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TOLEDO, OH -- Mitt Romney on Wednesday pointed to the health care reform law he enacted as governor of Massachusetts as proof of his empathy and care for the American people.
In an interview with NBC News, Romney referenced an element of his record he almost never invokes on the campaign trail to answer a question about how he can better connect with Americans and prove he understands the lives and trials of middle class Americans.
"I think throughout this campaign as well, we talked about my record in Massachusetts, don't forget -- I got everybody in my state insured," Romney told NBC's Ron Allen in an interview before his rally here tonight. "One hundred percent of the kids in our state had health insurance. I don't think there's anything that shows more empathy and care about the people of this country than that kind of record."
A new CBS/New York Times poll shows Obama leading in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Romney is focused on wooing the swing state of Ohio which has been won by every Republican who ever became president. NBC's Ron Allen reports.
Romney's health care law in Massachusetts has long been a lightning rod issue for conservatives, who unfavorably compare it to President Barack Obama's own federal law and as a damning reflection on Romney's conservative bonafides.
The former Massachusetts governor also touched on another portion of his biography that he seldom discusses to connect with average Americans: his time as a Mormon pastor.
"I think people have the chance, who watched our Republican convention, to see the lives that I've had a chance to touch during my life, to understand that as I served as a pastor of a congregation with people of all different backgrounds and economic circumstances that I care very deeply about the American people, people of different socio-economic circumstances," Romney told Allen.
Taking the stage for the final rally of his two-day Ohio bus tour moments later, Romney also spoke about the importance of compassion in his speech and said his interactions with Americans from all lots in life have shown him the greatness of America -- and that everyone has challenges of their own.
"You look around, you see everybody, they look happy, and you think everybody else is doing just fine, and you're the only one with problems. But the truth is, most people that you see have some real challenges in their life of one kind or another. I understand that," Romney said. "And I've seen that inside the heart of the American people, despite our challenges, is a conviction that this nation is the greatest nation in the history of the earth."
Reuters, Getty Images
In the final push in the 2012 presidential election, candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama make their last appeals to voters.
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I think Nit Wit Mitt does have "Empathy" for THOSE people!
Wink, Wink!
You Betcha!
Romney exists in an Osterizer. One minute he's bragging to the press about making sure Mass had health care for everyone.....whirrrrrr....a few minutes later he's speaking to an audience and immediately blasts "Obamacare". This idiot thinks the average voter is stupid and can't remember all the contradictory nonsense he blows out from one day to the next. Here's a news flash for ya, Mitt: the average voter has a memory that works. We can recognize a colossal phony when we see one. Tag....you're it!
Thomas, That would make sense if he wasn't clueless. I don't know why all of these college students don't stop by the parents and borrow enough to pay for that college, that's what his kids would do. (sarc)
Willard, your so-called capacity for experiencing the feelings and thoughts of another was for the most part inclusive of Mass. What about the other contiguous states? Why did you fail to foster empathy during your infamous 47 other's speech aimed at your inner circle of the wealthy? Your campaign is reminiscent of that old tv commercial that stated, "give it to Michael, he eats anything". In public tell them what you think they want to hear; privately however, will the real Willard please stand up. Pathetic Willard wouldn't know what empathy was if it were to slap his face.
I am absolutely convinced that Mitt has empathy. In fact I think he's full of it.
I have nothing but respect for Mr. Romney ...
... and very little of that!
O and Joe! Four More Years!
So is Obama...........here is his plan for Soc Sec
In the usual conservative sanitary environment that is MSNBC, liberals can normally relax, knowing that they won’t be asked any difficult questions. However, Time‘s Mark Halperin cordially asks David Axelrod about the President’s plan for Social Security, since he never mentioned it on 60 Minutes the night before …Axelrod begins to stutter…
That’s correct. He said, ‘this is not the time.’ What do you mean, ‘this is not the time’? You mean to tell me that Obama expects to campaign on the Pelosi-like plan of ‘elect me again, and then I’ll tell you what my plan is’? And then he has the nerve to smugly condescend, saying, “Mark, I’ll tell you what, when you get elected to the United States Senate and sit at that table…”
No, Dave …I’ll tell you what… if the President doesn’t have a plan (even a half-baked one would be nice), then we’re going to get ourselves a new President.
Also, Ed Morrissey makes another good point:
Prior to the ACA and if Romney gets his way, Medicare goes insolvent in 2016.
Under the ACA Medicare solvency is extended to 2024.
