Romney casts himself as 'change' candidate in seizing on Obama comment

 

SARASOTA, FL—Mitt Romney seized on remarks delivered by President Obama today, attempting to seize the role of “change” candidate after the president seemed to suggest in a televised forum that he could not change Washington from the inside.

"We face a Washington that’s broken, that can’t get the job done. The president today threw in the white flag of surrender again. He said he can’t change Washington from inside. He can only change it from outside,” Romney said. “Well, we’re going to give him that chance in November. He’s going outside!”

Romney was referring to an answer President Barack Obama gave to Spanish-language broadcaster Univision at a forum in Miami just a few hours before Romney took the stage. At the forum, which Romney attended last night, the president was asked to name his biggest failure.

The president told the forum’s moderator that he felt his biggest failure was in not passing comprehensive immigration reform, then pivoted to lessons-learned.

“The most important lesson I've learned is that you can't change Washington from the inside. You can only change it from the outside,” bama said. “That's how I got elected, and that's how the big accomplishments, like health care, got done, was because we mobilized the American people to speak out.”

Romney campaign aides, on the defensive for much of the last week over Romney’s surreptitiously-recorded comments in a May fundraiser, began blasting out the comments on social media, while other aides brought them to Romney’s attention on the nine-minute drive from his lunchtime fundraiser to the afternoon rally.

Taking the podium under sweltering conditions, Romney attacked.

“This is time for a new president. He went from the president of change to the president who can’t get change,” Romney said. “I heard it from the reports that came out and they said the president of the United States says he can’t change Washington from the inside. Isn’t that amazing?”

“No wonder he’s had such a hard time over the last four years his first two years he had a Democratic house, Democratic senate, he got to do whatever the heck he wanted to but he says he can’t change it from the inside,” Romney continued. “Well I will. I’ll get the job done, we’ll change Washington we’ll restore the economic strength."

Republicans quickly flagged Obama's line as indicative of Obama's failure to deliver on high expectations he created as a candidate in 2008. The GOP argued that Obama's comment amounted to a concession that business persists as usual in Washington.

Noting that Obama regularly refers to change in Washington as slow-moving and a goal that must be sought for from outside the capital. "Change is hard" has become a refrain for Obama in his campaign stops, his plea to supporters from 2008 whose enthusiasm has waned.

The Obama campaign quickly labeled Romney’s comments as “wildly out of context,” and called the attack built on them an act of desperation.

Nevertheless, the Romney campaign, sensing an opening, made the concept of Romney-as-change-candidate the centerpiece of today’s rally here in a county John McCain won by only a few hundred votes four years ago, but where Republicans see an opportunity to run up large margins this November.

“Now I know that the people of America have a choice. They can choose thecurrent incumbent. He represents the status quo. If we reelect Barack Obama you know exactly what we're going to see,” Romney said, adding that a vote for the GOP ticket this fall would be a vote for “real change.”

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You idiot Obama supporters are a REAL laugh. You are so afraid that Mr. Romney will be elected and you will lose your food stamps and welfare checks that you would vote for Obama, your Messiah that in reality hates you, all American citizens and our country. A person that isn't really an American citizen but an impostor.

Obama has proven that he doesn't have a clue what a president is supposed to do and has dragged our country down to the edge of another great depression. Stop and ask yourself what is going to happen if Obama is re-elected and you lose all your benefits because no one is working and the money that taxpayers usually provide you with all those great goodies you have been getting stops. What then folks? Guess you will just have to get up off your asses and get a job.

As for the people that have struggled through our economy and have worked their butts off trying to provide for their families but because of one situation or another have been laid off and have been unable to find work, this comment is NOT aimed at you. I am talking about the loafers that have never held a job but have relied on the taxpayers for support. Just keep in mind, with Mr. Romney you will be able to find work again because you have the skills, experience and motivation to work. If Obama wins, he will demand that those with no experience, skills or motivation will be hired first, although they won't be qualified for the jobs they will be given. An example of this is the teachers in Chicago and Obama himself.

