"Will Americans overlook their deeply held conviction that he’s a jerk?"

[babylonsister]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/05/13/michael-tomasky-on-mitt-romney-the-unlikable-presidential-candidate.html

Michael Tomasky on Mitt Romney, the Unlikable Presidential Candidate
by Michael Tomasky May 13, 2012 4:45 AM EDT
It’s been a long time since the country elected a man as personally unappealing as Mitt Romney. Will Americans overlook their deeply held conviction that he’s a jerk?


snip//

Romney, though? This is the biggest washout of modern times, folks. Gallup just this week put the likeability ratings at Obama 60, Romney 31. It’s not that Obama’s number is unusually high. Look back at those Kerry-Bush numbers. Americans are an open-hearted lot, at least presumptively, so they want to like the guy who’s going be the president. But they Do. Not. Like. Mitt. Romney.

It would be more interesting for all of us if there were some great mystery here, but there isn’t. He reeks of privilege. Every time he says something off the cuff he says something obnoxious. Corporations are people, pal. I like firing people. Where on earth did you get those Godforsaken cookies?

snip//

And this brings us back to the Cranbrook School incident. We might have learned from The Washington Post this week that Romney gallantly interceded on poor Lauber’s behalf. Or even, maybe, that he did the awful deed, but a few years later he got in touch with Lauber to say, “Gee, old scout, went a bit overboard there.” Or even that he acknowledged to one of his confederates that he regretted the incident. In other words, we might have learned something that showed he knows he behaved like an asshole. But all we learned is that he behaved like an asshole and is now pretending to forget it. A jerk is one thing. But a jerk who takes no responsibility for his jerkitude is pretty much the definition of an unlikeable person.

No human being is one dimensional. I’m sure there are plenty of people in the world for whom Mitt has performed kindnesses. I expect we’ll be getting to know every single one of them in these next few months, too, in heavily filtered television ads in which the men wear proletarian flannel and the women’s St. John blazers are kept safely in the closet. All I can say is they’d better be more likeable than their candidate—for his sake. In the meantime, there’s something very reassuring about this country reposing in those numbers, that the black guy with the weird name who’s been called everything under the sun is twice as likeable as the rich white guy. This is the America that drives the wingers crazy, but that the rest of us—the majority—live in, and love.

[exboyfil]

1. Certain people you want to hang with and those you don't

I would have preferred to shoot hoops with Obama than be in Romney's posse. i remember my posse from college (a native Hawaiian , a Chinese person from Hong Kong, an African American kid from Indianapolis, and two European Americans - my friend from Whitestown (and the name was an apt description), and me from everywhere (West Virginia, Southern California, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast). I roomed with a couple of guys like Romney, I would take my Chinese roommate over them anyday (I remember when folks on my floor were shocked that I did think twice about the roommate assignment - this was in the 1980s in Indiana).

I would have been afraid of Romney in High School. Probably in college (I was concerned when one of my roommates was pledging) that I would be collateral damage in the rushing activities.

[Kalidurga]

2. I thought he was a jerk in 2007

everyday he cuts a hole in the bottom of the barrel and digs deeper. I hope he keeps it up though, there are a few people that don't know what a colossal jerk he is.

[calimary]

47. And he's STILL a jerk in 2012.

And now that he's thrust himself into the spotlight, he better be careful what he wished for.

[liberal N proud]

3. There is already a lot of nose holding on the right

The question is how many will be able to how their nose come November and fall into their party directed orders to vote for the ass regardless of what truly feel.

[BiggJawn]

4. But he's got ONE THING Obama doesn't have...

WHITE SKIN.

He can be a drooling pinhead and still get the Bubba vote. Don't think so? Watch the returns from Indiana on election night. History will NOT repeat itself.

[Chipper Chat]

14. I'm not so sure.

Romney is HATED in northern Indiana because of the factories he bought here then stripped and sold them causing over 15,000 people to lose their jobs. You wont see him campaigning anywhere near Kokomo.

[SunSeeker]

49. Exactly. Not only does he look like the guy who laid off your dad--he actually did. nt

[itaest]

27. While there are very racist white people (there are black racist too)

in certain places, like the backwoods of Kentucky, Indiana, and those little towns in the red states, a majority of Americans today, even those that may have discriminating ideas or thoughts at times, they feel deep down that America has to move forward and accept a black president. Being racist is just shameful in the year 2012, and it is only accepted in certain places of the country where the Tea Baggers live.

