Mitt Romney Makes 'Hang' Obama Gaffe During Unofficial 2012 Debut

National Journal ^ | April 30, 2011 | Ujala Sehgal

[ejdrapes]

Mitt Romney Makes 'Hang' Obama Gaffe During Unofficial 2012 Debut
By Ujala Sehgal
April 30, 2011 | 2:34 p.m.
Updated: April 30, 2011 | 4:30 p.m.

The spotlight was on Mitt Romney yesterday at the Republican gathering in Manchester, New Hampshire, purportedly a summit on jobs and the economy, but also a showcase of five Republican presidential hopefuls, including Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Romney. Many interpreted the summit as Romney's unofficial debut as a 2012 candidate.

And, it seems that Romney got off to a difficult start. The Atlantic writes:

Romney was off in just about every facet of his performance... [He] remains an exceptionally unnatural public speaker... His tone and affect are like that of an adult doing a dramatic reading of a pirate story to a wide-eyed three year old.

But the low point no doubt was when Romney made a Jimmy Carter-Barack Obama comparison about how just as Reagan had hung the "misery index" around Carter's neck, now Republicans would have to "hang" Obama with current economic hardship. But then he realized mid-sentence the trouble with making a metaphor about hanging a black man. The Boston Globe reports:

Romney almost immediately caught himself, with the English major declaring "metaphorically" speaking, but the mix of nervous laughter with applause indicated at least some in the audience realized its potency.

Video of the comment is below. Romney spokesman Andrea Saul emailed CNN regarding questions over his comment, "It is not what the governor meant and that was very clear in what he actually said. It's a ridiculous exaggeration of his actual comments."

Nonetheless, even putting that unfortunate incident aside, Romney still had his critics. Steve Beren for Washington Monthly writes that, "the whole argument was a mess."

Romney mentions Reagan, hoping Republicans will forget he didn't like Reagan in the '80s and wasn't even a Republican at the time. Romney mentions "higher taxation," which is absurd given how much Obama has cut taxes for everyone

Beren's verdict: "The guy isn't ready for primetime."

There were some positive reviews for Romney's performance on more substantive issues, however. The Boston Globe writes:

[Romney's] answer to the inevitable question about his Massachusetts health plan was about the best that could be expected: A smiling reference to all the controversy about it, a sincere defense of its goals, an avowal to never attempt such a thing on the federal level, ending with a pledge to grant every state a waiver from Obamacare on his first day in office. And when asked about high gasoline costs he offered a mini-lesson on how to tame the futures markets and bring down prices, suggesting there's some substance beneath his somewhat oily presentation.

[ejdrapes]

I don't agree one bit with the MSM PC brigade, but Mitt needs to go away now. He's not natural at all. He looks and sounds like a phoney. Just like Donald Trump, except without Trump's bravado and narcissism.

[Jim Robinson]

That’s because he IS a phony.

FUMR!!

[Shady]

Or Trump’s great hair. LOL...
Mitt can’t catch a pop-up.
He needs to realize that we are so over RINOs.

[hinckley buzzard]

Mitt didn't light up any boards in 2008, no reason to expect that will change in 2012. As for narcissism at least Trump does it with style. Romney is the typical east coast elitist variety, much less palatable.

[Farmer Dean]

His somewhat oily presentation?They need to spread sand on the stage so the other speakers don’t slip and fall.

[Celtic Cross]

No, he speaks from the very depths of his red white and blue heart! How can you not see that??

Is the '/sarc' tag even necessary? :)

[txrangerette]

Yeah, but he went to NASCAR and wore jeans!!

That means NOTHING to you???

sarc/

[fantom]

“His somewhat oily presentation?They need to spread sand on the stage so the other speakers don’t slip and fall”. Now that’s funny right there.

[denydenydeny]

I predict that the MSM will mostly ignore this story.

They have never gone after Mitt, and that has to tell you something.

[Graybeard58]

Just like Donald Trump, except without Trump's bravado and narcissism.

Trump - Romney, without the Mormon baggage.

[mojito]

Romney has all the natural grace of a marionette.

[Mariner]

I still can't figure what it was that caused Mitt Romney to believe he could one day be President.

One of the weirdest things I ever saw.

[Clink]

Mitt Romney= The Republican John F’n Kerry

[LostInBayport]

His tone and affect are like that of an adult doing a dramatic reading of a pirate story to a wide-eyed three year old.

Nailed it.

[ejdrapes]

Well I see the AP is reporting on it so I suspect it will get out there.

[Jim Scott]

I'm not surprised to learn that Mitt Romney is failing, already. No way the MSM can prop this guy up against a Sarah Palin/TEA party candidacy. Mitt is old news and only the left gives his candidacy much credence. That the media is trying to make Romney's use of the word 'hang' in connection with Obama, who is half-black, as some sort of big mistake shows how ridiculous the 'race card' gotcha' game has become. I'm no fan of Mitt but that phrase was innocuous and the left trying to make it more is lame but about what you'd expect. They'll find any way possible to inject a charge of 'racism' into anything a Republican says. They just did it to Trump because he questions Obama's college career and his refusal to divulge his college records (as every other candidate has). Get used to this, folks. The bright spot is that when the left calls every white Republican a racist, no one is a racist anymore just for criticizing Obama.

[Joe Boucher]

Jim I could not agree more,
But
At this point I think Romney is the favorite to get the nomination.
As slimey as a remora.
Hope I am wrong.

[popdonnelly]

Now you can’t say the word “hang”?

[Sporke]

“Romney mentions “higher taxation,” which is absurd given how much Obama has cut taxes for everyone.””

Uh....WHAT????

[Jim Robinson]

No way, Jose. It’d be the death warrant for the GOP.