  • 4 votes
Reply#314 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:14 PM EDT

Re-distribution does not work. It's been tried and failed. The welfare program has been abused by thousands and still is being abused. Now it will be abused more than ever. The biggest problem is there are no jobs so even for those that want to work they can't. It's a big fat mess and going to get worse before it gets better.

Light at the end of the tunnel. Things are exactly as they were when Nixon went up for re-election. History will repeat itself and Romney is going to win this. I beleive the American people are not dumb enough to fall for this scam again.

Obama is the man with no plan. All his budgets have been rejected by his own party and well as the Republicans. How bad could they be that his own party shoots them down?

  • 1 vote
#314.1 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:49 PM EDT
Reply

A few great quotes from Bobby:

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.

Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies.

  • 1 vote
Reply#315 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:15 PM EDT

Romney has never siezed anything. His Republican buddies are broken as they leave Vets out in the cold on the job bill today.

Vote out 2 idiot republican senators and start fixing America.

  • 8 votes
Reply#316 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:15 PM EDT

Obama said HE was gong to fix America. Guess he FAILED.

  • 3 votes
#316.1 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:23 PM EDT

I agree, the republicans screwed things up beyond repair. But the sad thing is, we won't get to see the dumb carp like look on your pathetic mug the day you realize romney just shoved a broom stick up your arse.

  • 2 votes
#316.2 - Sat Sep 22, 2012 3:27 PM EDT
Reply

Once again, the President made a statement about the impotence of politics and the power of the People, and once again, Willard missed the boat entirely. What the President said, Mitt, is that Washington will never be changed by politicians -- "from the inside" -- because politicians benefit from structure in Washington. Even if you could change Washington, Willard, we all know that you won't, because you're a politician. What the President said is that Washington can only be changed by the American People -- "from the outside." With unmitigated arrogance, Romney wrongly claims the power of change as his own; Obama rightly assigns the power of change to the People.

  • 6 votes
Reply#317 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:16 PM EDT

All this "change" comes from my wallet and goes to Romney's buddies.

  • 3 votes
Reply#318 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:17 PM EDT

mitt the $hitt head

  • 4 votes
Reply#319 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:17 PM EDT

CubsFan2012

Obama is the loose change candidate.

Romney is the positive change candidate.

  • !

#305.1 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:07 PM MDT

cubsfan2012: Hate to say it, but you, Liar romney and the cubs all will lose in 2012. What do you think now. Liar romney changes his mind non stop, and his Etch A Sketch is broken, so he will have to use his mouth from now on to change his mind ever 5 minutes. Never seen such a loser in all my life and I've been a U.S. citizen for 59 years, born and raised and yes I'm one of those 47% that he doesn't care about. So all I have to say for him and you is, get the crying towel out on november 7th, you will need it.

O&Joe will win in 2012 and so will our country.

  • 2 votes
Reply#320 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:19 PM EDT

Another socialist. Go see obama 2016 and you will see the real obama. Romney is the top of his class. He admitted that his comment on the mideast crisis would hurt his campaign but said, "I dont care about the campaign", proving that he cares about the american people not votes, unlike obama who is in this for votes and not us. He is ruining our country along with pelosi and reid.

  • 2 votes
#320.1 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:23 PM EDT
Reply

News flash, obama reveals and speaks the truth, " I cant change washington from the inside", No kidding barak, You have not changed a thing. Oh wait yeah you did you made it worse and you are a lousy leader.

  • 2 votes
Reply#321 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:20 PM EDT

Yes, Mitt is definitely the candidate of change alright! He changes his lies, his rhetoric, everything and on a daily basis, depending on which way the wind is blowing. The only thing about him that doesn't change is that everything he says is a lie and he should NEVER be allowed to take an oath of office. What a farce that would be!! If he lies now, he'll lie as president. Right now the lies he tells are about Barack Obama. If he becomes president the lies he will be telling will be to the American people like "you'll just have to trust me" when asked about his income taxes. And I would never trust anyone who impersonated a police officer. Pretty creepy.

  • 4 votes
Reply#322 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:23 PM EDT

"Change candidate". Now that's hysterical....so glad I read that before I go to bed. Gave me a good giggle. I mean, Mitt and change are synonymous. Look up "change" u see mitt's face. He changes every day. Every single day!!!!!

