Monday saw the illuminating leaks from presidential candidate Mitt Romney, in which he was caught on film detailing his campaign strategies to a room full of big, private donors. The controversy, however, manifested in just how detailed and candid this video proved to be.
Romney issued his thoughts on why he wouldn't be able to win over President Obama's base. He explained, "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what... who believe that government has the responsibility to care for them." He later concluded that those voters are virtually untouchable, in that they simply cannot be convinced to take "personal responsibility and care for their lives."
In between confronting the hard truths of the campaign and insulting American voters, Mitt offered some comic relief to the crowd, revealing that sometimes awkward but striking humor insiders of his campaign so often boast about. Mitt joked, "My dad... was born in Mexico ... and uh, had he been born of uh, Mexican parents, I'd have a better shot at winning this. But he was unfortunately born to Americans living in Mexico... I mean, I say that jokingly, but it would be helpful to be Latino."
The content of these leaks have certainly agitated this news cycle, but I don't find it particularly shocking or even remotely enlightening.
I don't think it's far-fetched to say that many Americans have known for some time now that these are the kinds of things Romney really believes.
If we dive back into the primaries, we can recall those moments where Romney dismissed a supporter's cookies on suspicion they were store-bought, asserted college students should look no further than their parents when seeking loans to start their new businesses, admitted he wasn't concerned about the poor because they're doing just fine these days. These "gaffes" were glimpses into Mitt Romney's unedited perspective, merely marking moments throughout this election where he has felt comfortable and relaxed enough to let his true self shine.
What's most fascinating about this video footage is the golden opportunity awarded to the viewer, to be able to sit in on one of the elite presentations given by a presidential nominee, to get a little more than just a glimpse.
We get to watch the video and feel as though we're off somewhere, lounging on lush, antique seating while simultaneously sitting on millions of disposable income, asking Romney the tough questions and getting the uncensored, unrehearsed answers.
It's fascinating to hear how relaxed he is with us, freely indulging our interests and notions about the electorate. We can talk like old friends, see the real Mitt who has loosened up enough to make a racially insensitive joke or two. This is the Mitt Romney the general public hears the campaign talk about but never sees -- well, until now.
Much is unknown about the anonymous source of these videos, though the Romney campaign is surely scrambling to identify this individual.
But I only wonder why we, the electorate, can't successfully infiltrate these high-brow, donor talks more often? And my only hope as it relates to these leaks is that we'll get equally in-depth, uncut spycam footage on Obama, in the same class as his gross generalization of mid-western voters, clinging to their guns and their religion back in 2008. For what a novel idea it is to want to know what these candidates really think.