Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
I didn't get a chance to watch the NAACP speech Romney gave, but I read or saw some of the coverage. The takeaway given by many reporters was that Romney was booed. A friend emailed me today a list of other audience reactions to the speech.
According to this list, the audience applauded 27 times in 25 minutes. That includes when Romney said, among other things: he will represent every race; he will help the middle class; Americans are entitled to an answer about the economy; he supports strong families and traditional marriages; he will help the middle class; bring jobs back to the United States; will stop spending; will protect social Security and Medicare with higher benefits for those with lower income and lower for higher income; wages will rise again; if you want a president to make things better for the African American Community, you're looking at him; he joined with the Black Legislative Caucus in Massachusetts to promote Charter Schools; he won't let special interest groups stand in the way of education reform; money for education will be linked to the student for true choice; his father was a man that he admired for equality and justice; and that his father was a man of faith that knew that everyone was God's children.
He was booed regarding overturning ObamaCare.
What's particularly stupid about the way the media are manipulating this story is that it makes the audience look somewhat bad (although for my part I wish far more audiences would boo politicians) and it makes Romney look strong and principled.
I have seen so many politicians pander to their audience. One of my absolute favorites was when Hilary Clinton adopted the worlds worst drawl for a few moments while campaigning in a black church in the south. I would have assumed Romney would have pandered, too, in this case. But his speech seems like it was tailored to his audience without being patronizing.
I wonder if the media realize that the message they're trying to push might not be the one that is received.
Also, why did so many in the media fail to show that the audience supports traditional marriage or gave Romney a standing ovation at the end?
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Jun '12
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: I wonder if the media realize that the message they're trying to push might not be the one that is received.
Also, why did so many in the media fail to show that the audience supports traditional marriage or gave Romney a standing ovation at the end? · · 2 minutes ago
Of course the leftymedia don't realize it. They live in a lefty bubble where they can have a good laugh about their editing hatchet job at the cocktail parties after the newscast airs.
As for why they didn't show the approval, same reason.
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
Oh wow. I wrote all that before reading this amazing Michael Tomasky screed. It may be the most unhinged charge of racism I've seen come out of the media. And that is saying something:
Jun '10
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
Re: Tomasky
How is preaching economic growth, cutting government waste, and promoting school choice rubbing anything in black faces? Cutting government waste and increasing school choice should only upset the socialist thugs that run teachers unions.
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
So far at least, Mitt Romney has done no pandering at all. His speech was an honest summary of what he intends to do. He did the leading members of the NAACP the courtesy of appearing before them to explain himself, and they did him the courtesy in return of listening. The applause they accorded him is far more telling than the boos.
It is worth mentioning that Wolf Blitzer on CNN praised Romney for his courage and decency and gave an accurate account of the response he generated. I take this as a sign that Blitzer knows which way the wind is blowing.
Jun '12
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
Mel Foil: Re: Tomasky
How is preaching economic growth, cutting government waste, and promoting school choice rubbing anything in black faces? Cutting government waste and increasing school choice should only upset the socialist thugs that run teachers unions. · 3 minutes ago
It's the soft racism of the left.
They believe -- truly, in their heart of hearts, completely believe -- that blacks can't make it in the modern world without government largesse.
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
For the record, the NAACP gave Romney a standing ovation, and Wolf Blitzer noted the fact.
Edited on July 12, 2012 at 4:29pmOct '10
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
I don't consider myself uninformed or out of the loop, but until now I didn't know he got a standing O at the end. Thanks Mollie.
Jan '11
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
I hope Mitt also gets booed at the AARP and the NEA. Someday a leader must tell us things we do not want to hear.
Jul '10
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
His speech got applause 27 times? Never mind, it doesn't fit the narrative.
As for Tomasky, I'm going to guess he's seen often on the MSNBC freak shows.
Apr '12
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
Hasn't pandering become the basis of Democratic politics? Of course they might also complain that if Republicans don't do it, the panders could become endangered.
May '10
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
That's a rhetorical question, right? :-)
Excellent post, and your update on Tomasky is so very telling who the racists are in our society.
Apr '11
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
The growing bile on the Left is only more evidence of stark panic arising from the sense that their day is done. Take comfort in it, not offense.
Mar '11
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
As usual, Tim Stanley gave the best account of Mr Romney's speech.
I'll avoid wasting my time reading Mr Tomasky's screed - it is all so predictable.
May '10
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: Oh wow. I wrote all that before reading this amazing Michael Tomasky screed. It may be the most unhinged charge of racism I've seen come out of the media. And that is saying something:
3 hours ago
They wish...the Left is going into this election like a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest. This isn't going to be close.
Jun '12
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
Keith Preston
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: Oh wow. I wrote all that before reading this amazing Michael Tomasky screed. It may be the most unhinged charge of racism I've seen come out of the media. And that is saying something:
3 hours ago
They wish...the Left is going into this election like a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest. This isn't going to be close. · 3 minutes ago
Never underestimate the ACORN factor.
Why do ya think the left kicks and screams so loudly about voter ID?
Nov '11
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
So he got booed for stating his (overall popular) position on one topic, and he got applause at least twice for statements on which the audience agrees with him instead of Obama. Not too bad for the NAACP.
Looks like Romney managed to do both the right thing and the politically effective thing in one speech, and get plenty of media coverage in the bargain. I'd call it a good day.
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
David Williamson: As usual, Tim Stanley gave the best account of Mr Romney's speech.
I'll avoid wasting my time reading Mr Tomasky's screed - it is all so predictable. · 1 hour ago
Yes, indeed, Stanley's report is on the mark. It captures just how boring Romney can be and how interesting he can be.
The real headline should have been: Mitt Romney Gets Standing Ovation in Appearance before the NAACP. But, apart from Wolf Blitzer on CNN, no one in the mainstream media even mentioned the fact. It is, I must say, appalling that the news columns in The Wall Street Journal are no better than they are.
Apr '12
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
The goal of the NAACP in its present form is to keep blacks on the democratic plantation.
Feb '12
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
Romney stood his ground. Did not pander. Did not put on a hair shirt. Did not self-flaggelate in guilt expiation. Did not talk with a black accent. Did not play the "I'm-in-the-back-of-the-bus-with-you" card. Did not apologize. If it's a grovelling, white politician you want bring out Bill or Hillary or John McCain or, better yet, the gold-medal, all-time poster boy for pandering, Nobel Gore himself.
Jun '12
Re: Romney Criticized For Failing To Pander
Also, Romney talked to the crowd like adults, in conversational tones. How refreshing.
I got a real kick out of the dramatic organ trill used twice near the very end... it sounded like a genuine and completely unplanned response to what was being said. Same sound you'd hear at Yankee stadium when your best batter came up tothe plate (I only heard audio, did nott see vid)