Keeping Voters Tuned In

TODAY IS SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

April 17, 2012 at 10:00 AM

Keeping Voters Tuned In

John Harwood in for Tom Ashbrook

With the presidential matchup now set, how will the candidates keep voters tuned in during the long run-up to November?

People line the motorcade route as President Barack Obama makes his way to the Mount Holly Truck Manufacturing Plant in Charlotte, N.C, March 7, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

For weeks political observers have wondered: when will Mitt Romney wrap up the Republican nomination and begin his general election fight with President Obama? Well, be careful what you wish for. It’s happened. And now a new question: how do we keep this interesting for seven months?

There’s fund-raising, a Vice Presidential search, two conventions – and lots of talking points about tax fairness and economic growth, Mommy wars and dogs on cars, the business executive against the community organizer.

Up next, On Point: The long Obama-Romney dance to Election Day.

-John Harwood

Guests

Scott Reed, Republican strategist and chairman of Chesapeake Enterprises, a consulting and lobbying firm.

Tad Devine, Democratic strategist, president of Devine Mulvey, a democratic media consulting firm

C Segment: The Secret Service Scandal

Michael Isikoff, national investigative correspondent for NBC News

From The Reading List

The Wall Street Journal “From the beginning of the 2102 presidential campaign, Mitt Romney has been something of a tough fit for Republican primary and caucus voters. His resume, which includes serving as Massachusetts governor when that state passed its health care reform plan, is arguably better suited for a general election candidate.”

Rasmussen Reports “Among these uncommitted voters, Rasmussen Reports polling shows that just 22 percent approve of the way the president is handling his job while 72 percent disapprove. As for intensity, just 2 percent strongly approve, and 40 percent strongly disapprove.”

Los Angeles Times “With the November field set, Americans can look forward to months of trench warfare as President Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney wage a costly, brutal and scathingly negative fight over a narrow slice of voters in a limited number of states.”

Anonymous

Ya gotta love how Rasmussen and CNN parse the results of polls that show Obama with a lead.

Rasmussen emphasizes uncommitted voters, who are basically republicans who haven’t yet resigned themselves to Romney.

CNN’s Gloria Borger breathlessly reported on Romney’s lead among white men.

I wonder what Romney’s numbers would look like if we focused on blacks, hispanics, women, and the young?
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  ALL of them that have an elevator for their wife’s Caddilacs, will vote Romney?
  Ann Romney will be appointed Chairman of the Fed, because she has the economic sense of a rich mother of five?
- TFRX
  
  Rasmussen is for crap and OnPoint is doing us a disservice pretending they’re a reputable pollster.
  
  The same purpose would be served by grabbing some “Freeped” junk.
U.S. Vet.

There’s no real difference beween Romney or Obama, they’ve both been bought and paid off and have sold their allegiance to Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase.

I’m not supporting Obama or Romney in 2012. Irregardless of which fraudster wins in November, the working poor and middle class Americans are going to continue to get screwed by Wall Street, the Pentagon, Big Oil and the drug companies.
- Anonymous
  
  If McCain had won in 2008, do you really believe we would be out of Iraq? And not in Iran?
  
  “There’s no real difference” is what gave us Bush instead of Gore. It’s what gave us Roberts and Alito instead of Kagan and Sotomayor.
  
  The difference in Supreme Court appointees alone is enormous. And they serve for life.
- Patrik
  
  Many voters have become dienchanted like yourself vet and therefore have tuned out. They sincerely feel their vote will not make a difference.
  - Patrik
    
    disenchanted*
Terry Tree Tree

MAJOR media attacks will be made of minor mis-statements, or speaking problems.
   Reporters, and others, will be ‘fed’ detrimental information about the other side.
    Scandals will abound from insignificant, or near-insignificant happenings, to gloss over MAJOR events, or short-comings.
   What’s good for a few individuals, or a party will be placed FAR ABOVE the best interests of the country, and MOST of the people!
   The U.S. will continue to decline, because the interests of the powerful DON’T match the interests of the people and the country!
AC

lots of nonsense will help.
Also, Newt’s not officially out yet, is he? If not, he’ll provide the comedic relief……
- Gregg
  
  One thing is for sure, nonsense will ensue. We can bank on it.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  GOT to have a member of the Roman Child-RAPING and Child-Abusing church run for President? Is THAT a requirement?
Wm. James from Missouri

I wish the media would challenge both of the candidates about the NSA spy center being built in Bluffdale Utah. A handful of people will know every thing you say on your telephone or write in your emails. Your medical history, your conversations with your lawyer, intimate conversations, proprietary information between your engineers and yourself about that new gismo you are going to patent, your investment strategies, etc.. These people should be stopped ! Why is the media not in the face of the candidates about this ?
- denis
  
  sources please
  - Wm. James from Missouri
    
    Here are 3 links. This took about 15 seconds to find.
    
    http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/03/ff_nsadatacenter/
    
    http://www.democracynow.org/2012/3/21/exposed_inside_the_nsas_largest_and
    http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-04-04/news/31284683_1_nsa-secrecy-spy
Lin

I am just so very tired of it all.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  ‘We’ve only just begun’.
Ed

I don’t think it’s a question of keeping voters interested, I think it’s more a question of why people are not participating in politics generally. See ‘The Unintended Reformation’ Brad Gregory.
- Anonymous
  
  Since when does the Church care what people think?
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  The Catholic church HOPES voters get interested in politics, to take attention off the Catholic church’s culture of Child-RAPE, and Child-Abuse, which they disregard their OWN publicly-stated laws, to ENCOURAGE!
  TWO members of the Child-RAPING church, have been HALF of the top contenders of WHICH party?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_C2STBLZJK4VKQBV27DVQX3I6CU FAX68

iOnePoint:

Space Shuttle is going to the museum and the second evolution of human space travel has begun.

Virgin Galactic and SpaceX are competing to dominate the vastness of space.
- Victor Vito
  
  Since those are private entities, I hope they’ll share what they find. Maybe they’ll only charge $19.95/month.
  - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_C2STBLZJK4VKQBV27DVQX3I6CU FAX68
    
    They will share their knowledge.
Gregg

Many voters haven’t even tuned in yet.
- Still Here
  
  Maybe after the NHL playoffs.
Brettearle

All I know is this:

Sooner or later, the voters are going to tune Romney OUT.

Why?

Because he is becoming Johhny One-Note.

All he can do is put down Preisdent Obama, Obama’s policies, Obama’s Presidency, and Obama’s term in office.

Indeed, there is such a barrage of attacks, by the prisitne challenger, that the vollies are reaching critical mass, a point of diminishing returns.

Romney is beginning to reach, much further than his grasp.

Many uncommitted voters will begin to realize that Romney’s public presentation is bereft of imgaination and substantive vision.

Now I realize that his platform may be chock full of ideas–but the average voter is going to judge a candidate based on how he comports himself, on the Tube.

It’s Obama who will maintain his cool, more often, in the debates–not because the President is a cool character, but rather because he has more of the facts on his side–

so…therefore….he…..doesn’t….have….to….pound….the…..
table.

Me thinks that Romney’s pride goeth before the fall.