Really? and what's with Soc Sec? That is something that everyone pays into, and Obama has no plan to correct it and try to save it? That says a lot for the community organizer! And Romney wants to give the power to the states not have it run by the U.S. Govt....that make one hell of a difference as each state has it's own unique requirements...
Yes, really.
SS is solvent until about 2036-2041 if nothing changes at all. Even then it doesn't go bankrupt, it woould just not be able to pay out 100% of benefits. It would gradually start to slide from 99%, 98%, etc.
With minor tweaks, like extending retirement age, increasing the SS payroll and employer taxes, etc. solvency can be extended. It isn't as urgent of an issue as Medicare.
Here are many legislative proposals to increase the solvency of SS.
http://www.ssa.gov/oact/solvency/index.html
Giving it over to the states would mean unequal services and probably would be unconstitutional.
Mr. Obamanation: YOU'RE FIRED!
re elect I think you need to read it again....it says that Obamacare did not save Medicare...and where is Obamanations plan to save Soc Sec???? the answer is he has no plan...
Romney's floppin all over the place. Its like the closer we get to the election, the dumber he gets.
Well, you know what happens to Superman when he get closer to kryptonite.
I'll bet you a dollar to a donut-hole that Mittens will say something outrageously "stooopid", again-- next week.
Sometimes, foot-in-mouth disease is so hard to cure. Mittens has gone off the deep end since that manure-meeting called a Tampa convention. That video about the "mooching 47%" ain't going anywhere.
Obama/Biden in 2012! No doubt!! 4 more for 44. FORWARD!
Who does this bozo think he's fooling? Richie Rich? Empathetic? Since when? He has run as fast as he could away from his record as governor. Did he mention that record at any time in the primaries? I don't think so. All he would say was that he would repeal the Affordable Care Act the first day in office. Was he lying then or is he lying now? One way or another, he's a liar.
This is the same idiot who said on 60 minutes that those without health insurance could always go to the ER. Yeah, like that's an inexpensive way to get healthcare. ERs have to treat everyone regardless of whether or not they have insurance, so guess who'll pay? That's right, boys and girls: the rest of us. So either Richie Rich doesn't have empathy for those without insurance, or he doesn't have empathy for the rest of us. One way or another, he doesn't have empathy.
Richie and Eddie Munster (aka Lyin' Ryan), his running mate, plan to voucherize Medicare. Their brilliant idea is to give vouchers worth maybe half of what health insurance cost thirty years ago to seniors, and then laugh when the seniors try to get insurance at those rates. Doesn't sound like empathy to me.
The tape showed us the REAL Romney and what he REALLY thinks of us. He didn't speak off the cuff, he spoke from his heart and mind.
He cannot for the life of him figure out why "aircraft" do not have windows that roll down.
I have a new campaign for him: Romney for Village Idiot! He'll win that one in a landslide!!
I haven't heard what the right's response to Romney's latest position change has been. Anybody care to comment.
"Socio-enonomic circumstances"? Really Willard? Could he be any robotic?
"Press the button and make me laugh!" ha!....ha!....ha!
"Who lets the dogs out? who?......who?......who?"
The U.S. has never before had a President who thinks so little of the American people that he imagines he can win re-election running on the opposite of reality. But that is the reality of President Obama today.
But Obama, is not as nuts as he may seem at times. He knows very well that he is not a careful spender. His whole mission is to transform the U.S. not into a Big Government country, but a Huge Government country, because only a country run by a Huge Government can be satisfactorily controlled by superior, all wise and beneficent individuals like himself. That is why he is at minimum a Swedish socialist, if not worse. Notice, though, how far behind the times he and his weak minded supporters are, as even the Swedes have abandoned Swedish socialism as a failure.
Romney/Ryan 2012
That's the most nonsensical nonsense that doesn't make sense of anything I have ever read.
Federal Government spending has only increased by 0.4% under Obama.
Mr. Linclon you're so very wrong. Mr. Obama is trying to take care of the people he is President of. You Neo-Cons are so wrapped up with Big Governement and petty paranoid selfishness you're ignoring the issue of meeting peoples needs.
Welcome, you sound paranoid. You need to do a little research on your own to settle your mind.
You're very correct WelcomeUSA, in your analysis. Obama knows exactly what he is doing. He is running for re-election, and as Michelle whispered in his ear at the funeral of a dead soldier, "All this for a stupid flag". Yes Michelle, I know. It's a lot of work, this campaigning, and it's interfering with my golf game, but if I don't get out and lie to the people to get their vote, I will have to go back to the White House and fake like I know how to do something. That's no good.