  • 3 votes
Reply#323 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:26 PM EDT

Look at his stellar record in mass. Completely turned around the deficit and then made mass the highest quality education in the country. Yeah sure failed there? You refuse to read about his record. It speaks for itself.

  • 2 votes
Reply#324 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:26 PM EDT

Obama is the king of liars and promises he didn't intend to keep when he made them. Obama will say and do anything for votes but that's as far as it gets.

He has proven repeatedly that is is a total failure as a president and will go down in history as the worst president EVER. He is devoted to his Muslim brotherhood and is nothing more than a radical Muslim that set out to destroy our country. Hopefully he will have to stand trial for treason and being an impostor and will live out the rest of his life in prison and will live a miserable existence in misery and sodomy.

  • 2 votes
Reply#325 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:45 PM EDT

Romney is a classic reactionary, who pines for the good old days circa 1950. He has yet to come to grips with the new realities of the 21st century.

Romney's economic policy is based on the archaic cliche "What is good for business is good for the country", which was mostly true prior to the globalization era, when American business was rooted in the US economy.

For better or worse the US government and people do not seem to be able to grasp the new reality of world competition in both the economic and political arenas, including the rise of Socialism as the only rational social and economic way forward.

Romney will attempt to recapture what cannot be captured, and in the process inflict more pain and suffering on the American people.

  • 2 votes
Reply#326 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:46 PM EDT

Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop

  • 2 votes
Reply#327 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:47 PM EDT

Again you must be talking about the Flip Flops coming out of the White House this week over the violence in the Middle East. These folks just can't get the story right yet. They are scrambling around looking for a way to blame someone else for their own failed policies. You have NO room to talk about flip flopping. 4 of our people died horrible this week due to the Obama's failure.

  • 1 vote
#327.1 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:07 AM EDT
Reply

One can only remember how stupid Bush II looked standing underneath the "Mission Accomplished" banner just weeks after America's military deployment in Afghanistan, then going on a wild goose chase for imaginary WMDs in Iraq... It took the Obama administration to refocus America's counter-terrorism strategy back onto the terrorists which resulted in the capture and death of bin Laden...The USA and NATO are armed and ready to protect the USA and our European allies should any of these Arab Spring nations endanger our the national security of the West. Face it, many of these Middle Eastern nations used the film degrading Mohammad as an excuse to riot and vent their anger over each of their individual nation's political problems. These nations in turmoil need to work out their own problems, and the USA cannot afford to send troops to do "nation building" in Libya or Egypt or wherever...It's time to focus our efforts on our OWN nation's economy and the American people...America cannot afford another 10+ year war in the Middle East and those like Romney and Netanyahu who try to provoke it are the ones who are CLUELESS. Obama 2012

  • 3 votes
Reply#328 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:47 PM EDT

Nov. 2012 Vote for a better free America !!

Romney - Ryan The only way to vote.

    Reply#329 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:49 PM EDT

    Whoa? You've got to be freaking kidding!!!

    • 3 votes
    #329.1 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:06 AM EDT
    Reply

    Yeah he is a candidate of change. He changes his reply
    depending on who he is talking to.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#330 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:53 PM EDT

    Listen people this is no way to solve the countries problems. Inane, non-sensical bickering, name calling misinformation! Lets face it both parties are to blame for this mess we are in. The mismanagement by our elected officials is treasonous and has led to the decline of our great country. The problem is that no one is doing what is right for America. We have been lied to, cheated, divided by the grand puppet masters pulling our strings every two to four years... making us hate each other! We are like lemmings following the "Pied Piper" getting ready to jump off a cliff into the sea. The media confounds this problem by being biased and reporting on stories that mean nothing in the overall spectrum of things. The world is on fire, on the brink of financial collapse, terrorism is not going away, Iran is about to go NUKE and we get stories about "he said-she said" in order to stoke the fires of division between us. Ah yes the puppet masters at work! What is amazing is that not many people realize this. WAKE UP! I believe that our voting choices are mostly always down to vote for the best of the worst. Occasionally a good candidate appears but that is rare. It like the Southpark episode where the voters have a choice between a "Giant Douche" or a "@!$%# Sandwich". Unfortunately that is the way our system operates.