[Just look at how many days he was out of Massachuetts, when he was governer--during the time that he campaigned for the 2008 Presidency. Mr. Ambition is GOING TO FAIL.]
Nlpnt

Meanwhile, the first article speculating on the 2016 field appeared way back in February. The focus was on the Democrats-win or lose, they’ll have an open field.(http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/sunday-review/the-2016-election-already-upon-us.html?pagewanted=all)
PI Resident

The media will drive the media interest:
Let’s see: Instead of contraception, and gay rights, how about:

Iran and Israel bombing Iran
or
The Bush/Obama tax cuts – will the candidates be asked to say what they will do regarding extending them
or
“Signing Statements” where in the President says he will not enforce part of a law
or
other substantative issues
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  But, it is ALL-IMPORTANT to FORCE someone to conform to your ‘religious’ ideals, that MOST in that ‘religion’ admit THEY CANNOT totally conform to?
     Catholic priests CANNOT stay celibate, and RAPE children?
     MANY ‘Christians’, CANNOT live by the Ten Commandments, but DEMAND the right to FORCE others to follow them?
     Isn’t the best policy and persuasion to LEAD by EXAMPLE?
     Isn’t that Christ’s teaching?
     If you are NOT going to follow the teachings of Christ, WHY claim to be a ‘Christian’?
http://gregorycamp.wordpress.com/ Greg Camp

This is one advantage of parliamentary systems–elections last a month or so, and then they’re done.
- Victor Vito
  
  Not to mention the need for coalition building, which makes sure many voices are heard.
Michiganjf

Just let Republicans keep the gaffes coming….

that will keep voters “tuned in.”
Michael

Hey! I’ve got an idea! How about if you guys in the media (yes, even you, NPR) keep your eye on the issues and do in-depth reporting on the realities of issues.

Every election cycle ends with morning-after media guilt for having spent too much time and energy on the horse race and a noble resolve to spend more time on the issues next time.

Now’s your chance.
- Brettearle
  
  Name of the game is ratings–and everyone knows it.
  
  Horse Race first, everything else second.
Kahsby

Romney in “strong position with Republicans”.

Huh?? Didnt win one state in the south save the wackball Florida
- Brettearle
  
  Unfortunately, the Right is quite proficient in “rallying the troops”.
  
  Think Rove in 2004.
  
  However, Romeny is still unpopular with many groups–especially the women’s vote.
  - Brett
    
    Republicans ARE much better walking in lockstep with each other than Democrats are…they are better at politics. Governing? Not so much…
    - Brettearle
      
      They ARE better at politics.
      
      Basically, it’s because Democrats don’t know HOW to fight.
      
      Think AM Talk Radio.
      
      We should clone Alan Colmes.
      
      Like what the Right did with Limbaugh:
      
      O’Reilly/Hannity/Ingraham/and (GULP!) Savage….et al.
      
      Have you ever heard of a greater example of onomatopeia than exists, when we consider the darkest/deepest implications of Savage’s name?
http://www.facebook.com/qittqat Kim Qitqat Brechtel

I see factcheck.org and flackcheck.org as being REAL busy this campaign season. Personally, I plan on using robney’s words (IN CONTEXT) as weapons against his elecion!
- Victor Vito
  
  At least you won’t have to work too hard!
  - http://www.facebook.com/qittqat Kim Qitqat Brechtel
    
    UNFORTUNATLY I live among reTHUGs. Most are too self absorbed to pay attention to politics. I do. Pisses me off too much!
Anonymous

Democratic strategist…Republican strategist…

Zzzzzzzzzz…

How can the two, corporate-owned, dinosaurs game the system, spend tens of millions of dollars to propagandize the tired/overworked/preoccupied/apathetic/disinterested/TV-addled electorate to make them think either party really gives a flying burrito about their welfare.
Anonymous

Yet another lame discussion of process: how will one side corral more voters than the other?

Forget about what the country needs, what works, whose policies have been proven disasters.
Terry Tree Tree

“Romney’s challenge it to present a New Romney.”�
   HOW MANY Romneys are there ALREADY? HOW MANY will there BE? IS there a REAL Romney?
   Folks with the past Business Prospectus, and other official literature, of Baine Capital, please reveal if they stated that their MISSION was to CREATE JOBS? Or did they brag about Making MONEY?
   Did they put ANY business, OUT of business, for the profit they could scam?
- Brettearle
  
  Will the Real Mitt Romney Please Stand Up?
  - Laurie
    
    An empty suit can’t stand up on its own.
    - Terry Tree Tree
      
      Without enough starch, to make it seem inhuman?
      - Brett
        
        Triple T, I think you may have stumbled on to a possible campaign slogan for Willard: Mitt Romney, more starch, less protein!
      - Brettearle
        
        If Romney asks the dry cleaners for any more starch, for his shirts, he’s going to start looking like R2D2 and he might even begin to sound like HAL 2000 (if he doesn’t already)–although, in this case, it would be HAL 2012…..
    - Brettearle
      
      Here! Here!
Anonymous

Because it’s about the horse race, and the latest words spewed from talking heads and campaign lackeys.
Michael

Excuse me, but you have to stop inviting guests who can’t pronounce the name of one of the major parties. When I hear someone speak of “the Democrat Party”, I know I’m not listening to an honest person and I turn off the radio. It’s a deliberate slur. In case you’ve forgotten, it’s name is “the Democratic Party”.
- lodger
  
  What are republicans trying to accomplish by doing this? The host just asked Scott Reed and he was cagey and obnoxious.
  
  It’s just like when Dick Armey was called on using the epithet ‘Barney Fag’ and then he just dismissed it as an accidental slip of the tongue. So transparent.
  - TFRX
    
    Or the “major league asshole”.
    
    Funny how this shit from the mouths of R’s never results in a real firestorm.
- Still Here
  
  Your mind was turned off before the radio.
Brett

I’ve grown tired of attempts by candidates and their surrogates to make political hay out of every little off the cuff remark in the political arena. This happens on both sides of the fence. The political pundit, Hillary what’s her name, whose recent comment about Ann Romney, as well Ann Romney’s comeback, being a good example. Perhaps if candidates worried less about votes and more about honestly expressing their plans/views on the issues, those little remarks would not hold so much fascination for the electorate
- Brettearle
  
  Honesty in politics can sometimes (maybe more than sometimes) lead to failure.
  
  [One small example: Think Mondale, when he said, he'd raise taxes. Fritz would have lost, anyway--but the comment certainly didn't help him any.]
  - Brett
    
    Exactly! Nice name by the way.
    - Brettearle
      
      Thanks.
      
      I must have got it from you.
      
      I’m a writer, too, by the way.
      
      A fiction writer, basically, but other kinds of writing, too.
      
      Since, I’ve arrived on this web site (I’m a disgruntled renegade from another active discussion site), I’ve appreciated a fair amount of your comments.
      
      Even if you did steal my name.
      - Terry Tree Tree
        
        Artistic License?
      - Brettearle
        
        Maybe I should give him a citation….
Victor Vito

One good way to keep voters tuned in is to increase the barriers to voting. Voter ID laws to combat an imaginary fraud problem, making it harder for students to vote away from home, constant challenges to organizations such as the League of Women Voters and Rock the Vote are all good ways to make sure the electorate remain engaged and involved in their government.
- Azra
  
  It’s bound to come back and bite them in the butt. Most of their voters are elderly. Many of them will not bother trying to find the money and time needed to get an identification card, so they won’t vote.
  
  Young, able-bodied voters are more likely to find a way to vote, especially now that they have benefitted so much from having health insurance, even if all it has given them is peace of mind.
Detra Mcgovern

I think the Obama administration missed the opportunity to point out that Ann Romney, while a stay at home mom, has the resources to make that job very easy. She doesn’t understand the economic concerns of mothers employed outside the home. Mothers who don’t have the choice of whether to stay at home or go out and get a job because she chooses to feed, clothe and shelter her family.
- Anonymous
  
  He wouldn’t go after her directly. Just opens the door for every republican/conservative to hit Obama directly.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  THAT was what Hillary Rosen WAS pointing out!
- Still Here
  
  How do you know what she understands?
  
  Taken to its logical conclusion, you can’t possibly understand anything you haven’t experienced which would include Ann Romney’s life as well as a multitude of other issues. Your standard is completely unreasonable and is based solely on your political bias.
  - Brett
    
    While I agree that we as humans have difficulties seeing another’s perspective because we haven’t walked a mile in their shoes, as it were, but to say we can’t possibly understand anything we haven’t experienced means we are incapable of empathy, imagination, and so on…wait, I’m sorry, I can see why you might say such a thing…
    - Still Here
      
      So Ann should keep her comments to laundry, like how you can get your whites whiter?
      - kelty
        
        You’ll have to aks her housekeeper that question.
      - Brett
        
        As a reply, that clearly make no sense, but then that has never stopped you before.
      - Still Here
        
        Perhaps your reply should have been to Detra’s original post. I don’t think I can dumb it down anymore for you, sorry.
      - Brett
        
        Don’t you mean to say you can’t sound any dumber? ….Just tryin’ to help you, that’s all. You see, I have a lot of experience interpreting the Wechsler Intelligence Scale…If you’re interested in taking a test, let me…gratis.
    - Brettearle
      
      Good point.
      
