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Ian Reifowitz

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Romney Does It Again!: Calls Obama's Ideas "Foreign"

Posted: 07/24/2012 6:09 pm

Amazing. One week after Mitt Romney characterized Barack Obama's ideas as "extraordinarily foreign," the former Massachusetts governor is at it again.

On CNBC's The Kudlow Report, Romney returned to that same theme, employing almost the same language:

It's a very strange and in some respects foreign to the American experience type of philosophy. [...] His whole philosophy is an upside-down philosophy that does not comport with the American experience.

Mitt Romney has also sought to "other" President Obama, to present him as "not American" on a number of other occasions throughout this campaign. He did it on Dec. 7, 2011, and on Jan. 2, 2012.

Once could be a mistake. Twice (or more) is a pattern. The Romney campaign has clearly made a strategic decision to characterize Obama as "foreign." Yes, they can say they are talking about his "ideas," but that's a distinction without a difference. The decisions he makes as president flow from his ideas. Romney is saying that Obama's presidency would be "foreign." There can be no question about that.

The fact that Romney called Obama "foreign" last week and did so again yesterday means that he has measured the fallout from last week and decided that, on balance, he gains more than he loses by employing this kind of hateful, dog-whistle rhetoric. The reason that is so is because the response by the mainstream media was weak at best.

What's next? Will Mitt Romney start demanding Obama's extra-super long form birth certificate? The thing is, he doesn't have to. By calling Obama "foreign" he taps right into the same anxiety that drives birtherism, or the belief that Obama is "Muslim," or that he wants to "take your guns," or employ "death panels" to snuff out Granny.

Make no mistake, Mitt Romney knows exactly what he's doing.

 
 
 

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Amazing. One week after Mitt Romney characterized Barack Obama's ideas as "extraordinarily foreign," the former Massachusetts governor is at it again. On CNBC's The Kudlow Report, Romney returned to...
Amazing. One week after Mitt Romney characterized Barack Obama's ideas as "extraordinarily foreign," the former Massachusetts governor is at it again. On CNBC's The Kudlow Report, Romney returned to...
 
 
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03:25 PM on 07/25/2012
Willard lives in that world of inherited money, privilege, & greed that he really believes his own rhetoric.
Like many who follow poltics & polls it astounds me how very close this race for the Presidentcy is.
One has to asked himself.....what do you see in this man Romney?
About the only thing I can figure is that Romney's supporters just have that base value he (Romney) is better than a man far superior in education & Christian values than their own..
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fattbastird
fire the laser
12:37 PM on 07/25/2012
The fact is that Romney has such a poor reputation, only a bagger would believe him.
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fattbastird
fire the laser
12:36 PM on 07/25/2012
How is that Tax Return coming along Mittens? Just because Hannity didn't Vet you, it doesn't mean WE won't.
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fattbastird
fire the laser
12:35 PM on 07/25/2012
How about apologizing for presenting a false tax return to voters Mittens?
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fattbastird
fire the laser
12:34 PM on 07/25/2012
Romney would find ANYTHING Obama does "Foreign". That's because the USA is Foreign to Romney. He is legendary in his disdain for the USA.
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fattbastird
fire the laser
12:32 PM on 07/25/2012
Yeah. We'll look into that Mittens. Right after we check Obama's Birth Certificate a thousand more times.
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fattbastird
fire the laser
12:32 PM on 07/25/2012
Romney has outsourced jobs and assets to Foreign Countries his entire career.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
healthy chocolate
Ask me about Healthy chocolate!
12:06 PM on 07/25/2012
WOW!!! A desperate man with no plan, no solutions will say ANYTHING hoping to get YOUR VOTE!!!

OBAMA 2012-------------->What the heck has Obama done so far? http://bit.ly/lQBzSs So you're not convinced huh? check this out!
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Bronxdude
Integrity has no need of rules
11:59 AM on 07/25/2012
Since 2008, and at a cost to taxpayers of more than $70 million, House Republicans have introduced a combined 234 proposals or “add on” legislative riders calling for the repeal of Obamacare and the extension of Bush era tax cuts for the wealthy. In contrast, the number of job creation bills they’ve introduced could fit on a piece of confetti.
11:58 AM on 07/25/2012
You mean he doesn't crash & burn acquired companeies, kill their pensions and run off with profit from their soon to be bankruptcies?
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
Bronxdude
Integrity has no need of rules
11:55 AM on 07/25/2012
John Sununu really understands America, especially since he was born in Havana, Cuba, while his father was born and reared in Palestine and his mother was born and reared in San Salvador, El Salvador. Having not been born on American soil like President Obama, Sununu really does not understand America, but he does understand Republican created debt, failed trickledown economic policies, big oil subsidies, protecting the top 2%, and the $11.4 trillion deficit Obama inherited from Bush. According to the CBO and reputable economists, the long-term impact of the fiscally irresponsible policies orchestrated under Bush will lead to the deficit surpassing $35 trillion by 2023. Here’s the breakdown: (1) 15 year projected lost tax revenue attributable to Bush recession – $13 trillion; (2) Loss revenue attributable to Bush tax cuts for the wealthy – $7 trillion; (3) Bush oil and insurance cartel subsidies – $2 trillion; (4) Bush Prescription Drug Bill – $1 trillion; (5) Bush era unfunded earmark spending – $6 trillion; and (6) Bush wars – $6 trillion. Besides Bush, no other president has ever cut taxes while simultaneously waging war. Obama’s policies save America from economic catastrophe, and conservatives lambast him; Reaganomics increased deficit spending by 189%, and conservatives want to name every building in DC after him. Bush’s economic policies single-handedly led to America’s economic collapse, and Republican revisionists are attempting to deny any culpability on their part, scapegoat Obama, and rewrite history, something I won’t let happen!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
TheRoosterman
Crazy Texan
12:18 AM on 07/26/2012
I already fanned you!
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SVPincalif
Practice random acts of kindness
11:24 AM on 07/25/2012
How can Mr Obama's ideas be "foreign" when he is an American and the President of the United States? Romney hasn't even been nominated to run for President yet. He'll go to any lengths to lie his way into office. I for one don't trust him one bit. It's one thing to point out people's weaknesses or mistakes, but to out and out make stuff up is abhorent and it seems to be a popular strategy of the conservative cult.
11:23 AM on 07/25/2012
Guess he is appealing to the "birthers", but he already has their vote.
11:19 AM on 07/25/2012
The only thing foreign Romney are your bank accounts.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
TheRoosterman
Crazy Texan
12:18 AM on 07/26/2012
Zing!
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demisfine
Often correct, NEVER right.
10:22 AM on 07/25/2012
Mitt Romney ended his speech to the veterans of foreign wars yesterday with the words "this corrupt president".
How is this a presidential man????