They are trying to portray him as a relentless, heartless business tycoon and to be frank, they want to make the case that Romney's "vampire" training in private equity has made him unfit to be in the oval office.
 |
| Reuters image/Jason Reed |
Is it true? Should Americans be worried that someone from the private sector could actually harm America?
Well, the president certainly seems to think it is. And he has made it abundantly clear that he is going to expose that Romney's career made him an empty man who was only driven by profit and the desire to make money for a selective few.
However, there is one crucial detail that the president and his team have blatantly removed from their attacks. This president has never had a problem with the private equity sector. In fact, he has always been willing to rub shoulders with the best in the industry.
Fact?
Last week it was reported that on the very day the Obama camp released the GTS steel ad attacking private equity and the role that Mitt Romney played in the closure of the GTS plant (click here to read more), President Obama just so happened to spend that evening in New York City at a fundraiser in the home of Hamilton James.
 |
| image from business insider.com |
The president's attacks on Bain Capital and disgust with private equity are beginning to lose all credibility.
Is this a double standard?
That night, President Obama was faced with a unique dilemma. Based on his campaign, our president doesn't appear to like private equity. So that evening presented a perfect opportunity to speak directly with those most heavily involved in the practice---he was surrounded with individuals with direct ties to the private equity sector.
Did our president take the opportunity to share his distaste for the tactics used by private equity firms?
The answer is of course not. He wined and dined with the $35,800 a-head donors and raised over $2 million for his campaign. Apparently, not one word was mentioned about his "outrage" over the tactics the donors use to make a profit to pay for the hefty fundraising price tag.
 |
| Image from FoxNews.com |
Hypocritical? Absolutely.
I like to call it, "selective outrage." It's phony. It's manipulative. And it shouldn't be brushed off as politics as usual.
***
The biggest problem with this campaign strategy?
As the president attacks Romney, he ends up attacking the private equity industry as a whole. Private equity is not the evil of America. Far from it. Private equity plays an instrumental and integral role in business creation in this country. Should the entire industry be vilified because one individual just so happens to be the president's political rival?
Many business leaders are beginning to voice serious concern for the president's tactics and attacks. But even greater concern to the president is that Democrats, including many closely affiliated with the Administration are exposing his attacks as unwarranted.
The president is beginning to take some heat for it.
Sunday on "Meet the Press," rising star in the Democratic party, Newark Mayor Cory Booker voiced his frustration with the Obama Administration's attacks on Bain capital.
He said, "If you look at the record of Bain Capital, they have done a lot to support business, grow business. This kind of stuff is nauseating to me on both sides. It's nauseating to the American public. Enough is enough. Stop attacking private equity, stop attacking Jeremiah Wright. This stuff has got to stop, because... it undermines to me, what this country should be focused on."
(I can only imagine the panic in that NBC greenroom).
 |
| NBC Photo |
The fallout and backlash from these harmful statements made by an Obama ally was quick and relentless. As the day progressed, Booker's stinging statements and criticism of the president, appeared to be the "criticism heard round the world."
As no surprise, within a few hours of his "Meet the Press" appearance, Booker released a Youtube video retracting his criticism as he voiced his concern for Romney's career tactics and then reiterated his strong support and endorsement for President Obama's reelection efforts.
Please.
The Romney camp immediately pounced and released this campaign ad.
Wow. Ouch.
Is President Obama listening?
Apparently not. At a news conference in Chicago yesterday, the president continued to defend his attacks on Mitt Romney's record. He said, "Governing requires a different set of skills and priorities than private enterprise."
Well, what about the set of skills that he brought with him to the oval office?
Did the resume of a law professor / community organizer create the right "skills and priorities" needed to to help our country emerge from the deepest recession since the Great Depression?
The blaring truth is that the "skills" Obama brought to the White House have proven to be completely insufficient. He has never run a business. He has never managed a payroll. He has never had to be the leader of a bitterly divided group of people.
Mitt Romney certainly has.
President Obama is in over his head and his skills can't help him.
***
The president has made it abundantly clear that the Bain attacks will persist.
The question remains, will it work?
 |
| Image from ABC News |
George Will was asked this same question on Sunday's ABC News Roundtable discussion with George Stephanopoulos. George Will's response was profound.
He argued that these attacks won't be effective because the people making this argument against Bain Capital are the same individuals who have seen 365,000 jobs lost since the day the recovery started in June 2009. Will said, "Think of that. A recovery that subtracts---from the total jobs in the country."
***
The president is hoping that his charm and eloquent speeches will create enough distraction for his base to remain gullible. It won't work. Mitt Romney knows how to defend himself and he will continue to show that the president's "selective outrage" over private equity is phony at best.
Fortunately for Romney, it is only May and voters are paying attention to every detail of this election.
People---including Obama's close allies---are beginning to see that his attacks are as empty as his promises. Empty attacks and empty promises that are only made when it is politically advantageous.
This time around, I hope it doesn't work.
America deserves better. We should demand more and expect more from our leaders.
Go Mitt.
No comments:
Post a Comment