will believe
Gee do you really think so there Mr. SilverSpoon
Romney, you are so right, you are NOT a GOOD GUY by any stretch of the imagination! You can't lie your way into the White House! Our illustrious President Obama didn't, so why do you have to? We, the 99% American People, can answer that, you are nothing, nothing but a corrupt Republican corporate political puppet! The likes of which, we, the 99%, have ALREADY HAD TOO MUCH OF! We don't want a self-proclaimed businessman to run our country! The government is supposed to be a DEMOCRACY, a SERVICE FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT a corrupt Republican corporate MONARCH taking advantage of its people! That's HYPOCRISY! So, stop your lying & double-talk, we know you for what you are; and that is a POLITICAL PUPPET for the corrupt Republican corporate MONARCH who have made SLAVES OF THE 99% American People because of their CAPITALISTIC GREED of which there is ZERO CONTROL OVER, because of political puppets like you! YOU ARE NOT A GOOD PERSON!
Isn't Mr Wright old news yet?
I meanmy word-Mr Romney has yet tosay howhe wil pay for exrending the Bush tax cuts before January.If itis going to be allcuts, he'sno chance of winning in Novemeber. And where is the press of this? why they haven't said a word-and here they go on and on about "Bushes first day" in sort of fantasy land.
What's Mitts advice going to be if Greece blows up and pulls out of the EU causing collapse in Europe that might be both contagious and uncontrollable? Mitt has said front and center he doesn't want to deal with it tll ater November-well, it he's no up tosnuff now, whenwillhe be?
To pparaphrase prhase Dick Cheny -we can't wait the the mushroom cloud of financial imollation in Europe sbefore deciding what to to. And wait for the "rock bottome" is a clear nonstater of analterative. Who wnat to wiat for 4 years for an unraveling to end, patienly twiddle our fingers? Ponney alread yoffered that solution for the american housing cirisis.. Thenhe cricized Obama for not moving theencony along..
Well if it is supposed to wait for bottom, why cricize him for speeding this up? Wasn't it slow what you wanted? If yousay it'snot fast enough-thenhow doyou reach rock bottom?.
This is clueless inconsistency-and directionless economics too.
And where is the press on this: What would Romney do? Where are the Romney Alternative-assuming for all the big talkhe has some.And what if he doesn't? Where is romney then? His whole resume has been Mr Finance Pro?
Sso where's the Beef, M r Romney and we aren't taling of Scott Brown type either! NO Playgirl cover for You!. And let'sn ot wiat till after the deal is done-and then say you're agaist it. That's a cowards way out-and you've pulled that stunt once too many times.
If Greece goes,do Italy and Spain go too? And what happenes then?
For get Mr Wright-concentrate onreal problems for a change!
How hypocritical of the neo nazis repubs to try to say that Rev Wright has too much influence on the Pres. I guess the neo nazis religious right has no influence on the Repubs. Hey what's the difference between an radical right wing religious republican, a radical islamist jihadist and a radical Jew? Absolutely nothing they believe in hate, and that their way is the only way.
The Rev. is a bitter and disgusing man who is filled with hate - - - - - and like Obama said, "He is like an uncle to me." Their connection is definitely fair game...
Finally a real man (mitt) with common sense and puts principal ahead of $ . Not like buckwheat He will do any thing for a buck even throw his own soul under the bus.
January 2013 will begin an official year of mourning for liberals to remember their fallen leader, Barack Hussein Obama, BARRY for short. The work required to walk to the mail box for their unemployment check will be replaced with direct deposit...
DREAM ON, Republican't. You are so dillusional with your dreaming that the Mitt will be President. You will be the ones cryin' ,as you Republicans including the "Weeper of the House" are realy good at. DREAM ON.............
OBAMA /BIDEN 2012
ingenious, the republicans put out a bad ad and then have romney dismiss it, to make it look like he is a good man.
Romney is right that the Jerimiah Wright case is the wrong way to go for his campaign. That aside, most of what he is now using fit's in the same vein. His speech's are made up of half truths and just plain lies. He is the most ridiculous choice for the Republicans to choose to run against President Obama. Newt Gingrich would have made a better opponent. I agree with the person who posted above me, IT'S CURTAINS FOR MITTENS.....
THE BAIN EXPERIENCE '' IS WHAT AMERICA'S BEEN TRYING TO AVOID '' , FOR GOD SAKES !!!!!!! ; bring on the debates , pleaseeeeeeeeee !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE BAIN EXPERIENCE '' IS WHAT AMERICA'S BEEN TRYING TO AVOID '' , FOR GOD SAKES !!!!!!! ; bring on the debates , pleaseeeeeeeeee !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!