      Those who debate issues often use that specious argument.
  - Azra
    
    We DO know that she never spent a sleepless night wondering how she would find enough money to buy food for her children, and herself, the next day.
    
    She’s utterly clueless about how the other half . . . make that the other 99% . . . lives. Everyone know that raising children is hard work; hard work that is simplified immeasurably if one lives in an ivory tower, (or two), with unlimited resources for food roomy homes, every kitchen gadget, all mod cons, and still have enough money leftover to get away, eat in famcy restaurants, go to a spa, pay someone to clean the house(s), and take care of the children.
    
    The two extremes of motherhood in this country . . . there’s hard work, compared to impossibly hard work, with no money, or anything else. Who needs our help, the have-it-alls, or the have nots?
    - Still Here
      
      This is not about who needs help. It’s about who can make observations and whose opinion counts.
Brettearle

It’s a bunch of bull that the President will go after Romney for being a Mormon.
- Still Here
  
  I agree, he wouldn’t want to open himself to the Muslim thing again.
  - Brettearle
    
    Yes, your comment adds an extra-dimension, as to why attacking Romeny’s religion would be taboo.
  - Brett
    
    Agreed! And he’s not even Muslim! …Wait, I forgot, you actually do think he’s Muslim!
    - Still Here
      
      I have no idea what he is. I recall that he attended a very politically-connected church in Chicago with a racist preacher.
      - Brettearle
        
        I didn’t particularly like the content that came out of the Reverend Wright’s excerpts, either.
        
        But it’s an unfair stretch to characterize Reverend Wright as a racist.
        
        Apparently, Reverend Wright’s work was carefully edited to create that slanted impression.
      - Terry Tree Tree
        
        VERY EDITED! To get the sound-bite! Christians have based their religion on the REST of that sermon!
      - Still Here
        
        Which is why Obama ran from those comments? Please, you take this context thing to extremes. Obama knew the association was bad and did everything he could to distance himself from it; and it wasn’t just looks it was substance.
      - Terry Tree Tree
        
        Listen to the FULL sermon, and tell me WHY any Christian would disagree with him? It follows the Bible!
      - TFRX
        
        Well, all the hacks on your side “take President Obama at his word” when “he says he’s a Christian”.
        
        Nice to see you know something they don’t.
Kathy

Scott Reed needs to get out more and the host needs to call BS more.
- Azra
  
  Tom Ashbrook, COME HOME. All is forgiven.
  - Brettearle
    
    Azra,
    
    There are very few broadcasters better than Ashbrook (if any); but that doesn’t mean he confronts his guests enough.
    
    I don’t think he does.
Laurie

Gotta love how pointing out that Ann Romney has enjoyed the ability to not work outside the home is portrayed by Scott Reed and others as “elitist,” but the fact that the Romneys are wealthy enough for her to have done that while Mitt tells single mothers on welfare to go out to work is somehow NOT elitist.

Class warfare, what what?

Oh, and Reed? “Democrat Party”? I see what you did there.
- WW_ph15
  
  Romney said that single mothers working would give them “dignity”. He thinks that they have no dignity if they stay home and raise their children. But, his wife is to be given dignity just because….
Anonymous

Scott Reed calling Democrats “elite” because one of them accurately pointed out that mega-millionaire Ann Romney never had to work is the kind of distortion of reality that could actually disrupt the space-time continuum.

Which may explain why his efforts on behalf of Bob Dole led to a 379-159 electoral drubbing.
- Brettearle
  
  I disagree.
  
  I’m a Democrat and Rosen’s comment hurts the Democrats’ cause.
  
  It basically helps to alienate–at least temporarily– some women voters.
  
  Rosen’s message is basically saying, if you are a stay-at-home Mom, your commitment is inferior or reflective of being a second class citizen.
  
  Now Rosen may not have MEANT it that way–but THAT’S the way some women would take such a statement.
  
  It was a thoughtless comment–without recognizing, beforehand, that it would be especially counterproductive.
  
  For the week, she might have well been Karl Rove.
  - http://www.facebook.com/qittqat Kim Qitqat Brechtel
    
    brettearle, YOU must not have even bothered to see the WHOLE statement or you wouldn’t have said that garbage!
    - Brettearle
      
      The POINT is that very few did; viewers responded VISCERALLY….extremely so.
  - WW_ph15
    
    Pres. Obama is still ahead with women voters. They know who’s policies support women. Especially, women who aren’t independently wealthy.
    - Brettearle
      
      I didn’t mean to imply that Obama would lose the women’s vote–but rather he could potentially lose ENOUGH votes, by women, to hurt him, critically, in the election.
    - Azra
      
      Women are also smart enough, and sensitive enough, to know that even though he has been helping women ENORMOUSLY since the day he set foot in the White House, (equal pay for women), his tax cuts, and other policies, have also improved the lives of the men in their lives, and made the Country much stronger.
      
      Let’s hear it for wise women!
  - kelty
    
    I’m a woman and I knew exactly what Hillary Rosen meant by her comment and I agree with her. I have gone between being a Ft Mom, a PT Working Mom, and FT working Mom over the years and it takes balance and skill and a lot of sacrifice, both finanacial and physical. Ann Romney knows nothing of that and other Moms that I have talked to agree. She might be able to relay what she hears on the campaign trail, but in no way shape or form does she have any idea what it is like to live the reality of it.
    - Brettearle
      
      The point is perception.
      
      Your point is a good one–but only when you go deeper.
      
      Off the cuff, the point is charged with emotional controversy–thereby preventing the viewers and potential voters, from thinking more deeply about the matter.
      
      Perception TRUMPS reality….often.
  - Anonymous
    
    I seriously doubt that any women are confused about which party has their interests at heart.
    
    Rosen’s comment was stupid, because it was careless. But, as David Axelrod pointed out to that dim-bulb John King, “she’s your employee, not ours”.
ana

Romney’s boldfaced lies are going to catch up with him. A man who, dispicably, stands before the NRA and states that Obama is going to take away gun rights has no place in a leadership position in a nation where there are unstable and rabid gun extremists. It is like calling fire in crowded room. I found it appalling. This President has made no move in that direction, yet the fearmongers are driving the sales of guns through the roof
Romney does not have the basic decency, integrity or soul to be leader of the free world.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  THIS was, and has been a FALSE CRY, that made, and makes gun dealers RICH!
- http://www.facebook.com/qittqat Kim Qitqat Brechtel
  
  Like I said, factcheck.org and flackcheck.org are gonna be REAL busy this election season!
http://gregorycamp.wordpress.com/ Greg Camp

Finally, a host calls out a Republican for using the term, Democrat Party.
WW_ph15

Anne Romney and the Romney campaign have tried to change the meaning of Rosen’s statement. Most women understood exactly what she was saying. Anne Romney never had to worry about her household budget, or be the sole bread winner while raising her children, or worry about how to pay for their college tuition, or her and her children’s health care. That’s just a fact. Romney’s policies are to cut the safety net for those women who aren’t wealthy, who are single with children, and who want equal pay. Funny how Anne Romney is saintly for being able to stay home with her children but welfare moms are just lazy. A complete double standard.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  Yet, by denying contraceptives, abortions, and sex-education, they will CREATE MORE single-mothers! MANY of which will NOT be able to stay home and take care of their children.
  FORCE mothers to put 2 year-old children in institutions? So the mothers can have the ‘dignity’ of NOT nurturing her child in the most important years? CLEAVE those children from their mothers, and put them in OVER-LOADED ‘classrooms’? THIS is YOUR Family Values?
http://www.facebook.com/qittqat Kim Qitqat Brechtel