Well, not for a US Flag anyway. Obama degraded our flag and went and designed his own. Obama wants one thing, and he will lie to anyone about anything to get it. He wants the title of president. But, he knows nothing about being presidential.
Wake up people. He has lied and fooled you for so long, you sound like you are beginning to believe his crap. DEBT: 16+ trillion, and growing; gasoline: $4.00 gal; Unemployment: 8.5%; Security force added to protect our embassies in the middle east and around the world during the anniversary of 9/11 (after being warned of potential danger): ZERO; Number of deaths at a US consulate on 9/11 due to terrorist activities: 4, including one US ambassador; Number of World presidents or heads of state met with during the UN council meetings this week: ZERO. (He was too busy with Whoopie and Barbara to meet with Netanyahu and other country presidents. Besides, he might have had to do or say something presidential, and that would have been too much to ask of him.
All I can say is, Obama is an unbelievable and embarrassing disgrace to America. You leftists can have him, but please take him far away so we can fill the "empty chair" that sits in the Oval Office
kidspeak
I am going to have so much fun watching your ignorant little head explode when PRESIDENT Obama wins re-election.
You act like you know what's going on in Libya, guess what, you don't know jack squat. They haven released all the details yet. All you know is what Rush and Hannity tell you, and they don't know jack squat. In the end it will just be you wallowing in your hatred and the rest of us pointing and laughing at you. I can't wait. Oh, find a President who actually contreoils the price of gasoline and I'll show you a country who nationalized their oil companies. What a worthless troll you are.
Lincoln, you don't have a clue. First of all most of you neo-cons need to look up the definition of socialism. Because under Obama, government employment is down to lowest levels since the Clinton years; granted, bad economy. More importantly, it was Reagan who rushed in to destroy the unions and made all air traffic controllers federal employees, that's really worked out well I might add, near mid air collisions, employee's kids in the control tower and tower employees sleeping on the cush federal job. Then the pro-small-government, hehe!! bushnicons created created another HUGE layer of bureaucracy with the homeland security dept. A Huge overlapping of federal agencies so that he could act like he didn't have the intellegience to prepare for 9/11, i.e. MEMO: "Osama Bin Laden determined to strike in the United States" and making all airline screeners employees of the federal governement just to keep the Unions from gaining more members. These crazy expansions of federal employment is in direct contrast of the small-government platform that you republicans campaign on. Go figure...
In his video speech about the 47%-- Mittens says he wants to put 20,000 ttroops back into Iraq!
Question: Does't he include any of his 5 sons in wanting 20,000 troops back into Iraq??
he claims his 5 sons are serving their country by "helping him get elected".
Families of disabled and deceased veterans must love this guy.
There is going to be a bunch of sick Democrats in November when President Romney wins by 6 percent . He might even take California and New York .
Whatcha been smokin', Bama??
Whatcha been snortin', Bama??
Speaking of sick... there's a 47% taxpayer-paid padded cell with fushia-colored, striped strait-jacket waiting for you!
Obama/Biden in 2012! No doubt!!
Bama.....get your head around it please. It's just about over. I will say you guys deserved better than romney, as did all americans.
WORST CAMPAIGN EVER
Florida GOP Fired Romney Consultant's Voter Registration Firm After Fraudulent Forms Reported in Palm Beach
lol ...you can't even make this stuff up. These guys are buffoons. This isn't the 1980's or 90's where you could get away this scam (pre- global media)
I said it was going to come back and bite them in the A##!! Yet, they were so gung ho to try this and hope they could steal the election for Romney. This will blow up big in the next few weeks. Hmmm...makes you wonder what really happened in that infamous "Bush vs Gore Fl. voter recount" in the 2000 election
"The move came after the Palm Beach County, Fla., elections supervisor discovered 108 potentially fraudulent registration forms submitted by the GOP consulting firm, including suspected phony signatures and home addresses that matched those of a gas station, a medical building and a Land Rover dealership."
If that had been the Dems doing there would not be a single word about it and every lib would be crying foul...
