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WI_DEM

(33,497 posts)
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 10:39 AM Oct 2012

Mitt'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. Romney’s aides recall Mr. Obama’s tart “you’re 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 it—and 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

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Mitt's debate strategy: Make Obama come across as condescending or smug (Original Post) WI_DEM Oct 2012 OP
Mitt's hoping for another "there you go again" moment, pnwmom Oct 2012 #1
You are so right about that. Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #8
I can't wait. Voice for Peace Oct 2012 #14
LOL! Me, too! n/t pnwmom Oct 2012 #15
that's like manute bol trying to make the other guy look tall. unblock Oct 2012 #2
That's like Santa BeyondGeography Oct 2012 #3
This way to funny!!!!! imanamerican63 Oct 2012 #4
Mitt's 47% remarks tell us EVERYTHING we need to know about how Mitt thinks Proud Liberal Dem Oct 2012 #5
Notice there is no strategy at all regarding the issues treestar Oct 2012 #6
Bingo! We have a winner!! nt progressivebydesign Oct 2012 #13
More Repub projection. sarge43 Oct 2012 #7
Largest shifts in the polls after the first debate have been about three points in either direction TroyD Oct 2012 #9
Good luck with that, asshole!!! Liberal_Stalwart71 Oct 2012 #10
Romney really thinks Obama can out-smug or out-arrogant him? smorkingapple Oct 2012 #11
Dear America: Being President is MORE than coming up with quips or being an rehearsed asshole. nt progressivebydesign Oct 2012 #12
It isn't in President Obama's character... RichGirl Oct 2012 #16
LOL relying on Zingers to win a debate budkin Oct 2012 #17
I've said it before... SoapBox Oct 2012 #18
he'll want to make obama look small. Voice for Peace Oct 2012 #19
Obama can just quip: "Not bad!...How long have you been rehearsing that line?"" Blue Meany Oct 2012 #20
He'll come out looking like Adebisi's cell mate. sofa king Oct 2012 #21
The Prez is way too cool to fall for that trap! Bake Oct 2012 #22

pnwmom

(108,978 posts)
1. Mitt's hoping for another "there you go again" moment,
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 10:42 AM
Oct 2012

but Mitt's not Ronald Reagan. He would make such a moment cringe-worthy.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
8. You are so right about that.
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 10:58 AM
Oct 2012

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.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,412 posts)
5. Mitt's 47% remarks tell us EVERYTHING we need to know about how Mitt thinks
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 10:52 AM
Oct 2012

about the rest of us- and it ain't pretty and most people recognize it as such.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
6. Notice there is no strategy at all regarding the issues
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 10:56 AM
Oct 2012

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.

TroyD

(4,551 posts)
9. Largest shifts in the polls after the first debate have been about three points in either direction
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 11:12 AM
Oct 2012

According to Nate Silver.

Interesting.

smorkingapple

(827 posts)
11. Romney really thinks Obama can out-smug or out-arrogant him?
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 11:26 AM
Oct 2012

LOL good luck champ!!!

I think Obama can lure him in more easily, especially when he speaks about his business and Governor record.

RichGirl

(4,119 posts)
16. It isn't in President Obama's character...
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 01:12 PM
Oct 2012

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.

 

Voice for Peace

(13,141 posts)
19. he'll want to make obama look small.
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 01:22 PM
Oct 2012

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.

Bake

(21,977 posts)
22. The Prez is way too cool to fall for that trap!
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 01:36 PM
Oct 2012

If that's the best Mittens has got, bring it.

Bake

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