I really don’t care about a person’s religion. Look at all the “christians” we have had in office who fail to practice their faith at all in office (Bush is an EXCELLENT example) So, robme is a Mormon. He could be a Buddist or Muslim or hare Christna for all I care! How he practices his religion is far more interesting.
- Brettearle
  
  I believe that Bush has made public comments suggesting that he consulted Christ, when contemplating the invasion of Iraq.
  - Terry Tree Tree
    
    Flip Wilson’s character ‘Geraldine’, used to say “The Debile made me do it!”
    ‘W’ said that Christ ‘MADE’ him disregard the conditions preset by Congress made, and INVADE a country that had NOT substantively harmed the U.S.?
    HOW CHRISTIAN IS THAT?
http://gregorycamp.wordpress.com/ Greg Camp

The difference is that Ann Romney and her family can afford to be a single-income family. What’s wrong with saying that if you get government assistance, you have to give back?
- Patrik
  
  I think the point of that whole fuss was she shouldn’t be speaking to economic policy or work-related issues on an official level.
  - http://gregorycamp.wordpress.com/ Greg Camp
    
    If the remark had been that Ann Romney has no special expertise on the economy, there’d be no problem, but Rosen’s comment effectively said that she had no business speaking on the subject.
    - Terry Tree Tree
      
      NOT according to the expanded statement that that ‘sound-bite’ was taken from!
Anonymous

Ann Romney says that women need to be respected in the choices that they make. Well, if she and her husband really believe this and it is not another hypocritical Romney statement, then Ann and Mitt should respect women’s choices about birth control and abortion.
Anonymous

No, Scott Reed, it wasn’t a slip that you called it the “Democrat” party.

“There’s no great mystery about the motives behind this deliberate misnaming. “Democrat Party” is a slur, or intended to be—a handy way to express contempt. Aesthetic judgments are subjective, of course, but “Democrat Party” is jarring verging on ugly. It fairly screams “rat.” At a slightly higher level of sophistication, it’s an attempt to deny the enemy the positive connotations of its chosen appellation.

William F. Buckley, Jr., the Miss Manners cum Dr. Johnson of modern conservatism, dealt with the question in a 2000 column in National Review, the magazine he had founded forty-five years before. “I have an aversion to ‘Democrat’ as an adjective,” Buckley began.Dear Joe McCarthy used to do that, and received a rebuke from this at-the-time 24-year-old. It has the effect of injecting politics into language, and that should be avoided.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/08/07/060807ta_talk_hertzberg#ixzz1sJB1QB42
- Azra
  
  So, let’s fight bad grammar with bad grammar. Right now, let’s all christen it the “Republic party”. All in favor?
  - Still Here
    
    I’ll wait until the government tells me how to vote, thanks.
    - Brett
      
      Why would it not surprise any of us that you wait for someone to tell what you’re supposed to think?
      - Still Here
        
        For a supposed poet/songwriter, your thinking is remarkably linear. Pity.
      - Brett
        
        As opposed to your thinking, which is most unremarkable…
      - Gregg
        
        Roses are red
        Violets are blue
        Some poems rhyme
        And some don’t
      - Terry Tree Tree
        
        Good One!
- http://www.facebook.com/qittqat Kim Qitqat Brechtel
  
  I agree, scott reed is being very disengenuous, or should I say, bald faced liar! Figures he is a reTHUGliCON!
http://twitter.com/Dave_Eger Dave Eger

Mormonism has a pretty sketchy past, but he should have the freedom to practice it since this is America. What we probably need in this country is to discuss what freedom of religion means, since there has been a lot of discrimination against Muslims.

Also, to your caller, there was one person who attacked Romney’s wife, and it was blown into such a big deal, that no one brought up the fact that she probably doesn’t understand the difficulties in this economy because her budget for raising those kids has probably not been tight in a while, if ever.
Craig E

I’m really getting tired of hearing about Hillary Rosen’s comments. I believe that the fury over this issue is basically a straw man argument. Hillary was not slamming Mrs Romney because she chose to stay home with her kids. She was merely pointing out the the vast majority of women in the US do NOT HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE. Sure it would be great if women had the choice to stay home with the kids and their two cadillacs, BUT THEY DON’T. It’s not a slam, just a fact that Ms. Romney is completely clueless about the LACK OF CHOICES faced by working women in the US.
- Brettearle
  
  The point is that some stay-at-home Moms took it as a put-down.
  - Laurie
    
    And if they did, they weren’t paying enough attention.
    - Still Here
      
      Wow, stolen right out of the elitest playbook, nice.
      - Laurie
        
        *yawn* Sure, it’s elitist to insist upon reading and listening for comprehension. Got it.
      - Still Here
        
        Please, we’ve all heard it in context, and it was clearly a put-down of stay-at-home moms. That’s why Democrats are running from it. Obviously, you should listen again and this time without your bias.
      - Brett
        
        I’m surprised you didn’t start that off with something like, “studies have clearly shown that Democrats are running from it…” with some link to a right-wing blog.
      - Still Here
        
        I assume the minimum consumption of current events news on the part of Democrats, even if it is solely from Comedy Central.
      - Brett
        
        Interesting that you would think of current events and consumption in the same thought…like so many potato chips.
      - TFRX
        
        Too bad The Daily Show and Colbert Report are more reliable than what you watch.
        
        Fox News has been shown to be less informative to viewers than actual ignorance.
    - Brettearle
      
      That’ the whole point as to why a sound `byte’ can be especially deceptive.
  - TFRX
    
    Without the Foxfluffing, it’d have been nowhere. NPR shouldn’t be such a patsy for that angle.
    - Brettearle
      
      I don’t fully agree.
      
      Women’s issues–think Fluke/Limbaugh–are so volatile, these days, that the contretemps, vis-a-vis Hilary Rosen/ Ann Romney, would have received prime air time, in much of major Media Media, regardless of `Foxfluffing’.
      - TFRX
        
        Yeah, I should have been more precise.
        
        “Women’s issues” are one thing. But the way this was framed is perfectly Foxholery, which manages to call Dems “elites” while desperately casting a millionaire’s wife as “jes folks”.
        
        Foxfluffing affects the mainstream press. NPR wakes up every day, eager to be a new sucker for this.
      - Brettearle
        
        Foxholery!
        
        I love it.
        
        You should copyright it!
  - Still Here
    
    Because it was, a universal put-down; that’s why all Democrats who have an image to maintain are running from it like crazy.
    - Brettearle
      
      Agreed
    - WW_ph15
      
      Maybe like much of all political discussion, the “outrage” is in the ears of the listener. If you are feeling a little defensive about your choice & ability to stay home and not go to work, you might have taken the comment the wrong way. Seems to me we discussed all this thoroughly back in the late ’60′s and early ’70′s. Romney’s “dignity” comment doesn’t help his case.
  - kelty
    
    No, they did not!!
    - Brettearle
      
      Oh, yes they did.
      
      That’s a large chunk of the reason why it became such a controversial issue.
      - kelty
        
        Then you apparently aren’t talking to other working Moms like I have been – all who agree w/ Ms Rosen’s comments.
      - Brettearle
        
        I’m not talking about liberal working Moms; I’m talking about women who are undecided voters or are leaning one way or the other.
        
        You can go ahead and claim that you have not talked only to liberal Moms, if you want.
        
        But my guess is that the majority, or all women, that you have talked to, are ALREADY voting for Obama.
      - kelty
        
        Then you would be wrong – never assume
      - Still Here
        
        But universally stay-at-home Moms took it as a put-down. Working moms are equally divided.
      - denis
        
        And where is the data to support your universality statement?
    - Still Here
      
      Democrats couldn’t run away from her fast enough, so they saw it as a put-down.
  - Gregg
    
    You must be thinking of this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EGranwN_uk
    - Brettearle
      
      You mean the baking cookies thing?
      
      Forgive me, I extrapolated from the pix.
      
      I haven’t looked at your link.
      
