A political gift can come in an awkward package. The left's efforts to frame Romney's remarks this week about "the very poor" are likely to have an unintended consequence for Democrats. They are hardening the impression that the left is hopelessly disconnected from middle class concerns. Call it a gaffe, call it an error, but if the Democrats succeed in their misguided effort to define Romney by that statement, Obama is more likely to lose this election.
Here's what Romney actually said:
"I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it. I'm not concerned about the very rich, they're doing just fine. I'm concerned about the very heart of the America, the 90, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling and I'll continue to take that message across the nation."
Everything you need to know about the 2012 election is in that paragraph. Romney got it right.
The economic issue of our era is the damage done to middle and working class families by the financial disaster of the past decade. The housing crisis has destroyed the most potent method of capital accumulation available to ordinary people. The transition out of industrial era capitalism to a more dynamic information-based economy has stalled, leaving millions of workers in limbo. A culture of debt at all levels of our society is choking off opportunities for investment and fostering stagnation.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the worst crisis since the Great Depression, our safety net for the very poor is so strong that we have had to redefine hunger. We no longer count the number of people who starve to death, because that number is zero. We no longer count the number of people who suffer from malnutrition because that is so rare. The hunger statistic we follow now is called "food insecurity."
As Romney correctly pointed out, the very poor have state and federal assistance available to help with housing and food. They can receive direct financial payments. They get healthcare provided by the government through Medicaid (more than 50m people in 2010). Democrats deserve credit for building this safety net and Romney in his statement makes clear his commitment to keep it working. The outcome of this election will not affect the support system for the poorest Americans.
What Romney has accomplished with this "gaffe" is to expose the blinding effects of left's fascination with poverty. While Democrats kvetch over The Very Poor and far too many Republicans hyperventilate about abortion and gays, the rest of the world is building better schools, freer commerce, and new ways to compete. We need to shift our focus to stay ahead.
Romney gets that that a fresh program of government aid is not what struggling Americans are most concerned about. They want opportunities to earn their own way up the economic ladder through productive work.
The Democrats are welcome to make this election about the very poor if they want. There's no greater program of aid they could offer to America's needy Republicans.
Arianna Huffington: Sunday Roundup
Marian Wright Edelman: Still Hungry in America
Robert Reich: The Downward Mobility of the American Middle Class, and Why Mitt Romney Doesn't Know
Steven Cohen: Why Mitt Romney Should "Be Concerned About the Very Poor"
Dental benefits for adults who are over 21: Tooth extractions (And that's it)
But wait there's a small catch- You have to pay for your own X-rays and your own exam.
If your tooth can be saved have a great day pay the receptionist on the way out
A safety net you can depend on--- Please stop acting like Obama is passing out Medical Gold Cards for the disenfranchised...
"A Republican Precinct Committeeman represents the GOP voters of his or her precinct at the County Republican Party level.
But most importantly, a Republican Precinct Committeeman is the face of the GOP within the precinct. In many cases, a Republican Precinct Committeeman might be the only party official a voter ever meets in person.
This volunteer position is really what one makes of it. Some do more than others. But the Republican Precinct Committeeman’s job is in essence all about helping to grow the GOP and working to deliver the maximum number of Republican votes from his or her precinct on Election Day. Precinct Committeemen comprise the core of any grassroots effort and no political campaign can be successful without these front line GOP ambassadors.
The principle means of doing the job is just an extension of what most people already do – talking to the neighbors.
By becoming a Republican Precinct Committeeman you can take a leadership role in advancing the Republican Platform principles of lower taxes, smaller government, fiscal responsibility, individual freedom, strong national defense, and traditional family values. (family values myass)
O.K., so now I know. But I do have one other question:
Who is in charge of losing and shredding ballots?
Most people without rich, well connected genes won't find it very pretty. That will include many of the GOP rank and file who ultimately vote for him. Independents will not tend to be so charitable.
Mitt Romney, class warrior and gaffe machine. And he's the most electable candidate of the remaining four! Two of which seem likely to run as independents or third party.
here's the thing about communication....nobody can suck words back into their mouth once they say them.
Sooner or later...all politicans do show you who they are...presidents, senators,,,in Canada prime
ministers and opposition leaders. They are in public too much and speak too often not to eventually...show who they are.
maybe Gov. Romney sounds like a guy disconnected from most Americans because that's what he is and all the opinion pieces trying to explain his comments can't change it.
My apologies, fellow Democrat. You were a gutsy guy when it came to bringing in civil rights. You knew the South would be lost to the Dems for fifty years, and you were right.