Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Combative Romney Team Hits Obama Coast-to-Coast
The Washington Examiner ^ | Thursday, May 31, 2012 | Byron York

Posted on 05/31/2012 12:21:51 PM PDT by kristinn

it intends to fight the guerilla warfare of a presidential campaign with a new aggressiveness and combativeness.

The first signal came in Boston, where top Obama adviser David Axelrod organized an anti-Romney event on the steps of the Massachusetts state house. The event, which Team Obama wanted to keep under wraps until shortly before it happened, was to feature remarks from Axelrod and Democratic state officeholders who would attack Romney's record as governor from 2003 to 2007. But it didn't work out as planned.

First, word of the event leaked last night, and the Romney campaign quickly scheduled an event of its own at the state house about an hour before Axelrod's. Then, when Democrats began speaking, a crowd of about 100 Romney workers, supporters, and volunteers showed up to chant, shout, and heckle the speakers every step of the way. The protesters shouted "Solyndra!" and "Where are the jobs?" and "Mitt, Mitt, Mitt!" while Democrats gamely attacked Romney's tenure as governor.

"I get tweets from some of these folks, so I feel close to them," Axelrod lamented at one point. At another, he said simply, "Look, this is the great pageant of democracy." In the end, the Obama event was overshadowed by the loud, aggressive Romney forces.

It was the kind of tactic that is usually repaid in kind on the campaign trail, and it seems likely -- certain, actually -- that Romney surrogates, and perhaps Mitt Romney himself, will soon face similar actions at their events. But Romney aides aren't worried, saying what they did was both payback and a message.

(Excerpt) Read more at campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: davidaxelrod; mittromney; obama; solyndra
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-107 next last
To: rogue yam
Further, I think the portrait of Mitt that has been painted by the Mitt haters here on FR is completely wrong.

Well in fairness to the Mitt-haters (I prefer the term Mitt-bashers because how can you really hate the man), Mitt only recently started showing this side of himself.

Being from Massachusetts, I've known Mitt Romney a lot longer than most Freepers and even I am dumbfounded by recent events. I fully expected Romney to be yet another RINO milquetoast candidate like McCain, Dole and the Bushes before him.

But somehow a fire has been lit in the belly. Granted, it's still a small fire, merely tongues of flame licking at some kindling, but if tended properly, it will eventually fire up the surrounding logs and throw some serious heat in Obama's general direction.

I've been thinking about this and I've come to the conclusion that Mitt Romney now realizes that he can be not just another president but perhaps one of the greatest presidents in our nations history. I'm talking Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan here. The stuff of Mount Rushmore.

Think about it. Would Reagan be hailed one of the greatest president of all time if he did not succeed one of our very worst (Carter)? Don't get me wrong, Reagan would have made an excellent president in any time. But having displaced the malaise that was Jimmy Carter and having given us a reason to feel good about our country again, his presidency was magnified in our eyes all the more.

Mitt Romney has even a greater opportunity before him then even Ronald Reagan. Obama is ten times worse than Jimmy Carter. Obama represents the biggest threat this country has faced since the Civil War. Speaking of the Civil War, Lincoln rose to the occasion. He was not a great man when he was elected. He was a compromise candidate and never expected to do great things. As we now know, Lincoln outperformed all expectations and proved to be far tougher than anybody ever gave him credit for and for better or worse (depending on your perspective), kept our nation together when it could have easily devolved into groups of squabbling, warring "Bosnian-like" states.

Well I'm thinking Romney has come to the realization that he has an historical opportunity here. He can be the next "Lincoln" who saves the country from a descent into totalitarianism or he can be a historical footnote - merely a speed bump on the road to America's demise and death spiral.

Maybe, just maybe, Romney senses the historical implications of this election and has decided to step up to the plate and take this Marxist bastard on.

61 posted on 05/31/2012 6:01:28 PM PDT by SamAdams76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: expat2

>>Perhaps he IS a conservative — who played ‘moderate’ to win a liberal state like MA.....<<

Like!