      I am a Democrat–but I have always personally disliked the former First Lady and Senator.
      
      Although I gotta admit, she seems to be doing a good job as Secretary of State.
      - Gregg
        
        Yea, I kind of agree. I’m not up in arms about the pictures of her partying. She’s such a tragic figure after being Bill’s doormat for so long. She’s a horrible roll model for women having tolerated so much just to get ahead by hitching her wagon to a man. The Travel office thing was terrible. The Rose billing records and Madison stuff was certainly unethical at best. Poor Vince. But still, at this point I think she deserves a little relief.
      - Brettearle
        
        It’s her self-righteousness that I really can’t stand.
        
        Plus, Clinton humiliated her and she stayed–because of her ambition.
        
        And that crying jag, of hers, on the campaign trail, when she knew she was losing?
        
        It was the best acting job, since Ingrid Bergman in “Casablanca”…..
        
        Two Female politicians, I truly like, for example, are Senator Snowe or Kay Bailey Hutchinson….but I don’t like their politics.
        
        But I don’t blame Secretary of State Clinton for Foster.
      - Gregg
        
        I should be clear, I don’t think Vince Foster was murdered but I do think his suicide was a result of the Clinton’s unethical behavior and his roll in covering it up.
      - Kahsby
        
        Dude its “role”. Ur version uses butter. Read much??
Annie

I don’t know how the democratic operative’s comment about Ann Romney not working a day in her life can be considered elitist, this seems to have become a catchall purjorative for the right (ironically, since the right makes up most of the elite in this country). The democratic party has supported working women (in the workplace AND in the home) far more than the republicans have. Her choice of words was terrible of course, it was meant to constrast the life of privilege of Ann Romney to that of a middle class or working class women. I’d like to see a head to head comparison of Ann Romney’s “work” raising her children: (lots of help, a house cleaner no doubt), to that of a middle class or working class “stay-at-home” mom.

We need to concentrate on what the Romneys (Mr and Mrs) represent–wealth and privilege–with no connection to how most of us live –they might as well be from Mars.
- Anonymous
  
  Not an operative, a talking head. As said by John Harwood, the only connection to the President is that she’s registered in the same party.
  - Still Here
    
    and the 30 visits to the WH … maybe she just brings over cookies she baked
Anonymous

Creepy robot Mitt Romney makes John Kerry look personable.
- Still Here
  
  And we’ve seen what all personality, no substance gets us.
  - Anonymous
    
    It brought us ruinous tax cuts and a foolish invasion of Iraq.
    - Still Here
      
      Actually he extended them and cranked it up in Afghanistan, try to keep up.
  - TFRX
    
    I think you mean “all hat, no cattle”.
- Robbie
  
  hahaha so true.
Robbie

News Flash Scott Reed! Willard (aka: Mittens) will lose miserably. The manufactured outrage over Ann Romney’s “hard work” as a Mom was so blatantly obviously. Now it backfired when she was caught announcing that it was “an early birthday gift”.
How about that Mittens was AWOL for the last 2 years of his Governorship and the fact that he is such a phony when it comes to his ever flip-flopping views.
Nobody but the Republican wing-nuts he is now kowtowing to will attack him for being a magic-underwear sporting Mormon. We Democrats don’t care if he is a Christian, Muslim, Mormon or even a Martian for that matter. We just care about the fact that he is the most fake person to have ever run for the Office of POTUS.
As for your Party, you have lost Women, Latinos, Blacks, Asians, Gays, Muslims, Immigrants, young people…….. and the list goes on…. so ya.. good luck with that!
Craig E

How Did Mitt Romney Get So Obscenely Rich? Robert Reich Explains
- Brettearle
  
  It is Robert Reich who should be President.
- Anonymous
  
  Reich omits some important parts of the process. Bain Capital restructured failing companies, not successful ones; if these companies were not changed, they likely would have gone bankrupt. Using the money of investors is what every corporation does. Which benefits society more: a company that is better run and successful, or one that didn’t change and went bankrupt?
  - Still Here
    
    Reich is solely envious, he hasn’t built or created anything.
    - Anonymous
      
      What does that have to do with anything.
      Most people do not build a damn thing.
      They are sitting in offices all day. Created anything? Such as? Dr. Reich writes books and has spent a large part of his life in public service. You really do have an infantile view of the world.
      - Brett
        
        jeffe, now one must keep in mind that her perspective may simply be that she IS infantile, which would be more pervasive to her being than just having an infantile view…just sayin’
  - Terry Tree Tree
    
    Didn’t Bain ‘buy’ companies, with borrowed money, and BORROW to the hilt against the company assets, then TAKE that borrowed money, leaving the company to suceed or NOT?
  - Brettearle
    
    YOU’RE omitting part of the process, as well.
    
    When some of the businesses went under, after Bain failed to save them, the investors had their money RETURNED.
    
    It was NOT a risk-investment as in entrepreneurship.
    
    That is not how private equity can work.
  - Gregg
    
    Bain saved America. Not that it matters.
Craig E

oops. that link was supposed to be�
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rodifJlis2c
Mark

Why pay any attention to Mitt Romney’s book. It was written a couple years ago. As we all know, his positions change day by day- so positions written in his book years ago are probably outdated. But with Mitt Romney, everything old becomes new again.
- Brettearle
  
  Romney’s book ALSO deserves scrutiny:
  
  He changed a short section–from the original hardback version to the changed paperback–to hide his support for a national health care plan that might mirror his own, in Massachusetts.
  
  Romney’s ambition CLEARLY trumps his convictions.
  - Azra
    
    My, he is certainly very secretive, and on the defensive about everything, isn’t he?
    - Brettearle
      
      Yup.
AndyF

The bottom line with Romney is plain and simple – He is NOT any kind of leader. All you need to do is look at his past – the man is a FOLLOWER, NOT a leader. Romney lets others do his work, and then takes credit for it. Study the winter olympics and you will find those close to the management thereof all know Romney did little more than PR work.

Even better, consider that when he was governor of MA the Big Dig was a shoddy pig trough where Boston companies sucked money for no work. The work that was done was horrible and today, its still falling apart. But look at the cement slab that fell from the ceiling and killed a woman. Everyone from the tip of Northern Maine, to the Conn/NY border knew that something like this was bound to happen. Did Romney do anything? NO, Nothing, nada – UNTIL the woman was killed, and then he rides in like some hero, late to the quest.

This is standard Romney – do nothing, flip-flop on everything, and then just be sure when the spotlight gets turned on that you stand in it and behave like the hero YOU ARE NOT.

If you liked George Bush with all his lies, stupidity, and silver spoon ignorance – vote Romney – thats exactly what you will get. But if you want a leader who truly leads, vote for any BUT Romney.
- Brettearle
  
  Your point, regarding the Big Dig accident on Romney’s watch, deserves some scrutiny, by Media.
  
  The candidates haven’t touched it.
Robbie

It was hard work for Ann Romney to tell her Assistant to tell the Butler to tell the Nannies to find the chauffeur in the servant’s quarters and go pick up all those kids from school.. Poor me Poor me Poooor me a glass of Dom Perignon.
Mark

Why are catholics up in arms about birth control. When George Bush started wars
all over the world my tax dollars were paying for it- and those needless wars
were against my religion. In fact the Pope criticized the wars. Where was the
outrage then? Its amazing how these religious zealots can feign outrage when it
serves their political needs.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  Catholics DEMAND MORE VICTIMS for priests!
- Anonymous
  
  The difference is that Obamacare mandated that the church itself provide insurance plans that included birth control, a direct breach of church tenets; the Obama administration later changed Obamacare giving the church an exemption, but not its affiliated organizations. It would be analogous to an administration requiring the Quaker Church to provide a plan for people to buy guns. No one denies that a person has a right to contraception or a gun, but you can’t make the church provide the means to purchase these.
  - be my guest
    
    Wow, so many things wrong w/ this, I don’t know where to begin.
    1) Didn’t mandate Churches to cover contrtecption, but Church Affiliated Organizations (i.e. Schools/Hospitals) - these are very different things. �
    2) Change was for the Affiliated orgs – didn’t have to offer coverage themselves, but Ins Providers could offer directly to Employee who would pay for the coverage themselves privately. Place that take US tax dollars to cover costs (medicaid/medicare) have to provide services per US Govt policy. �
    3) Can’t say this one enough apparently – NOT FREE – No Co-pay! Again very different here folks - people pay their insurance premiums and many preventative medicines can be obtained with no co-pay. This is how insurance works – many people pay in & spread the cost – you pay to cover some things you use and some thing don’t use to lower costs overall for everyone. Quite a simple concept really.�
    4) No Tax $’s are spent here folks. So don’t worry your little heads.
  - Brettearle
    
    Hospitals with religious affiliations are subject to accommodate health services for the general population–mandated by federal law.
    
