Slog
News & ArtsThursday, June 14, 2012
2012 Mitt Romney...
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 9:49 AM
...is a dick.
She says her cafe was not treated with the respect it deserved. "Stuff got broke. My table cloths they just got ripped off, wadded up and thrown in the back room," She says the boom truck she allowed the campaign to borrow to gain access to the roof now has an 8-inch gouge in it that she'll have to take the time to repair.... Bauer says she never even got to meet the candidate she closed half of her restaurant down for. "Every time we tried to go out or look, secret service was right there," she said.
She was complaining about the event to a friend when reporters overheard her and posted about it online. That's when Romney called Bauer himself. She says he explained that it was just a misunderstanding that she did not get to meet him, but the phone call didn't smooth things over for her. "He responded 'well, I'm sorry your table cloths got ripped off, wadded up and thrown in the back room' and I took it as mocking," she said. "We're the ones he's wanting to get the votes from, you'd think we would have been treated better." She says the whole experience left her wondering.
"With how he treated me, is that how he's going to treat others? You know, if he gets in office is he going to be that way to us little people?"
Yes, Ms. Bauer, it is:
1
Yes, he is a dick. But still a more qualified dick to have in the Oval Office than the current dick.
2
How are these qualification arguments still making the rounds? Last I checked, Obama has almost four years experience as president to Romney's zero. I'm pretty sure Obama has the "qualifications" locked up. How about a real argument about substance GDFR?
This post highlights Romney's inability to connect with or care for people, that he thinks throwing money at a problem is all you have to do to fix anything. Compassion, understanding, planning and forethought? Be damned! Let's just fuck up as much shit as we want, and wait for the bill later. This is the same shit republicans do on a large scale, and it's clearly indicative of what Romney would do if elected.
This post highlights Romney's inability to connect with or care for people, that he thinks throwing money at a problem is all you have to do to fix anything. Compassion, understanding, planning and forethought? Be damned! Let's just fuck up as much shit as we want, and wait for the bill later. This is the same shit republicans do on a large scale, and it's clearly indicative of what Romney would do if elected.
3
Yes, he absolutely is. The way someone treats "little people" (or the family dog!) tells you everything you need to know about how that person will handle the big issues.
4
He's a dick, and a dickwad. And Obama is a better man and a better leader than Romney will ever be... fucking 'hide my money in a foreign account' asshole.
5
With the headline, I thought the story would be about Mitt Romney sending his official tour bus to circle an Obama rally honking its horn at them - which may actually be illegal under state law (use of a horn for purposes other than communicating distress), and is a dick move by any measure.
6
@2: As I recall, democrats and liberals were saying that John Kerry was more qualified than GWB in 2004; so although four years helps, if voters feel that the alternative candidate is worth the change they'll take it.
8
Yes, dear, if Romney gets elected, that is exactly how he will treat the little people. That is what he has been doing his entire privileged life.
Duh.
Duh.
9
Having your campaign trash someone's business during an event is not unheard of - it's part of the territory with huge national campaigns.
Not making a heartfelt apology to the woman who got screwed over in the process should be unheard of.
I can easily imagine Obama's campaign trashing a restaurant for a rally, but I can also see him looking into the proprietor's eyes when offering his apologies.
Not making a heartfelt apology to the woman who got screwed over in the process should be unheard of.
I can easily imagine Obama's campaign trashing a restaurant for a rally, but I can also see him looking into the proprietor's eyes when offering his apologies.
10
The only part of the story I find shocking is that a *gasp* Fox affiliate in Iowa reported the story without disguising what an ass Romney is. Wait 'til Roger Ailes hears about this.
11
Thankfully Obama is a much kinder man, who treats the innocent bystanders of the countless drone strikes he orders with nothing but kindness.
12
@6 By your flawed logic it's okay to use any stupid argument so long as someone else has already done so.