62 posted on 05/31/2012 6:38:38 PM PDT by netmilsmom (Romney scares me. Obama is the freaking nightmare that is so bad you are afraid to go back to sleep)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

>>Maybe, just maybe, Romney senses the historical implications of this election and has decided to step up to the plate and take this Marxist bastard on.<<

From your fingertips to God’s ears!


63 posted on 05/31/2012 6:44:19 PM PDT by netmilsmom (Romney scares me. Obama is the freaking nightmare that is so bad you are afraid to go back to sleep)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76
I agree with most of what you say.

Mitt certainly has an opportunity to be a great President.

Ronald Reagan was a great President for a number of reasons, but the most important reason is that he recognized the one biggest issue and threat of his time (the Soviet Union), and he addressed it directly and courageously and with the correct policy (we win, they lose).

The one biggest threat of our time is the impending fiscal insolvency of the West. Borrowing, unfunded entitlements, excessive regulations, unchecked immigration combined with a lack of assimilation, and social welfare spending are causing and will cause governments throughout the West to go bankrupt.

If Romney can come into office and lead an ambitious and successful movement to cut regulations, reform the tax code, cut spending, reform entitlements, develop American energy resources, stop subsidizing leftist ideology, close the borders, ignore global warming hysteria, and cut the handouts then this country will come roaring back and Romney will belong among the great American leaders of history.

Now I don't really expect that he will actually pull all of this off successfully, but the opportunity is certainly there for him.

64 posted on 05/31/2012 6:50:13 PM PDT by rogue yam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76
Maybe, just maybe, Romney senses the historical implications of this election and has decided to step up to the plate and take this Marxist bastard on.

I had already decided to vote in November for the Republican nominee..the one most likely to beat Obama..
I am feeling better and better about my decision!

65 posted on 05/31/2012 7:06:03 PM PDT by MEG33 (O Lord, Guide Our Nation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: kristinn
...The protesters shouted "Solyndra!"....

LOL I think Romney himself mentioned Solyndra, and a couple of other greenie boondoggles a couple of days ago... And Alelrunt was flustered.

If THE ONE thinks he got McCain II, he thought wrong....
66 posted on 05/31/2012 9:36:00 PM PDT by BigEdLB (Now there ARE 1,000,000 regrets - but it may be too late.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rogue yam

I can’t get over Romney’s pathological lying. He has no honor, and so I can never support him for any office, even against another arch-liar. His administration will not turn the country around, but it will help cement GOPe power over the rest of us.


67 posted on 05/31/2012 10:45:02 PM PDT by RaisingCain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

The idea of Mitt Romney as another “historical” President, another Ronald Reagan, is frankly quite disgusting. He even repudiated Ronald Reagan during his campaigns in Mass. There is nothing in his platform that really justifies it, and Romney is in bed with the left on virtually every major platform point, albeit instead of raising taxes he’s happy removing “loopholes” and “deductions.” You have to keep in mind that when Romney wins, he is winning it for Mitt Romney. Not for any one else.


68 posted on 05/31/2012 10:48:02 PM PDT by RaisingCain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

The idea of Mitt Romney as another “historical” President, another Ronald Reagan, is frankly quite disgusting. He even repudiated Ronald Reagan during his campaigns in Mass. There is nothing in his platform that really justifies it, and Romney is in bed with the left on virtually every major platform point, albeit instead of raising taxes he’s happy removing “loopholes” and “deductions.” You have to keep in mind that when Romney wins, he is winning it for Mitt Romney. Not for any one else.


69 posted on 05/31/2012 10:48:02 PM PDT by RaisingCain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Like Romney or not, he’s showing a penchant for doing battle that we never saw from the tired, dried-up McCain in 2008.

Obama was never expecting this.... nor was Henchman #1, David Axelrod.


70 posted on 06/01/2012 5:37:08 AM PDT by ScottinVA (Buying Drain-O requires photo I.D... yet voting doesn't???)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vinnie
We have a candidate who will actually fight fire with fire??