    Indeed, the Supreme Court provided for this in a case that was championed by Justice Scalia.
Anonymous

I am better off now than I was 4 years ago, as I was after 8 years under Clinton. I know I won’t be if a Republican returns to the White House. My 401k alone speaks to it.
Anonymous

What rock did Scott Reed crawl out from?
Lin

Scott Reed just said that the Democrats keep scaring “senior citizens about their future.” Say what?! Republicans are the ones doing that in every way, every day, thank you very much.

That partisan hack Reed makes me want to puke. Could he please say something beside spouting back the mantra of no.
Chris_in_Cambridge

To the caller who just complained about paying for other people’s abortions, the answer is yes, you probably do have to pay a little for other people’s abortions regardless of what you believe. Should I need to pay for older people’s healthcare? Should atheists have to essentially subsidize non-profit religious groups through the tax code? Again the answer is yes, at least a little bit. If we are going to have a society, everyone is going to have to contribute, even to some things they do not agree with on moral grounds. The outrage some pennies going to women’s healthcare is misplaced. If we start questioning all spending that at least one person finds objectionable, then we no longer have a Republic.
- WW_ph15
  
  We all have to pay for Repcons wars so they should have to pay something for the health and education of this nation.
- Victor Vito
  
  Stop making sense!
- Anonymous
  
  The Hyde amendment prohibits federal funds being used for abortions. The useless Democrat (sic) consultant should have mentioned that.
Susan H

This conversation is outrageous! Why, why, why do male politicians and male media hosts insist on discussing the lives of women without women! Scott Reed’s response to the caller who referred to Romney as “Governor Etch-a-Sketch” was dismissive and arrogant. The issues inherent in a woman’s life ARE of concern and important to the American people – half of whom ARE women. The economy effects everyone – including women – and we will not be brushed aside.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  I, and some other guys, respect the issues of women! WE will try to help on those issues, FOR women!
  - Azra
    
    You, and President Obama. Thanks guys.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  Because MOST ‘religions’ MANDATE that women are third-class citizens, that HAVE to have MEN make the decisions!!
  ‘Religions’ ‘dis-remember’ Rebecca, Deborah, and MANY other women prophets in the Bible?
  Bathsheba and Delilah are the women that MOST ‘religions’ remember?
Anonymous

I feel sorry for those prostitutes. Most likely they will be found dead… victims of a ‘serial killer’.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  THAT would be a BIGGER scandal!!
Langleyh

To where I sit, Ann Romney working in or out of the home, is non political and/or relevant to any party or election at all.
Media or politicians can spin this as they want to, and they do,but here is what I say about this:
Rising kids and family is a very hard and a very difficult job for everyone no matter what ones political affiliation may be.
However, the difficulties raining family are different when one has a millionaire spouse, lives in a mansion, has nannies, cooks, drivers, maids etc. While I respect Mrs Romney for making a decision and/or choice for “staying at home Mom” I do not recognize her struggles or difficulties as a parent as equal or similar even to non-millionaire parent who lacks Mrs Romney’s resources. In short: No, Mrs Romney does not know how to rise a family on minimum wage or single parent income or someone who really must be both: a mother and a outside of home earner.

Thank you, Hanna
- TFRX
  
  But isn’t it funny how the media only spun this one way?
  
  All those Beltway Inbreds, all those people who know the difference between a nanny and an au pair, all those tastemakers whose kids were waitlisted for the right preschools in utero are not the people we can depend on to say boo about the strange “common cause” a millionaire’s wife has with a woman who, for example, would have to go back to work if the radiator in their 10-year-old car gave out.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  You WOULDN’T consider her a GOOD adviser on financial issues? Chairwoman of the FED? Qualified to be National Financial Adviser?
  A RICH housewife makes someone qualified for those jobs, as Romney indicated?
- Brettearle
  
  I support Obama and I think it’s harder for lower income mothers.
  
  But it is unfair to claim that any mother–regardless of privilege–has it easy.
  - Gregg
    
    Or that they’re out of touch.
  - http://profile.yahoo.com/PQOCSU3NJ5J6SSQBEM5YBFCPZY Jason__A
    
    As the saying goes…Rich or Poor, its good to have money. Obama will trounce this Mormon fraud.
- Roy Mac
  
  Does she STILL have kids at home??
  - http://profile.yahoo.com/PQOCSU3NJ5J6SSQBEM5YBFCPZY Jason__A
    
    And maids….gardeners and such.
- Gregg
  
  It wasn’t always like that for the Romneys. They lived in a $62/month shack back then.
  - http://profile.yahoo.com/PQOCSU3NJ5J6SSQBEM5YBFCPZY Jason__A
    
    He always had the stock daddy gave him, and his bride….things got so tight financially while they were in college that they almost had to sell some of that stock to pay the rent. I had NO stock when I was in college….
    - Gregg
      
      I still have no stock… but I have no problem with gazillionaires. I admire them.
      - http://profile.yahoo.com/PQOCSU3NJ5J6SSQBEM5YBFCPZY Jason__A
        
        I have nothing but comtempt for VULTURE CAPITALISTS… I would like to see Bain executives…and Romney bankrupted and in jail.
      - Zero
        
        You know why feudalism fell? There was a decrease in the population which in turn caused a bartering power to be shifted from Lord to Surf.
        
        You comment is the echo of a happy Surf.
      - Gregg
        
        I’m a happy guy, why should I hate? I mean, look at Jason below. Is that healthy?
      - Zero
        
        I’m going to take it easy on you here, so I’ll put it like this: Jason is not part of the docile masses (and it is a good thing).
- Janerivers
  
  It must be hard to shuttle five young boys theoufh an underground car garage!!!
Mark

The Secret Service Agents must regret not just paying…
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  Cheapskates could have AVOIDED a SCANDAL?
- Still Here
  
  Maybe they thought Obama was picking up the tab.
  - http://profile.yahoo.com/PQOCSU3NJ5J6SSQBEM5YBFCPZY Jason__A
    
    NO, the US taxpayer….you and me…did that.
- Gregg
  
  They must regret letting strangers into rooms with the Presidents schedule on the dresser. Heads should roll. There were 20 hookers and the investigation is focusing on who they were. They could have been anyone. This is the biggest scandal in the history of the Secret Service.
  - http://profile.yahoo.com/PQOCSU3NJ5J6SSQBEM5YBFCPZY Jason__A
    
    There were rumors of partying and drinking by SS agents in Dallas, the night before JFK was shot. Looks like more of the same to me. Perhaps it never ended.
    - Gregg
      
      I think this may be a bit beyond “rumors” but good point.
Still Here

Democrats are waging a war on stay-at-home moms, hopefully they are not to busy to pay attention or vote.
- ana
  
  How so?? There is no war on Moms. Just another distraction that keeps the country from solving the real issues which is the pols job. Leave the Mommy wars to the the Mommies.
  - Still Here
    
    Right, deny, deny, deny. The Moms are paying attention.
  - Azra
    
    Must be the one being waged by Republicans, (aimed at women in general), and the one Mitt started, targeting non-wealthy Moms.
- Anonymous
  
  How?
- Brettearle
  
  That’s a sweeping statement. Big time.
Brett

How about if candidates would be required to debate each other while on sodium pentothal?!? That would get voters “tuned in”!
- Still Here
  
  I would watch that! as long as it doesn’t conflict with my reality tv favs.
  - Brett
    
    Anyone could have guessed you’re a reality tv fan
    - Still Here
      
      Could you possibly be more out of touch with the average American? It’s clear you lack sufficient empathy and imagination and so on to bring any meaningful perspective on these issues.
      - Brett
        
        If being an “in touch” average American means having a penchant for reality tv, then I guess I am out of touch. As far as empathy goes, I probably will forget more about empathy than you’ll ever know, there, lady. And, imagination…um, I am a published songwriter, poet and short story writer, if you must know. However, I’ll try to give your perspective a modicum of respect. People are more enamored of the tawdry than they are anything of substance.
      - OP
        
        Too true – if it bleeds it leads.
        
