2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumMitt's debate strategy: Make Obama come across as condescending or smug
From Daily Kos:
During rehearsals, Mr. Romney has tried lines of attack suggesting that Mr. Obama distorts the facts and sloughs off responsibility on others. Mr. Romneys aides recall Mr. Obamas tart youre likable enough line to Mrs. Clinton in 2008 and hope to goad him into a similarly churlish moment. Mr. Romney will win, the advisers said, if he can force Mr. Obama to come across as condescending or smug.
Who knows whether this actually reflects Romneyland's thinking or if it's just a head fake (Eric Ferhrnstrom refused to comment on it directly), but if they really think the only thing standing between Mitt Romney and the presidency is his ability to deliver zingers and goad President Obama into a "likable enough" style mistake, they are stone cold insane.
First of all, zingers are great entertainment, but zingers don't win elections. Just ask Vice President Lloyd Bentsen. And don't forget, Bentsen was only able to pull off his zinger because he had the stature to deliver itand because Quayle so richly deserved it. Romney has neither of those things working in his favor.
Second, the reason that Obama's "likable enough" moment caused him trouble is that he was attacking a sympathetic figure who had a real political base. In other words, Mitt Romney is no Hillary Clinton. I mean, in light of Romney's 47 percent video, there's probably a fair number of people who would cheer the president if he walked across the stage and punched Mitt Romney in the face on behalf of the tens of millions of Americans that Romney so callously dismissed. But even if it were possible for Obama to say something that generated sympathy for Romney, it's not like Obama's "likable enough" comment cost him the nomination.
Romney's real challenge on Wednesday is the same challenge he's had throughout the general election: he needs to convince voters who supported President Obama in 2008 that they made a mistake. A strategy of zingers and goading won't help him do that...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/01/1138385/-Mitt-Romney-s-debate-plan-Zing-and-goad
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)but Mitt's not Ronald Reagan. He would make such a moment cringe-worthy.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)The language I hear out of Mitt's camp indicates that they do not understand how such moments as that one really happen. I'm not worried.
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)I'm willing to cringe on his behalf.
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)unblock
(52,240 posts)BeyondGeography
(39,374 posts)trying to make the other guy look like a fat man in a red suit.
imanamerican63
(13,795 posts)Mitt is trying make Obama look condescending?? Give a _____ break!!!!!!
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,412 posts)about the rest of us- and it ain't pretty and most people recognize it as such.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Mitt's there to make Obama look bad rather than discuss what his ideas are, because his ideas are non-existent.
Making Obama look bad is not an easy task and certainly above Mittwit's pay grade.
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)sarge43
(28,941 posts)Mitters could give master classes in condescension and smugness.
TroyD
(4,551 posts)According to Nate Silver.
Interesting.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)smorkingapple
(827 posts)LOL good luck champ!!!
I think Obama can lure him in more easily, especially when he speaks about his business and Governor record.
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)RichGirl
(4,119 posts)To act concescending and smug. And, quite frankly, he doesn't have the acting skills. Seriously, one of the many things I love about our president is that he doesn't have it in him to be fake or phony. He is consistently himself.
budkin
(6,703 posts)Mitt stands no chance.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Mittens IS the perfect picture of "smug and condescending".
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)not sure how he can do that.. but it will be some
kind of smiling & condescending zingers, I predict,
and will make Mitt look really petty.
Blue Meany
(1,947 posts)sofa king
(10,857 posts)Bake
(21,977 posts)If that's the best Mittens has got, bring it.
Bake