The Earth is flat! The sun hides from the Earth at night! There's a magical invisible being that dictates everything except your free will to accept whether or not he exists; but will punish you if you don't do what he wants. GDFR isn't a troll! GDFR is actually gay because his Slog handle says so!
The Earth is flat! The sun hides from the Earth at night! There's a magical invisible being that dictates everything except your free will to accept whether or not he exists; but will punish you if you don't do what he wants. GDFR isn't a troll! GDFR is actually gay because his Slog handle says so!
14
@12: So you're saying that voters defeating Ford in 1976 and Bush Sr. in 1992 were illogical in their thinking?
15
It's a bit more involved than that, Dano.
The previous generation or so of the Romneys mysteriously fled Mexico --- and one day it appears that they are wealthy.
An important and pertinent question might be, why did they have to flee Mexico where they were then situated, and what did they flee with?
People keep forgetting to understand the importance of questions?
The previous generation or so of the Romneys mysteriously fled Mexico --- and one day it appears that they are wealthy.
An important and pertinent question might be, why did they have to flee Mexico where they were then situated, and what did they flee with?
People keep forgetting to understand the importance of questions?
16
@1: Please justify that position. Just that one, not another one.
@11: Yep, I see no false equivalency there!
@11: Yep, I see no false equivalency there!
17
@1,
If you are really gay (which I doubt) you must hate yourself, since you are voting for a guy who wants to write anti gay laws into the US Constitution over someone who wants state governments to give you the right to marry the person whom you love.
You are either 1) not gay or 2) an idiotic self loathing jerk. Either way, you are an asshole.
If you are really gay (which I doubt) you must hate yourself, since you are voting for a guy who wants to write anti gay laws into the US Constitution over someone who wants state governments to give you the right to marry the person whom you love.
You are either 1) not gay or 2) an idiotic self loathing jerk. Either way, you are an asshole.
18
Hey Alleged Gay Moron For Romney - pretty funny how Mittens gave his gay classmate a nonconsensual haircut, wasn't it?
Romney was a vulture capitalist, a lousy governor, and an embarrassment to his father. He's also a pathological liar and a complete shit to anyone not lucky enough to be born into his economic class. "Dick" doesn't begin to cover it.
Romney was a vulture capitalist, a lousy governor, and an embarrassment to his father. He's also a pathological liar and a complete shit to anyone not lucky enough to be born into his economic class. "Dick" doesn't begin to cover it.
19
@14 No. That was not the point of my argument. To argue simply "so and so is more qualified" is a non-argument. It's simply saying "I like this candidate more," but trying to make it seem a more rational reasoning. It's not, clearly people vote for who they think is "more qualified," but if that were actually true, incumbents would always be more qualified by virtue of their experience in the position, especially as it pertains to POTUS, because there really is no basis for comparison, not even Governership.
I asked for a substantive argument as it pertains to this article/issue. Of course you think Romney is more qualified, it's made abundantly clear by your moniker. But, is this another example in a long list of anecdotes that helps paint a picture of Romney not giving a shit about the little people? Can one extrapolate from examples of how he treats individuals below him in socioeconomic status that his policies would mirror that on a macro scale?
I asked for a substantive argument as it pertains to this article/issue. Of course you think Romney is more qualified, it's made abundantly clear by your moniker. But, is this another example in a long list of anecdotes that helps paint a picture of Romney not giving a shit about the little people? Can one extrapolate from examples of how he treats individuals below him in socioeconomic status that his policies would mirror that on a macro scale?
20
I doubt that Mr. Car Elevator can win over a big enough segment of the middle class. He is so arrogant that he will always make gaffes that show his arrogance and lack of compassion.
21
@10,
Local Fox affiliates don't necessarily answer to Fox News. I've seen lots of stories on affiliates that would never get reported on Ailes' baby.
Local Fox affiliates don't necessarily answer to Fox News. I've seen lots of stories on affiliates that would never get reported on Ailes' baby.