    We are going to have to make some hard choices and there will be some pain, but we will survive and get stronger for it. However we must agree on some basic areas to save the country for our children.

    1) We cannot survive the debt we are incurring, this is the most predictable demise of our country.

    2) We must close our southern border, we cannot allow people to break our laws, take advantage of our jobs, resources, educational systems etc. Also this is in our national security, we need protection from drug cartels and terrorists.

    3) We need to be energy independent. This is a matter of national security. It will create jobs for Americans. It will lower energy costs for our families. It will also keep from sending our petro dollars to countries that dislike us and keep that money in this country creating jobs and building up OUR INFRASTRUCTURE!

    4) Some regulation is good but the amount of regulations coming from Washington is stifling business.

    5) Lower taxes across the board on individuals and corporations. Currently we have the highest corporate taxes in the world. Don't you think lowering these would stimulate jobs and investment? And bring more jobs back to the US? Also a broader tax base with more people working will create more revenue for the government.

    6) Do not pay a single dime in extra taxes to the government regardless of your station in life. Why? Because no matter how much they get they always need more! Its like a disease. No American should have to sacrifice any more until the wasteful government gets it house in order and stops partying on our tax dollars.

    7) Have a real jobs program

    8) Respect and follow the Constitution. It is the guideline and road map for our country. It preserves our freedoms that people have died to protect.

    Now it is up to you to help save this country not divide it. You must get past party affiliations and vote to save this country. Don't vote for a bumper sticker. If the country fails we all fail and we will not be able to help anyone. As I humbly see it one man has not been up to the job and the other has a way better chance of implementing and changing some of the issues I have listed above. This side bickering over minor issues pales in the light of the big picture. So I say vote for the "Giant Douche" and help save our nation.

    ROMNEY/RYAN 2012

    • 2 votes
    Reply#331 - Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:55 PM EDT

    3) We need to be energy independent. This is a matter of national security. It will create jobs for Americans. It will lower energy costs for our families.

    How exactly?

    • 1 vote
    #331.1 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:03 AM EDT

    "Currently we have the highest corporate taxes in the world." I know your Republican mentors would like everyone to believe this so that they could get an even bigger break than they have, but you are simply wrong. The advertised rate may be higher, but nobody pays that because of all the subsidies and tax loopholes they can take advantage of. Actually many high profit, multi-billion dollar corporations not only pay no taxes, they get money back. The current tax burden on corporations and the wealthy is at its lowest point in decades. I haven't noticed that fact has produced many jobs.

    • 4 votes
    #331.2 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:15 AM EDT
    Reply

    What Romney needs to change is his magic underwear as often as he changes his policies because his campaign is beginning to stink.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#332 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:00 AM EDT

    Let Obama's record speak for him. Lie,lie, lie, more lies. The say anything and do nothing president. Total failure. Four more years of Obama means destruction to us and our country. Send him back to Kenya so he can live in his dung and straw hut. That's more than he deserves after what he has done to our country.

    Romney - Ryan

    The only way we will get our country back on track.

      Reply#333 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:01 AM EDT

      Here's a lesson for America. You vote for a president in 2008 on the premise of change, and then you castrate him in 2010 because he hasn't fixed EVERYTHING fast enough for your liking, even in the midst of a shattered economy and relentless obstruction from the opposing Party. And then you continue to blame, blame, blame him for everything. If that is truly how almost half the country thinks, then America has some serious mental issues.

      More than half of this country should be ashamed of themselves and stop holding Obama accountable for all the problems of the entire country. It is irresponsible and immature. The country is ONLY going to improve when both parties start working together, and the Republicans made it clear from the get-go that they had zero interest in working with THIS president. In giving the House back to the Republicans in 2010, America reaped what it sowed ... further obstruction and an extremist right-wing agenda that has no place in America in the 21st century. The far-right wing and Tea Party have hijacked the Republican Party and are bringing America down, NOT Obama.