Oh, right....I forgot....different day, so NOW Romney takes credit for Obamacare....after saying it would be eliminated his first day in office!! And the war on women, cuts to all social programs, Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, Soc Sec, elimination of home mortgage interest payments and taxes, cuts in student loans, elimination of Pell grants....THIS is just some of why the Republicans are dropping in the polls!! And if new Republicans are elected to the Senate or House, how long before they too will be signing a Grover Norquist anti-tax pledge!!!? They, too, will fear Norquist and Koch Bros. more than the voters who elected them!! Do not vote for any Republican, at any level!!!
Mr. Romney would have been better off taking credit for Obamacare based on the program in Mass. when he was governor, then said he wanted to tweak it for the whole country.
Stupid lousy campaign, worst ever. What a horrible waste of money.
Romney, describing Bain's formation, showed how he viewed the firm's mission. He explained that its goal was to identify potential and hidden value in companies, buy significant stakes in these businesses, and then "harvest them at a significant profit" within five to eight years.
"Bain Capital is an investment partnership which was formed to invest in startup companies and ongoing companies, then to take an active hand in managing them and hopefully, five to eight years later, to harvest them at a significant profit."
Willard Romney - 1985
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/1985-romney-bain-harvest-firms-profits-video
Eat, drink, and be happy for tomorrow you may die! Spend money like you are printing it and then look surprised when the dollars is in the thumper. I know all you MSNBC folks listen in on Kiss Madspews, Ismell Madcow, and Looney O'dummel and get all you talking points. They all spew the same crap all the time--you have to hand it to them--unlike Fox they make zero attempts to be balance on any story. That is what happens when the President can make chills go up and down your spine.
LoL ... what about Faux News and Lush Rimbaww; the daily pabulum you neo-cons lap up daily.
Obama-Biden 100% for the Americans
Biden? a draft dodger, alcoholic and anti segragetionist...
I am so proud of Michele Obama changing the school lunch menus. This is good for the children. As her husband continues to drive the country into bankruptcy, the "little darlins" will be prepared for the soup lines and conditioned to spend much of their time hungry.
I'm proud of the whole family. They are a beautiful young family in the White House, and we couldnt do better.
Yeah, who wants healthy children. I prefer the fat couch potato types we have right now, right iloveusa?
Willard is like a dazed fighter that is swinging in all directions. He contradicts himself daily. I guess it just depends on who the crowd is. Afew days ago it was go to the ER, healthcare problem solved. Now it's I feel your pain man, that why I enacted healthcare in Mass. In May it was 47% of the country are victims and moochers. I think I can explain it though. Willard has multiple personalities. That's the only explanation.
If healthcare reform in his state is a sign of empathy, why in the hell does he want to strip it away from the rest of the nation. I Guess the 53% that are taking responsibility for their own lives and that as president he needs to worry about all reside in Massachusetts. Now I get it. What a joke... Nov 6th, Come on already and get this idiot out of the media.
Wow....try as he may to "connect" with the American people...he continues to come off as being fake. He's missed his opportunity to "connect" when he shuttered the doors of American companies so that he and his investors could make millions. He missed his chance to "connect" with 47% of the so-called "victims" he referred to during a campaign fund raiser. He just fails to "connect" period. Seems like whenever he's trying to "connect," the only one who's benefitting is Mitt Romney.
Willard Romney as a young man joined in protests- TO CONTINUE THE VIETNAM WAR AND IN SUPPORT OF THE DRAFT. Then he proceded to take a "religious deferrment" and be a missionary in France, while other young men volunteered or were drafted.
Now, of course, he wants us to get into a shouting match with China, invade Iran, while he insults even our closest allies, like Great Britain.
If this idiot gets elected, the citizens of other countries will shake their heads in disgust at the American people. Obama managed to heal the wounds with our allies after the Bush debacle and name-calling. If we vote in another bozo, they will not be as forgiving this time.
Bush bankrupting the United States had a worldwide effect.
The Repubs keep talking about their big "debt clock". Yes, THEY BUILT THAT- the debt. The debt went up after Bush because THE UNFUNDED WARS AND MEDICARE PART D were finally added to the debt. Obama did not increase the debt- Bush did.
Biden evaded the draft, i.e. draft dodger, participated in anti segregation deomonstrations. sound real good.....and he is just a heartbeat away from being Pres...
Republicans, your party is going to hell in a handbasket. You have allowed extremists to take over. The nation wants to move on TOGETHER. We want hope and change- that's why we elected Obama in 2008. But, instead of joining in to fix things, your leaders have OBSTRUCTED EVERYTHING- and then try to pin the blame on Obama.
