Of Mitt and Newt: The Fights Hurt their Party Most
There have been excessive mud-throwing activities between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, the two GOP front-runners. You would think they care enough about their common cause and would be able to transcend their differences instead of exchanging slanders. But no.
First, Newt Gingrich challenged Romney to release his tax return by releasing his own. Romney accepted the challenge by shocking the world with his colossal size of?wealth at a much lower tax rate. It is simply difficult for ordinary people to digest these two incompatible facts: million dollars income and 14% tax rate, whichever way you look at.
Now the disclosure also provides a much sought-after ammunition to anyone who doesn’t want his nomination from both parties. The fact Romney lost to Newt Gingrich in South Carolina following his wealth unfolding reveals to the full people’s reaction to his wealth, tax rate and how he has spent his money. I am sure Newt has helped Obama more than helping himself.
Mitt Romney fought back in Florida with this ad, “While Florida families lost everything in the housing crisis, Newt Gingrich cashed in. Gingrich was paid over $1.6 million by the scandal-ridden agency that helped create the crisis.” Now Romney effectively targets our discontent over housing crisis at Newt Gingrich. If anyone thinks housing crisis to be the root of current economic downturn, Newt is partly responsible for it.
On Newt’s ambition to colonize the moon, Romney disposed it as “an enormous expense.” “I’d rather be re-building housing here in the U.S,” showing the world he is a person with feet on the ground, instead of harboring unrealistic lunar dream like Newt Gingrich. Romney helps us see clearly the emptiness of Gingrich’s grand ideas.
As the fights continue, we are certain anything dirty can be dug out of that pigsty.
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JR Beillenhouser
3 weeks, 6 days agoAs I recall, Obama and Clinton had quite a tussle in the primaries last time, and it didn’t seem to affect his ability to get elected. But then again, he does have the entire media, this paper included, carrying his water.
Steven Fetter
66223
3 weeks, 5 days agoWhen did being wealthy and paying your lawful taxes become a negative in running for President?
Chuck Close
3 weeks, 5 days agoYour third paragraph conclusion, irrationally reached, could not be less true than a proclamation that the OWS movement will resonate in the dems favor in the 2012 cycle.
When you say “I am sure Newt has helped Obama more than helping himself.” you display an adjunct disconnect from the reality of primary campaigns, both old and recent.
When the general rolls around it will be Obama’s record of non performance as a leader and party head that will have the greatest effect on the electorate.
It certainly will NOT BE Romney’s past successes in the business world. Romney has a track record of success…..somewhere. That fact sits in stark contrast to Obama’s two singular areas of success: campaigning and flourishing rhetorical excess.
Mark Hastert
3 weeks, 5 days agoTheir savaging of each other is like doing focus groups for the Dems with the primary voters being the focus group. The Dems will know what resonates and hone their message. Moreover, all these debates are making the candidates look a little threadbare and creating hostility in the party.
Yanwen Xia
Overland Park
3 weeks, 5 days agoJR. True, there were plenty of unpleasant exchanges between Obama and Clinton for their nomination. But they were not as relentless and damaging as those between Gingrich and Romney, especially the damage to Romney when Gingrich repeatedly asked about his Swiss bank account, the hideout for extra wealth, which might be too big to stay in America.
Steven, Whether or not it is a negative factor to run for president with being wealthy and paying legally low tax depends on voters’ interpretation. During good economic seasons when everybody has a job, voters might see themselves as next Romney. But very few people can afford this dream now.