      • 2 votes
      Reply#334 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:03 AM EDT

      grandall

      Obama hasn't fixed anything!! If he had twenty more years as president, he still wouldn't fix anything. It would just mean more destruction to us and our country.

      The sheeple are realizing that Obama is losing and are getting desperate. Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan will win this election in spite of the idiots that are supporting Obama.

        #334.1 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:22 AM EDT

        Obama's dad should have been castrated long before Obama was conceived. Just the thought gives me that tingly feeling . Imagine, no Odumbo. Kinda makes me want to sing, Oh happy days, Oh happy days.

          #334.2 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:30 AM EDT
          Reply

          change to a different color ?.or dose he mean changing his mind on a issue ?

          • 1 vote
          Reply#335 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:15 AM EDT

          I think we do have a pretty good idea of what President Obama would like to accomplish in his second term. I don't think the same can be said about what Romney would like to accomplish in his first, should he be elected. As far as I can tell, he wants us to accept his "principles" and wait for the programs until after he takes office.

          • 2 votes
          Reply#336 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:17 AM EDT

          Hobby

          More supply always drops the cost in free markets. Just the insinuation of America stepping up oil production causes OPEC to drop their prices on crude. Besides shipping oil halfway around the world cannot be as cost effective as producing more in your own country. Also if we can exploit natural gas in the long run it will be cheaper and cleaner to burn in cars and at electrical plants. We will not be at the mercy of other countries in case of conflicts around the world. I am sure you remember all the oil spikes mostly every time there is unrest in the Middle East. But the extra bonus is more American Jobs and investment in infrastructure.

            Reply#337 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:17 AM EDT

            Thank you for your reply. Most wouldn't. :)

            More supply has the potential to lower prices however you also remember why many of our current wells were not producing 5 or 10 yrs ago? Because it was not economically feasible to do so given the price of oil was so low... no money to be made. THAT is the issue that will prevent us from having lower prices... because our economy is a "supply side" economy.

            Even IF we drilled our way to the most oil produced in 50 yrs, you would literally have to produce enough to marginalize all the opec nations to change the level of stability in the market. Even then, it is still a supply side market where the prices are not set based on reserves but instead in what producers are willing to produce. Why would anyone who makes money selling oil want the price to drop? It is counterproductive to their profits.

            Still, oil is only one issue... and in the current environment, really mainly a political issue since most people don't realize the vast majority of oil we import doesn't come from the middle east any more anyway. The bigger financial issue is the petro we export... not oil(since as I understand it we aren't allowed to sell crude oil) but refined petro... gas, diesel, jet fuel, etc. We have almost no restrictions on exporting those commodities and we do indeed export a lot... and every drop we pay for that is at market price as well.

            Natgas? Abut every two years or so we see a spike. It is also a global market and subject to the same problems a oil... unless you are able to produce AND sell enough to marginalize the trouble makers. Again, producers will charge as much as they can and will cut back on supply(production) just like OPEC does now to keep the price as high as possible.

            Still, we can't live without energy however, if we reduce our need for NG and oil to say 10 or 20% of total energy needs, I should think that the cost of energy(generally) would be reduced. Yes, I'm a wind and solar and electric car advocate. Since electricity isn't a globally traded commodity, and the "fuel" that provides it isn't traded at all, it is the only way I see that can effectively reduce our dependence as a country... from not just NG and oil, but the producers and "speculators" as well... short of nationalizing our resources in the name of national defense. Our economy can not tolerate the kinds of inflated prices and fluctuations that we have seen in history(I'm sure we agree on this).

            In the end, you can drill all you want... prove all the reserves you say you have... but you still have to convince producers that lower prices and increased production, in light of no alternative resources, is in their best interest. Good luck with that.

              #337.1 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:55 AM EDT
              Reply

              Romney is the candidate of change, but not the kind of change you think. Romney's idea of change is changing his views and opinions several times a day, depending on the audience he's talking to at the time. More accurately, Mr. Romney is the etch-a-sketch candidate. He claims all sides of a debate and hopes voters are not paying attention. Republicans don't care, but independents and democrats do and understand his bait and switch campaign strategy.

              • 4 votes
              Reply#338 - Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:19 AM EDT
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