23
@19: It's funny, because I'm the ultra-minority here people expect substantive explanations on every comment I make. Well, I have and I will – typically on Paul Constant’s posts because there’s a specific issue or event to discuss that’s more conducive to a political discussion.
But sometimes I want, just like all of you do, to make a one line snarky comment. That’s what @1 is.
But sometimes I want, just like all of you do, to make a one line snarky comment. That’s what @1 is.
24
@20 You can get people to drink phosphoric acid flavored soft drinks, eat ugly, salted rations in a place with a plastic clown mascot, and drink odd-tasting weak excuses for beer, all if you have enough money for advertising. Do you think anyone would do any of those things on their own, without the piles of cash spent on marketing them?
Mr. Car Elevator will be marketed with soaring patriotic music, standing on a mountain, and promising riches for all.
Let's face it. People buy shit.
Mr. Car Elevator will be marketed with soaring patriotic music, standing on a mountain, and promising riches for all.
Let's face it. People buy shit.
25
@23: Yeah, but a snarky comment actually has to have substance to be truly snarky. Otherwise it is just bullshit with no actual wit.
People challenge you here because you make untrue claims which are easily debunked, and seem to paradoxically support a candidate who represents the party of financial irresponsibility/ruin and who personally does not think you are a full person. It has nothing to do with your "minority" status.
Anyone making such comments get challenged here, which is partially why it is the only message board I actually visit.
People challenge you here because you make untrue claims which are easily debunked, and seem to paradoxically support a candidate who represents the party of financial irresponsibility/ruin and who personally does not think you are a full person. It has nothing to do with your "minority" status.
Anyone making such comments get challenged here, which is partially why it is the only message board I actually visit.
26
@ 24 is right, especially as long as the economy stinks, or Obama looks like he's floundering (as has been true the last few weeks), or people can focus on one tangible thing like the price of gas. Rmoney's got problems relating to people, as illustrated in this post, but that's not as tangible as gas and food prices.
27
Yeah, 10 and 21, my local fox station (DC) has the best local news, and if anything has a slight Democratic bias (or at least a factual bias) when reporting on politics. Sometimes they'll show clips from Fox News, and when they come back to the local reporters, the camera will catch them rolling their eyes or snickering. Delightful. They couldn't get away with being too Foxy in a market that's 80% democratic.
30
@1: the only qualifications required are to be native-born and over 35. everythign else is qualitative.
and obama is not a dick (FYI, murdering people comes with the territory of being POTUS). he doesn't do that "i'm a dick" laugh that willard can't STOP doing. the heh-heh-heh that george "i'm the biggest dick ever" bush did.
and obama is not a dick (FYI, murdering people comes with the territory of being POTUS). he doesn't do that "i'm a dick" laugh that willard can't STOP doing. the heh-heh-heh that george "i'm the biggest dick ever" bush did.
31
@28 Read my comment @19. It's not about qualifications, I was highlighting the absurdity of using terms like "more qualified" when what is actually meant is "I like this candidate more and I'm going to vote for him."
The generally accepted definition of qualified is someone fit by training or experience for a given purpose. Since there is no presidential training camp, experience takes precedent. But of course, this isn't a fair way to judge whether one is qualified or not, as incompetence can be a key factor. I asked GDFR to provide something beyond what can be inferred from his name, e.g. something more substantive than, "I think the guy I like best is the best."
The generally accepted definition of qualified is someone fit by training or experience for a given purpose. Since there is no presidential training camp, experience takes precedent. But of course, this isn't a fair way to judge whether one is qualified or not, as incompetence can be a key factor. I asked GDFR to provide something beyond what can be inferred from his name, e.g. something more substantive than, "I think the guy I like best is the best."
32
This is nothing.
The Boston Globe is reporting that Mittens often fails to lift the seat on the toilet when he pisses.
The Boston Globe is reporting that Mittens often fails to lift the seat on the toilet when he pisses.
