O'Donnell tweet: The small business (bakery) owner Romney insulted will be on The Last Word tonight.

[highplainsdem]

http://twitter.com/Lawrence/status/193134108245901312

[Iris]

1. Insulted a bakery owner? What happened?

And how did I miss THAT one?

[highplainsdem]

3. Link to one of the stories about Cookiegate:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/19/mitt-romneys-newest-mini-headache-cookiegate/

[MADem]

4. Another "Silver Foot in his Mouth" moment (hat tip to the late great Ann Richards)

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/mitt-romney-heckles-beloved-bakery-says-cookies-came-from-the-local-7-eleven/

Presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney broke two of the comedy rules that Jon Stewart gave him on last night’s Daily Show by sitting at a table with his audience, and by heckling them. Joking with voters at a Pennsylvania campaign stop Tuesday, Romney slammed a plate of cookies from the Bethel Bakery, saying “I’m not sure about these cookies, they don’t look like you made them. Did you make those? No, they came from the local 7-Eleven or whatever.”

The remark reveals that Romney might have something of a penchant for insult humor. In February, he needled some NASCAR fans about their cheap plastic rain ponchos.

I think we ought to have the asshole debate Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog. Triumph would wipe the floor with him!

[cr8tvlde]

7. Didn't see your quote ... thanks for the link

[brewens]

2. Coulda been worse. He could have just had his food taster eat one first to make sure

he wasn't being poisoned. That would really have shown us what kind of guy he is.

[cr8tvlde]

5. He asked them if the cookies came from 7-11...strange statement in itself...

turns out they were very special cookies make by the number one bakery in the town. The expensive bakery. They weren't amused.

[Iris]

6. He needs to just quit talking already.

seriously.

Joe the Baker?

[gateley]

8. I think this has been WAY blown out of proportion. My sense of it was he was trying to joke, saying

that the cookie looked so good he doubted it was home made -- kind of ribbing the person. (That's how it sounded to me, anyway.) His choice of "7-11" was typical Romney cluelessness, and the first time I heard it I thought he was saying a "7-11 bakery" -- like 7-11's have bakeries! But then I heard someone else say "bakery" and he just repeated it.

I think it was Martin Bashir who was intimating that the cookie wasn't "good enough" for Romney and I think that charge is unfair.

But I still despise the guy. I just hate it when we totally twist something about them like they do to us.

[MADem]

9. "Insult humor." It's not the best tactic when you're trying to win votes, but this guy is tone deaf

when it comes to interacting with real people.

[gateley]

12. But I didn't see it at insult humor, I interpreted it as his trying to compliment the

person if she did make them. OR, he was trying to be endearing or something. Or maybe it was insult humor. ANY kind of attempted humor from Romney misses the mark.

[MADem]

15. It was insult humor--"These cookies look like you bought them at 7-11" isn't a compliment.

"Oh, you didn't bake these--you had Paula Deen cook 'em up FOR you!" is a compliment.

Unless 7-11 has turned into the "Cake Boss" place for cookies while I was sleeping, or something....?

[gateley]

17. Don't ask me why I keep coming to Romney's defense, but here I go again --

I think his INTENTION was to be flattering but he (as usual) fucked up on the reference because he just doesn't get it. He may not realize that would have been insulting.

But I may be all wrong, and in the end, it really doesn't matter because bottom line, he's an idiot and we won't even be mentioning his name after November.

[MADem]

22. Well, I guess we have to disagree. I think that "Insult Humor" when used against people who aren't

paying to hear it (e.g. a Triumph The Insult Comic Dog, or a Don Rickles concert) is a sign of a very petty and mean-spirited mind. It suggests an inferiority complex--he's putting them down before they can do it to him.

These people came out to SUPPORT this clown...and he gives them shit? What is he, an IDIOT?

All I can do is contrast RMoney's approach with how Bill Clinton would have played it--firm handshakes, eye twinkles, lots of attentive listening, a sense of complete patience and "I have all the time in the world," hugs for the ladies who wanted 'em, and an obvious appreciation for one of those delicious cookies, with a pat on his waistline as he turns down a second. He never had a need to be an asshole to connect with people. Obama would have taken a similar tack--no need to be snarky or wise-ass to be down-to-earth.

[gateley]

23. My problem is that I wouldn't ever use insult humor in a situation like that,

so I can't FATHOM someone else doing it and keep looking for reasons or explanations. Sometimes I wonder if he's just painfully uncomfortable around real folk.

Anyway, Clinton or Obama would have behaved beautifully. Romney could never hope to be so gracious and endearing.

[MADem]

26. That's not a problem for you--it's a feature!

You live in the real world, and you were raised right!

[Blue_Roses]

27. OMG

--"These cookies look like you bought them at 7-11" isn't a compliment.

so true...

"Oh, you didn't bake these--you had Paula Deen cook 'em up FOR you!" is a compliment.

Definitely! Can you imagine Paula Deen's face or any other person who puts such passion into their cooking, only to hear this!

Just reading this again shows just how out of touch Romney is with the "7-Eleven" folks.

But OMG it's funny!

[gateley]

30. Exactly! nt

[hlthe2b]

10. In and of itself, not a big deal, but combined with all the other similar clueless episodes...

I think it is significant. If he were President, how many "inadvertent?" insults would he deliver to our international friends and foes alike? There are some with which we deal whose own egos would not likely take this well. Life and death? No... probably not, but it really does underscore what a foolish, clueless, boor he can be.

[gateley]

13. A foolish, clueless boor -- perfect description. And I agree that I think he'd be worse than

we could imagine dealing with our international contacts. But I still think it's been blown out of proportion. It was on every single MSNBC show today as though it was really something vitally important.

[hlthe2b]

14. Didn't see any tv today, so no doubt you are right on that.... n/t

[Ecumenist]

18. It's called a "back handed compliment". That's what my mother. aunts and granmothers called

that sort of "joke" It also called being "NICE NASTY". Not good and it meant to elevate oneself above the person or thing the "jokester" is referring to. Nasty, nasty man. It comes off as snobbery, really.

[gateley]

24. Again, I have no idea why I'm riding to his rescue here, but I don't think that was his intent.

He was just trying to be one of "them" (IMO) and as usual, went about it all wrong because he's so removed.
I don't think he'd try to make himself look better, elevate himself, because he doesn't need to. He already believes in his heart he IS better. Politically, I think he would take the opposite approach, and I think that's what he attempted.

For the rest of us, though, I agree with the wise women in your family. I've used it when I'm feeling insecure.

[JI7]

29. the way he said it made it seem like he thought the cookies were disgusting

people have joked many times about whether they actually cooked the food and they do it in a way where it sounds like they are saying it looks/tastes so good it must be from some special place.

and him saying 7-11 instead of a bakery says a lot also.

[DippyDem]

11. Oh thanks! I'll be watching. nt

[LynnTTT]

16. No people skills

as they used to say. And frankly, a president needs to read people and respond to them, you know, diplomatically. Bush gave the president of Germany an unwanted back-rub. What the hell would Romney do?

[Fridays Child]

19. Spineless republibot.

He was willing to capitalize on the insult with a "cookiegate" special at his store but he didn't have the courage to speak out against Romney.

[Politicalboi]

20. The owner was making excuses for Rmoney

Said he would like it if Rmoney came back.

[DefenseLawyer]

21. To paraphrase Michael Jordon

Republicans buy cookies too.

[Ecumenist]

25. I heard that too. Spineless and no self respect. smdh nt

[Raine]

28. Rmoney is clueless and always shows it. nt