Beginning in Jan. 2009, the minority Republican Congress began fillibustering every bill. They refused ANY COMPROMISE UNLESS THEY GOT ANOTHER AND THEN ANOTHER HUGE TAX BREAK FOR THE RICH.
Then, they began to try to destroy Obama's character with vile racism and lies. Next, voter suppression to stop Obama supporters from even voting. They began attacking women's rights, teachers, minorities.
I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RESPECT FOR CONSERVATIVES NOW.
Fox News and Rush Limbaugh are nothing but liars and manipulators. They have brainwashed their audience like a cult following.
The Rep part cant' go to hell in a hand basket, its full already with dems and the Pres is leading the way..
After reading all the insults, innuendo, and various name calling I'm not sure that either party is so much for their candidate than they are against the opponent. Trying to read the opinions, facts and ideals through these posts is as difficult as walking blind through a mine field. However, I stil have questions and usually reading why others believe that this point or that is a good/bad idea can help. That said - this is supposed to be about healthcare (Mass plan vs Gov't plan) I am curious, first if everyone is supposed to be covered (or pay the penalty fee/tax) why do businesses have to offer it (or be penalized/taxed)? That does not make sense in either plan. My other question is a little harder (I hope not) Why charge nothing for those in the lowest income brackets? I understand they are in a position to be able to afford the least but don't you think that some in those catagories would have a higher self-esteem and self respect knowing they are providing this for themselves and their families?
You made a very good point, and from what you said I would be inclined to believe that those who are extemely liberal do not want to have to do anything for themselves or their self esteem...SAD
bob-2579213
Yes, they can Bob
They really want to start enjoying those, "carbon credits" from cap&trade he want's to give them with their EBT cards... It will be a new publicly traded currency among libbies thru out Obamaville...
If re-elected, It will be another tax imposed by Executive order/dictate, of their Euripides deity......
Pharaoh Barack Hussein Obama m mm mmm..........
VOTE no mo BHO
VOTE POTUS 45, to keep America ALIVE !!!! !!!!!
Ole fister sister, is a lead/follow for a band of 4ward trolls, they suck/lick on her heels like little shrimpers, cause of some obamanation b/s she perpetrated during the 2008 hopie changie crap parade. Mostly she is a vitriolic troll who resides in a utopic wonder land filled with the nite stalkers of first read, those simpletons who live within a/the fantasy of a redistributive, post constitutional United States. Where a futon is a good bed and a sump-pump in the basement is a good place to relieve one's self even if you are a girl. Just so they don't have to go up stairs or get very far away from their p/c "wouldn't want to miss any Euripides hyperbolic bovine excrement extruded by their feckless 4warder fist-humpping shegod. The funny thing is when ali Obaba gets kicked to the per-adverbial Chicago curb she will be pining to ride his Pinocchio nose all the way across from Roselle, an she won't be afforded the time of day it takes to lick smegma off of his impotent priapic phallus instrument............ ,!,
many many boos to you fister sorry,,,,,,,,,,,,, NOT
Give the keys to Mitt, barry, you to drunk to drive,......
a, a, aw Michelle it's just a lil blow...... 4ward..............ho....e
Yaawwnn....!
Got more paranoia?
BTW: Barack Hussein Obama will win in 2012! No doubt. 4 more for #44.
obama has always had All 57 states clearly voting for him...one muslim to another!!..Madonna said so it must be true!!
Why are SOOO many documents sealed by this transparent Prez??
No college transcript, NO ifo on his disbarment in ILL.,..No release of Fast& Furious info--claims executive privilege== if I tell the truth it would hurt my campaign!! No release of the the murdered Ambassador Stevens cables....it was not Islamic Terrorists--they do not exist, like the Mafia myth-- The list just keeps getting bigger!!
After 4 years all we know about BOZOhussen is that he wrecked the economy, raided the treasury, killed job growth, attacked the middle class--no homes, no gas for your car to go to the job that he outsourced, increased food stamp holders ( NOT a prosperous employment!!), IslamicBros kill Americans--no problem!! His family has cost the USA tax payer $$$7 Billion for vacations!!
National debt $$ 16 Trillion, he can not even count high enough to figure the zeros on that one!! Down grading of USA credit==less in retirement 401K and inflation at the the supermarket!!
The guy would really be a joke, if was not SOO SAD and terrible for the country!!
Yet the sheep followers shout OHAbhaaammmmma, OOhaaBhaammmaa!!! I am entitled to all the "free" stuff!!
Sir, you are not doing much for your credibility when you sound so c r a z y.