33
@ 31, you're better off taking advantage of the ability to hide unregistered comments. The vast majority of these comments come from a couple of trolls such as @28 (the "clever" screen name is a total giveaway). They have absolutely no desire to engage rationally with you. The frequency of non-troll unregistered comments is low, and ones truly worth reading are almost nonexistent.
Unregistered comments have been becoming less frequent as more registered users hide them. Help make them disappear entirely.
Unregistered comments have been becoming less frequent as more registered users hide them. Help make them disappear entirely.
35
@23 I know, it is just *so* funny when you troll a message board and people who you knew were going to disagree with you start disagreeing with you, isn't it? What a world...
37
GDR, you're not original, not in the slightest. I saw this ten years ago. People like you were telling us that Bush was the greatest president ever. There was the joke that even if Bush ate a dead baby on air, the GOP would rush to praise him for it.
So you're doing this all over again. There is no ass-holery move that Romney will do that will ever get you to question him. You're just another zombie, brainlessly following your savior w/ no sense of decency, humanity, consideration or thought.
Enjoy your soulless life, but your kind have been destroying America for over twelve years now.
So you're doing this all over again. There is no ass-holery move that Romney will do that will ever get you to question him. You're just another zombie, brainlessly following your savior w/ no sense of decency, humanity, consideration or thought.
Enjoy your soulless life, but your kind have been destroying America for over twelve years now.
39
Nobody likes to be mocked. The courteous thing to do--for anybody, but especially for a wealthy man who is campaigning for POTUS--would be to apologize to Ms. Bauer and offer to compensate her for her damages (and to promptly write a check, assuming Bauer wouldn't have demanded an inflated sum). It demonstrates a fundamental lack of common sense, empathy and class to make fun of a person who is justifiably upset with you.
So yes, this little incident may indeed be petty, but a picture of Romney is emerging, of a man who is out of touch, arrogant, and blithely unconcerned with the problems of other people, including people he has directly harmed.
As to the sniping in preceding comments: Americans are free to support any candidate for any office, and to voice their opinion in comment threads like this one. I do think it is unfortunate when things devolve to name-calling and personal attacks, and would prefer it if we could all agree to focus on the candidates rather than on one another.
So yes, this little incident may indeed be petty, but a picture of Romney is emerging, of a man who is out of touch, arrogant, and blithely unconcerned with the problems of other people, including people he has directly harmed.
As to the sniping in preceding comments: Americans are free to support any candidate for any office, and to voice their opinion in comment threads like this one. I do think it is unfortunate when things devolve to name-calling and personal attacks, and would prefer it if we could all agree to focus on the candidates rather than on one another.
40
Anyone who hasn't looked at the pic @23 really should. Highlights the difference between the 2 succinctly.
41
@33 - See, I tried hiding the unregistered comments, but my enjoyment of Slog suffered for it. I'm not sure what that says about me.
But then, I watch Leno just to see what stupid people laugh at. Related? Maybe.
But then, I watch Leno just to see what stupid people laugh at. Related? Maybe.
43
@22 Thanks for posting that. I copied the full URL off your screen print, http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0810/c… and scrolled through the whole gallery. Callie Shell is one great photojournalist. My personal favorite pic is the one of the whole family on the tour bus, and daughter Sasha clinging to her father like he's the rock of her world.
I absolutely cannot picture Mittens being that emotionally connected to anyone.
I absolutely cannot picture Mittens being that emotionally connected to anyone.
44
Mitt Romney believes that the very fortunate circumstances into which he was born were determined by the level of virtue he personally displayed when he was a spirit warrior in heaven before the world existed. He believes we were all virtuous enough to get bodies of flesh and blood born of earthly parents, but the fact that his earthly parents were billionaires AND devout mormons means his spirit is more virtuous than yours. It also means that your spirit is more virtuous than the spirits of people living in New Guinea, or sub-Saharan Africa, or Palestine. What a nice tidy way to justify social prejudice.
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