This has to be the first time in his life Obama has faced someone who will go toe-to-toe with him. I can't say Romney has yet won me over, but I'm impressed with his willingness to do battle. Another thing... with the combination of PACs and campaign $, Romney is showing he can marshal the resources to go the distance.

Ever since the WaPo tried to make hay of whatever happened or didn't happen in Romney's high school days in 1965 (an effort that failed miserably, I might add), Romney has controlled the narrative. And THAT is something very foreign to Obama.

71 posted on 06/01/2012 5:47:06 AM PDT by ScottinVA (Buying Drain-O requires photo I.D... yet voting doesn't???)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ScottinVA
This has to be the first time in his life Obama has faced someone who will go toe-to-toe with him.

This is so true and quite significant.

Obama is a narcissist who has had a path cleared for him his whole life.

His response to being challenged is indignation and blind fury.

Both responses are are unattractive and debilitating.

Time to pour it on!

72 posted on 06/01/2012 6:03:38 AM PDT by rogue yam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: RaisingCain
I can’t get over Romney’s pathological lying.

So you will be campaigning for Obama then?

73 posted on 06/01/2012 6:05:26 AM PDT by rogue yam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: kristinn
The protesters shouted "Solyndra!" and "Where are the jobs?

Well played, Willard.

74 posted on 06/01/2012 6:06:26 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ArrogantBustard

It is significant that Obama sent Axelrod to lead this rally.

This is really pretty crazy.

It would be like GWB sending Karl Rove, or Bubba sending Carville.

Since when do political operatives act as surrogates for a sitting President at a public political rally? Shouldn’t that rally have been led by Joe Biden, or by a Democrat Governor or Senator?


75 posted on 06/01/2012 6:25:42 AM PDT by rogue yam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: rogue yam
This is really pretty crazy.

obama is unhinged. Everything about the 0bama campaign is unhinged ... and as the campaign season rolls on, I expect to see them display their insanity in ways even the room-temperature-IQ crowd can't miss.

76 posted on 06/01/2012 6:35:22 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: ArrogantBustard
obama is unhinged. Everything about the 0bama campaign is unhinged ... and as the campaign season rolls on, I expect to see them display their insanity in ways even the room-temperature-IQ crowd can't miss.

I agree, and the more we attack and mock Obama the crazier he and his supporters are going to get.

They are completely unequipped to compete, they only know how to lord.

77 posted on 06/01/2012 6:43:59 AM PDT by rogue yam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: RaisingCain
You have to keep in mind that when Romney wins, he is winning it for Mitt Romney. Not for any one else.

Which means he is a typical politicians and can be manipulated by money and votes- if Conservatives will grow a pair and play that game. Better that, than a liberal Marxist activist who is into 'transforming the United States'.

78 posted on 06/01/2012 6:56:35 AM PDT by mnehring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Gotta love Romney ... at least a little bit.

I love what he’s doing so far. Going to Solyndra plant was a stroke of genius. Interesting what the plant had inside (especially since we paid for it) Fancy showers that were digitally set to show one the exact temperature.

Real upscale stuff and it didn’t cost Obama a dime ... cost us a billion.

When asked what grade he would give Obama, Romney didn’t hesitate. “An F across the board,” he said.

The stunned questioner asked, “even on foreign policy ... what about Osama?”

Romney went on to give Obama some credit for that (I don’t think he deserved it) but then he outlined the rest of the foreign policy disasters.

This candidate does not seem to be of a mind to pussy foot around Obama as the late, unlamented cadidate of 2008 did.

Sorry about that, but I’m starting to like the guy.


79 posted on 06/01/2012 7:08:35 AM PDT by altura
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rides_A_Red_Horse

I like it very much that Romney is tough and running a tough campaign, taking it to Obama on issues.

But if becoming a classless jerk like Obama is what it takes to get your vote, I think we (and Romney) can do without it.


80 posted on 06/01/2012 7:15:22 AM PDT by altura
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-107 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson