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The Spectacle Blog
In the wake of the “Etch a Sketch” controversy set into motion by Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom this morning, ABC News has produced a list of Romney gaffes.
Amongst them were his $10,000 bet with Rick Perry, the pink slip and “like being able to fire people” comments as well those of the automotive variety namely his remarks about his wife driving “a couple of Cadillacs” and his comments about being friends with NASCAR team owners.
As someone who has been quite highly critical of Romney it’s true these comments haven’t helped him but it’s also true that they haven’t really hurt him either. Perhaps are all bets are off but Rick Perry is long since out of the race and is clinging to Newt Gingrich’s sinking ship. Romney’s comments about pink slips and firing people didn’t stop him from winning in New Hampshire, his Cadillac comments didn’t stop him from winning in Michigan while his NASCAR comments didn’t stop him from winning in Ohio. So there’s an argument to be made that l’affaire Etch a Sketch won’t damage Romney either.
On the other hand, this gaffe provides a unique visual image and both Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have wasted no time in making use of it. But don’t two Etch a Sketches, like two anti-Romney candidates, cancel the other out? But if Santorum and Gingrich are using Etch a Sketches, it is only a matter of time before President Obama deploys one himself.
View all comments (37) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/03/21/romneys-gaffes-havent-hurt-him
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Butch| 3.21.12 @ 5:38PM
Maybe this latest wasn't a gaffe; maybe the guy was telegraphing to some liberal or moderate group or groups that the presidential campaign was about to turn left.
I predict that Romney's presidential campaign--I now am assuming he will be the candidate--will be pretty much the same as McCain's: nothing negative at all after the first accusation of racism, while he himself gets slaughtered. McCain went after J. D. Hayworth like a wounded rhino (or RINO) and was pathetic against Obama.
RINO moderates are all the same: savagely negative vs. conservative Republicans and pantywaists vs. liberal Democrats. If it happens this time, it will be the end of the Republican party one way or the other.
Nick| 3.21.12 @ 6:06PM
Butch,
I've been saying basically the same thing for about a year now. And, yet, people here at AmSpec keep shilling for O'Romney.
O'Romney will be McLame 2.o.
He's as gaffe-prone as Joe O'Biden. And, now, it seems that it is contagious, spreading to his campaign staff.
If O'Romney is the nominee, we lose the election. The party is still fixable, if more T.E.A. Party personnel take over key positions at the local level.
Never give up hope!
Cassandra| 3.21.12 @ 6:17PM
Unhappily, if Santorum is the Republican candidate, we'll also lose the election; if Gingrich is the Republican candidate, we'll also lose the election. (I didn't mention Paul only because that's too big an "if" for him to be the Republican candidate.)
WL| 3.22.12 @ 12:27AM
I think you guys are all correct.
The question is...what causes our candidates to always be this way...in terms of how they Blitzkrieg conservatives, but tip toe around the left...
Could it be that they are just running interference for the left? I have long thought that the Republican party isn't actually the stupid party...It just plays that role.
As for Paul...do you notice when he bares his teeth the most???? Yep, you guessed it...when the conservatives hit Mitt....why do you think that is?
PS The Blitzkrieg reference was for Clint.
The American Hitman| 3.21.12 @ 9:35PM
If it happens this time, it will be the end of the Republican party one way or the other.
I knew there was a pony in this pile of sh&t somewhere.
Drek| 3.21.12 @ 6:17PM
Wait till the media and the Democrats get done with him, even his own kids will be sickened at the prospect of voting for him.
Their whole playbook has been prepared just for him.
And our party, the idiot party, is going to walk, with eyes open, into a political ambush.
The entire Summer urban unrest has been all prepared for Romney as the nominee.
WL| 3.22.12 @ 12:30AM
Yep...and it's starting with the focus on the "Neighborhood watch" incident in Florida...
Don't get me wrong on that anyone...I do not have any knowledge or opinion on the particulars of that incident, and I do not intend to take a side on it...
But the fact that it is front and center...and all of the networks are getting ready to make it as big as Casey Anthony's case...IS FOR A REASON.
Indy| 3.22.12 @ 8:15AM
You are correct, OWS is looking for a spark, I think they just found it, they will rally around it and carry on with the anti-cop message.
Chuck| 3.21.12 @ 6:24PM
Not a gaffe but etch a sketch is a euphemism for flip flopping politicking Romney relishes in.
Clint| 3.21.12 @ 6:27PM
We Are Being Set Up By The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.
These Are The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.
Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.
Mike Rogers | 3.22.12 @ 5:30AM
See I Told You So: He has a Function Key for "The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges"!
Clint| 3.22.12 @ 6:23AM
Wanna Make Somethin' Of It RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooge, Little Micky ?
Hmmmmm Phoney Conservative ?
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.
Mark in LA| 3.21.12 @ 6:41PM
Romney has so much Bain stink on him, he will get slaughtered. The Wall Street Republicans want you to believe it doesn't mean much - because it doesn't mean much to them. Out in the real world he is toast.
Rock90210 | 3.22.12 @ 1:04AM
Seriously you are just delusional. No one thiNKs that except Obama lovers who wouldn't vote for him anyway. Romney will beat Obama. I'll see you here in November.
Clint| 3.21.12 @ 6:59PM
"Asked whether conservatives Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich had pushed Mr. Romney so far to the right that he’ll have trouble with moderates in a general election, Mr. Fehrnstrom said that wouldn’t be a problem.
“Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch-A-Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart it all over again,” Fehrnstrom said.
That comment – which appears to imply that Romney can forget what he’s said and take new stands in the fall – came bouncing back to whack the Romney camp faster than a SuperBall pitched against a concrete wall. "
florin| 3.21.12 @ 11:24PM
What he meant was that, after having won so many primaries and with more wins predicted, Romney could ease off gingrich and santorum and focus on Obama as he has tried to do...Politico had Romney's 'gaffe' headlined on front page....how bizarre!!! The economny is falling apart and they give headlines to something stupid...
Mike Rogers | 3.22.12 @ 5:33AM
Nicely put!
And for those who doubt Romney's "flexibility", just remember that the "gaffe" was by a seasoned establishment political operative - it is the way the "Ruling Class" thinks - they still believe that we will just go along for the ride one more time.
Bob| 3.21.12 @ 7:09PM
They haven't hurt Romney because they aren't really gaffes. They are sound bites that the liberal media loves to distort to portray Romney as out-of-touch, but Romney's supporters know better.
Anommynous| 3.21.12 @ 7:12PM
Now first, this wasn't Romney who made the gaffe. It's pretty darned bad, though, because it plays precisely to the doubts that many conservatives like me still have of him. In my opinion, the two worst gaffes of Romney's campaign were made not by Romney but by his advisers, the other big gaffe being Norm Coleman's proclamation that ObamaCare won't be repealed. That gaffe isn't getting as much attention as this Etch-a-Sketch one, though.
Tom| 3.21.12 @ 7:39PM
What is truly sickening is watching all too many so-called "conservatives" put themselves into a position where they will be plunging off a cliff into a deep, dark ravine by following after "Mr. Electability."
Anommynous| 3.21.12 @ 7:50PM
Mitt Romney is our John Kerry.
Tom| 3.21.12 @ 8:29PM
He is going to meet the same fate that Kerry did come November.
Maxwell| 3.21.12 @ 9:11PM
I believe the person posting here as Proud Mormon will not bring this up as Mittens is his/er version of a conservative. Me, Mittens is a 'hairdo' RINO that is the typical of many of North East Republicans.
The American Hitman| 3.21.12 @ 9:32PM
Rombot is phonier than a $3 bill. His nomination would bring conservatives and liberals together on the singular point of their disdain for the 'bot.
florin| 3.21.12 @ 11:22PM
March 21st: Romney didn't make this gaffe, an aide did and it was disgusting to watch Santorum and gingrich grab it and pound Romney with it...gingrich is just a mean spirited nasty old man who vows to take Romney out and destroy him and if this puts Obama back in the White House, gingrich doesn't care; I liked Santorum but watching him whine and blame everything and everyone when he lose is pathetic...Romney never gets credit for anything. gingrich is on Fox News all the time speechifying as if he were the front runner. Sean Hannity continues to promote gingrich saying if there's a brokered convention, Gingrich could win by unanimous applause or something...are they delusional??? Romney is not perfect but he's a decent, hard working, caring man...he does more good than anyone knows for those who are poor and disenfranchised...gingrich and santorum should man up and stop whining whenever they don't get what they want...
Anommynous| 3.22.12 @ 12:08AM
No, I want to see Romney answer this, because I still don't trust him, especially on ObamaCare. If he's inevitable anyway, then give him a chance to win my vote in the general election, because he still doesn't have it.
Rock90210 | 3.22.12 @ 1:00AM
Yeah but Obama probably has MORE use for an etchasketch than anyone else. And he'll probably say Rutherford B HayEs didn't want to use one. Actually given his antiquated views of liberty Obama should probably stick to his sundial.
Mike Rogers | 3.22.12 @ 5:36AM
"Obama should probably stick to his sundial"
That will go right along with his 7th century religion, and the stone age we will find ourselves in when all our energy supplies are off limits!
porno | 3.22.12 @ 5:31AM
Talking about real estate loving it Here’s some mildly amuzing stuff I found: Thought for the day? : Crime doesn’t pay… does that mean my job is a crime?
porno | 3.22.12 @ 5:33AM
Talking about real estate loving it Here’s some mildly amuzing stuff I found: Thought for the day? : Crime doesn’t pay… does that mean my job is a crime?
martin j smith| 3.22.12 @ 7:17AM
It will hurt Romney as this comment of etch a sketch becomes part of the political parlance on the internet.
It is going viral.
Teflon93| 3.22.12 @ 8:04AM
Goldstein, I'd bet the only thing Mitt Romney could do to lose your support would be to say something nice about social conservatives.
Marco2| 3.22.12 @ 10:18AM
If Romney said something nice about the socon (or mooncon) wackos, he should lose support. I recall Reagan saying that when a few flies are biting a horse on the butt, and the horse becomes annoyed and swishes its tail, it's the flies that have a problem. Adios Newtie and Ricky, and take your handful of psychos with ya'. Perhaps a to a bigot-sanctioned, secret lair, where you can draw forbidden body parts and moon colonies on your etch a sketches.
Teflon93| 3.22.12 @ 10:59AM
Those few flies are most Americans, you ignorant dimwit.
Now go be a Democrat.
Nick| 3.22.12 @ 11:53AM
At least Newt and Ricky can communicate coherently, Marco.
WG| 3.22.12 @ 11:37AM
As far as the upside and downside, Romney, if he wins, will probably be a one-term president. Reason being, according to NBER records, another recession (two or more quarters of negative GDP growth) will occur. Most likely this will be when the Fed increases interest rates to fight rising inflation from its easy money policy. Thus, unpopular tax increases/and or spending cuts lurk similar to those that sank Bush (I) by enraging conservatives and not pleasing any one else. The upside is Obama is gone and Romney will implement marginally conservative policies. Perhaps he will appoint somewhat better judges, but the downside is that the public is really not persuaded yet that drastic action must be taken. Romney hasn't built the case in his campaign for something even as mild as the Ryan plan.
However, if Romney loses like Kerry, then the upside is Obama becomes almost immediately a lame duck president whose approval ratings will probably hit GW Bush levels before the 2014 midterms. Everything bad thing will stick, the MSM will continue to lose credibility, and the Dems will pay the price in 2014 and 2016 for a new recession and unpopular Change like Chu's $8.00/gal gas. By then, the public may be forced to support more drastic action because of a fiscal crisis. The downside of this outcome, continued Obama bumbling on foreign policy, additional liberal judges, and no chance of Obamacare reversal.
Ultimately, if Romney gets it, I strongly suspect that the GOP will approach its 2006-2008 nadir overall and Romney would lose reelection. If Obama gets it, the GOP will be strengthened in the legislature but we get four more years of dispiriting fighting over Obama's domestic agenda to implement Change and perhaps dangerous situations in foreign policy.
Or my crystal ball could just be cracked.