        People find it harder to honestly think about solving a complex problem than joining a mob to blame everyone except themselves for what’s wrong with the world.
        
        Fear anger and hatred are far esier to indulge than empathy. Politicians know this.
      - Brettearle
        
        Especially the fear-mongering Right:
        
        Death Panels;
        
        Overreaching with Terrorist alerts;
        
        Warnings of complete government breakdown, because of Democratic economic policy,
        etc.
      - Azra
        
        Don’t forget fear of M U S L I MS!!!
        
        AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
      - Gregg
        
        That’s funny given the recent hysteria about Catholics.
      - Brettearle
        
        Absolutely:
        
        Case in point:
        
        NYC monitoring of Mosques
- Anonymous
  
  Why not waterboard them?
  - Terry Tree Tree
    
    TOO ‘compassionate’, ‘conservative’, ‘Christian’, for the Republicans?�
    Oh, ‘W’ DID that!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Wes-Nickerson/100001436729213 Wes Nickerson

How to keep voters interested? That’s easy. Open up the official debates to the third party candidates. In the meantime voters will have an opportunity to see who else is running for president this Saturday, April 21, at the Third Party Presidential Forum, from 2 until 5 pm PST, at the Echo Park United Methodist Church, 1226 N Alvarado St, Los Angeles, CA 90026. It will be covered by C-SPAN, Pacifica Radio, and other media. Contact: Casey Peters (213) 385-2786 for more info.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Wes-Nickerson/100001436729213 Wes Nickerson
  
  Here is the link for this event:
  http://tinyurl.com/83o99ra
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_C2STBLZJK4VKQBV27DVQX3I6CU FAX68

iFacebook:

Wall Street continous speculative trading will hurt us all.
Gas prices are still rising when the demand for oil in America goes down for the past 3 1/2 years.
Bruceguindon

I see you are still keeping people from expressin their opinion
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  ???
Ben

Love the comment from the caller Carl! Rich women can choose to stay at home and bake cookies for the kids, while poor women must get off the government dole and find dignity in work and leave their kids at home to be raised by drug dealers. I’m sure Romney would say that she just needs to find herself a good mormon man to marry, so she can bake cookies too. If only a single income was sufficient to support a family! These days it seems like at the minimum wage, even the kids need to work too just keep food on the table. And that’s were the drug dealing “baby sitters” come in.
- Anonymous
  
  Yes, Carl was right on! And Scott Reed gave the same old Republican bromide response: tax cut. He thinks giving a poor single mother a tax cut will help her raise her kids. Unbelievable! If she is forced to go out and work–maybe two jobs–she can’t be there for her kids. The “family values” party sure is good at destroying families.
  - Janerivers
    
    Yep!!!Carl said everthing I was thinking about on my drive home from WORK!!!! Wherre I am for 14 hours a day with NO kids because I felt I couldn’t afford to support them!
    - Terry Tree Tree
      
      You missed out on one of the BEST adventures of life! I hope it is NOT too late for you to enjoy the trials and tribulations of Parenthood, the toughest job you’ll ever love, if you care about children.
          My children and I went through some VERY rough times, financially, child abduction, court battles, and MORE!�
         I would do it ALL again for them!
         Money isn’t what children NEED most! LOVE and GUIDANCE to be good people and citizens, matters MORE!
         My wishes for the best of luck to you, Lady!
- Gregg
  
  Why on earth would anyone other than entry level teenagers work for minimum wage? If you are an adult and have not nurtured the knowledge and skills to make more than some arbitrary low ball number then you are a loser.
JGehrer

I was frankly shocked to hear the first hour of this show; does NPR really think the republicans needed yet another outlet for their belligerent propaganda? Was the entire AM radio dial and their own cable news network not enough? If I want to hear that garbage, I know where to listen.
And since they persist in referring to the Democratic party as the ‘Democrat party’, I propose that we return the favor and start calling the ‘R-hole party’.
- Bruce
  
  Or maybe the “Republican’t Party” apropos of the Party of “No” engaged in mindless pandering, obfuscation, obstructionism and posturing for the past three and half years.
Azra

 ~ DOGS AGAINST ROMNEY ~

Dogs are the only minority group that Mitt isn’t pandering to, or brown-nosing, (I mean, we smell butts, but would never kiss one), because we can’t vote; lucky for him. He has alienated women, Hispanics, African-Americans, intelligent people of both sexes, so he’ll only have a few old white men voting for him. You know, you can tell a lot about a person by the way he treats his dog.

We’re sensitive, thinking, feeling beings, not a piece of luggage to be flung on your car roof when you take a vacation. That’s exactly what happened to me, when they drove all the way to Canada. They didn’t want to spend any money to let me stay in a nice boarding kennel. They also could have afforded a nice van, so the whole family could have safely fit inside; when they strapped me to the roof, is when I knew for sure that I was NOT a member of the family. When I found out about the long ride, I was happy, thinking about that wonderful, peaceful sleep. Instead, I was OUTSIDE. I couldn’t stop trembling, even when we stopped; the semi trucks were the worst, especially when they passed us, with that loud vibration, (I don’t think humans can hear those low tones), and air horns. It was awful! And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, I began to feel sick, because of the scary situation, & had an accident there, on the roof. When they saw the state of their back window, they pulled into a car wash – NOT AN ANIMAL HOSPITAL! They hosed down the car, my cage, AND ME!!! Do you you know what the pressure from that hose is like? Can you imagine how much of a shock that cold water was, to a sick puppy? I had to suffer through so much, just because they’re so stingy; with their money, & with their love.

That’s why we formed this group. All my friends & their human family members wear tee shirts for humans, or badges. My canine friends like the doggie tee shirts, & bandanas. The most popular are the “Mitt Is Mean”, & “Dogs Aren’t Luggage”. Many great things are available at the website.

Bo prefers the bandana, & looks really handsome in it. Sure wish I had a real family, who loved me, like Bo’s family does. Bo’s dad is SO generoud, & SO kind…

(Sigh!)
- Seamus
  
  Forgot to sign my name to the above contribution.
  
  Seamus
  - Gregg
    
    The best dog I ever had was named Ezra. He came up missing one day and I went nuts. I searched for a solid week, wrote a song to cope and then he wandered up from the woods with a leg hanging by a flap of skin. He lived another 8 years as a 3 legged friend.
    
    No point really, your name and the subject just reminded me.
- Terry Tree Tree
  
  His OWN dog wouldn’t vote for Romney? This one seems to be WOMAN’S best friend?
  Wonder how Mitt will pander to the PETA vote?
  What bone will he throw them?
- http://profile.yahoo.com/PQOCSU3NJ5J6SSQBEM5YBFCPZY Jason__A
  
  My German Sheperd read your comment and she noted that Romney has also alienated GAY people…you know, that invisible group YOU EXCLUDED.
  - Gregg
    
    I don’t agree gays are invisible. They shout it from the mountaintops… for some reason.
    - Hidan
      
      Like this
      
      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9092812/Mitt-Romney-aide-Paul-Babeu-forced-to-resign-in-Arizona-gay-scandal.html
      
      Doesn’t seem liked he was screaming from the mountaintops
    - Azra
      
      Au contraire. Very many, especially young gays, not able to cope, quietly commit suicide.
- Bruce
  
  The accident you had right there on the roof that resulted in a disgusting mess that made its way down the back window is what you get when “Mitt Happens” — hopefully the electorate will choose to avoid stepping in his mess this Nov.
  - Azra
    
    THAT’S PRICELESS!
Hugh T

I’ll be looking for a fair-minded third party candidate not swayed by a Super PAC. Heard of “Americans Elect”? Great idea, I just wish it had a chance in this country.
Gregg

This is an awesome ad. There is so much to work with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVDs9mSG3AA
- Still Here
  
  We finally found something he’s good at!
  - Gregg
    
    He’s the best!
Gregg

Newt Gingrich may have finally lost me with his new campaign Whites for Newt. Kinda’ racist, don’t ya think?
- Still Here
  
  That guy is such a racist!
  - http://profile.yahoo.com/PQOCSU3NJ5J6SSQBEM5YBFCPZY Jason__A
    
    Newt’s very favorite color is green…the color of MONEY….
- Zero
  
  What’s wrong with it? Don’t republicans have a campaign…”African Americans for Romney”…is that not the same thing?
  
  Cannot a politician politic to minority groups? Is that off limits?
  - Gregg
    
    No, he doesn’t. Do you have a problem with “Whites for Newt”?
    - Zero
      
      But whites are the majority. You are revealing that you don’t understand the dynamics of majority/minority society.
      
      Plus, republicans blow racist dog whistles to their base all the time.
      
      I see nothing wrong with politicians politicking to minority groups. And I certainly don’t see Obama using cryptic racism to speak to his strongest supporters, unlike what the republicans do.
      - Gregg
        
        Well then we disagree. I think racism is racism and I apply the same rules across the board for all. I believe we are all equal.
      - Zero
        
        You are just ignoring the minority dynamic. Republicans politic to African Americans, but Obama can’t…?
      - Gregg
        
        Minority Shminority, who cares?
Seraphaeme

Governor Romney = Governor-Etch-A-Sketch
I love it!!!
Guest

Scary, scary thought of a Mormon being President. Horrors!
- Gregg
  
  It can’t be worse than a “Black Liberation Theologists”, or did that bother you? What so bad about Mormons?
  - http://profile.yahoo.com/PQOCSU3NJ5J6SSQBEM5YBFCPZY Jason__A
    
    Nothing at all, if you are insane.
    - Gregg
      
      So is Rev. Wright.
    - Hidan
      
      Dude,
      
      Wanna see how sane he is? Ask him if he thinks Obama is a Muslim?
- Zero
  
  I see what you are doing…trying to create the feeling of otherness the right did with Obama.
  
  God, the amount of times I heard someone describe Obama as “scary” during the 2008 election….
aj

Free Bradley Manning!
- Hidan
  
  Manning has been degraded, striped nude for weeks, and dehumanized while the MSM gave him little thought as opposed to Sgt Bales who went and killed and terrorized men,women and child while the MSM tried as much as they could to humanize the guy and highly doubt (since his action put more U.S. soldiers at risk) Bales is being treated half as bad as Manning.
Janerivers

I find it interesting that Ann Romney is all about a woman’s xhoice…what about a woman’s rifht to choose abortion? ther is where the choice ends.
- Gregg
  
  I hadn’t heard she was pro-life. I know Laura Bush is pro-choice. Are you sure?
- guest
  
  the thing is that the original comment had nothing to do with the spin on it now. the comment pointed out MITT’s interesting choice in advisers on matters pertaining to the everyday american woman. Some of them choose to stay at home. BUT many of them have to choose between dental care and paying the rent. The original point is right on point and the focus on her choices is nothing but playing in to republic party spin.
Gregg

This is rich. Romney put his dog on top of a car, Obama put dog on top of rice. From “Dreams From My Father”:

With Lolo, I learned how to eat small green chill peppers raw with
dinner (plenty of rice), and, away from the dinner table, I was
introduced to dog meat (tough), snake meat (tougher), and roasted
grasshopper (crunchy).
- Worried for the country(MA)
  
  That is hilarious.
  
  Seamus vs. “wok my dog”
- Worried for the country(MA)
  
  Did you see Obama’s new dog recipe?
  
  Gum Bo
  - Gregg
    
    Funny!
- Still Here
  
  Bo should watch his back.
- Bruce
  
  News Flash: In an attempt to put the Seamus Affair to rest, Ann Romney just went on CNN and blamed Seamus for getting sick on top of the car roof during a family vacation trip to Canada. She stated that their beloved pet had brought this sorry state on himself by eating turkey off the lunch counter some time before they set out on their journey.�
  �
  I detect a pattern here: let’s blame the victim in order to divert attention from whatever stupidity or misfortune we inflict upon ourselves or society.
  �
  Maybe if Queen Ann, the self-appointed advocate for the wealthiest 0.1% of stay-at-home moms, had had a real job at the time this happened, they could have afforded to rent a full-size van in which the entire family could have traveled, and the Shame of Seamus could have been altogether prevented.
  �
  I expect to see a re-enactment of this sordid affair on SNL before the election
Worried for the country(MA)

Will we tune in this summer?

I don’t know but we will be reminded every time we fill up our tanks this summer that Obama is hostile to domestic energy as we pay at least $500B more than in 2009 for gasoline.
- Hidan
  
  Not only obama but congress both democrats and republicans. Sanction oil lead to speculators than leading to higher gas prices.
  
  The WH will argue it’s a good economy etc, etc and republicans will argue if only a pipeline was built. Both will hide the main reason why it suddenly went up. which is sanction on Iranian oil thanks to the likud lobby.
  - Worried for the country(MA)
    
    How about the weak dollar AND all the domestic refineries being shut — especially in the north east?
    - Hidan
      
      http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/
      
      which month?
    - Hidan
      
      China?
      
      http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/
- Still Here
  
  We’re all supposed to be using solar, wind and Durbin’s corn-based ethanol, right?
Hidan

Talks of Oil Sanctions started early in 2011, Sanctions happen on Dec 31th 2011,EU ban on Jan 23rd and tighten in Feb. March 30th fresh new oil sanctions. Note the first of the sanctions had many loop holes on who the sanctions covered.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15983302
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17569326
http://www.nyse.tv/crude-oil-price-history.htm
http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx

The myth of an isolated Iran

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/17/the_myth_of_an_isolated_iran/

“D.C.’s aggressive sanctions are really about protecting the dollar and undermining China”

Since Feb 2012 the dollar has been strengthening against the Yuan.

“That Iranian isolation theme only gets weaker when one learns that the
country is dumping the dollar in its trade with Russia for rials and rubles ”

Since the Dec 31th 2011 sanctions the dollar has fallen compared to the Rouble. Talks in the mid months of 2011 started the rise in oil prices and speculation, it was than found that by Dec many EU and other countries would be excluded from the sanctions dealing which was supposed to be til June 2012 but Iran cut oil short for some of the countries, the EU(along with the U.S.) caused a spike from Jan 2012 and on 3.32 on Jan 8th and than upward. Still higher than calls for Sanctions back in early 2011.
Still Here

Where’s the whining about speculators’ role in natural gas prices? I’ll wait.
- Gregg
  
  We certainly drilled our way to cheap natural gas.
  - Terry Tree Tree
    
    NOW, drillers are WHINING that they made it TOO cheap! They will DEMAND MORE subsidies?
Matkakot

Since installing a roku player we don’t watch actual TV so are spared the political ads. Best investment we ever made. Once my husband retires in a couple years our land line will be gone in order to escape the political phone calls as well. I expect I will still be a well-informed voter.
Gregg

Hitler weighs in on the dog issue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEBN8wOKjMo&feature=player_embedded#!
Slipstream

How will they keep people tuned in? They won’t. I’m yawning already. I guess this is the natural outcome of both major parties pushing to finish their primaries early and settle on a candidate before the summer. It seems that the days when important decisions are made at national conventions are long gone.

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