Racism will have an effect in this elections but will not be definitive and cancel out with the large number of African Americans that are expected to vote for Obama.

[SunSeeker]

50. Such a dilemma the baggers face...

Whether to vote for the black man or the guy their evangelical leaders say is from a non-christian cult. Which part of their bigotry will dominate, racial or religious?

[Chemisse]

39. I disagree.

Sure, there are some people who only think in terms of their racial hatred.

But even they have the one black friend they can point to who is 'different' than the rest (ie, they actually got to know that person).

I see Obama as being the one black friend for people like that. They know him. Whether they like him is becoming more and more based on political divisions than racial stereotypes.

[BiggJawn]

45. In some areas, perhaps.

But in this area, there are people who not only don't have "a black friend", they live large parts of their lives without even SEEING a black person.

This lily-white rural area... Gahh!

[Happyhippychick]

5. This article is spot on

Thanks for posting!

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. "But he's OUR jerk"

That'll be their reasoning for supporting him.

[tularetom]

7. If anyone is voting for Romney there is really only one reason

No matter how much they try to camoflage it with bullshit about the deficit, or jobs, or Obamacare, what really bothers them is having a black guy in the white house.

Let's face it, the guy has done an admirable job especially when you consider the obstacles created for him by the opposition and the mess he was left by the previous administration. Frankly, I don't know why he even wanted the job, but I'm glad he took it.

But Romney is indeed a jerk. Even if he did drink beer he would be the last person in the world I'd want to drink it with. Although it might be fun to watch him squirm with discomfort as he tried to relate to a low class individual like me.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. You're right as long as you're talking about the average ignorant wingnut.

Their leaders, on the other hand, could give a shit less about race except insofar as it provides a handle for manipulating their white sheep. What THEY want is someone who won't interfere with their continuing their rape & pillage of the world.

[Dustlawyer]

13. Don't be too sure about their leaders not caring he is black.

I have met a lot of politicians in my time with my work as an attorney, many here from the South, and I suspect, some from a lot of other areas feel the same. I do like it though when folks assume I share their prejudice. You should see the look on their face when I dis-abuse them of that racists notion!

[Cosmocat]

35. People here have a short memory

They clearly were not tuned in from 92 to 99.

Cause the SAME shiite was done with Clinton.

They investigated him literally dozens of times congressionally, bizarre crape like the mail his pet cat got. They sent a special prosecutor after him, books were written and open claims made that he was a drug dealer and that he had Vince Foster killed (imagine if THAT was said of BO, people would claim that was about his being black for sure.

They assailed his daughter and were exceptionally viscious of Hillary Clinton, prememptively against her running for president.

Yes, they race bait, no debating that. But, it is the CONVENIENCE of his being black that opens that door.

Their all out assault on him is not BECAUSE he is black, it is because he is a democrat.

They went after Gore, they called Kerry, a man who actually served and was injured in his service weak and a coward while propping up the twit whose family of privilege kept him from serving as being tough and resolute. They found a way to destroy Howard Dean for a simple moment of true emotion.

It is simple partisanship.

The Pizza clown was black, they loved Condi Rice, they love the snot out of Allen West.

If you kiss that ring, it is all good.

[Chemisse]

40. I think you are spot on.

[maddiemom]

43. You've calledit exactly!

This republican sabotage has been going on since Jimmy Carter. Imagine being offended by instances of high school bullying being brought up. This is the party who had their delegates wearing purple bandaids to make fun of Kerry's purple hearts, thus disrespecting not only the candidate, but our own military who deemed him worthy of them.

[Iceberg Louie]

48. Basically, ever since the GOP became emboldened by the success of Nixon's "Southern Strategy",

they have consistently been whiny little men-children every time a Dem has taken the White House. They have progressively coalesced into a well-oiled attack machine since then, but their pattern of behavior has remained unchanged and consistently undignified since then. And like any other sociopath, they are unapologetic about their disgraceful decorum.

[UCmeNdc]

9. Mitt Romney is really not a nice guy. He will sell you out.

Everything about Mitt Romney says I only care about Mitt Romney. Too bad for you cause you cannot help me or my friends enjoy our lives.

[Brooklyn Dame]

10. He's become one of my favourite subjects...

...because I think he' a power-hungry sociopath. There's nothing likable about him; from his disdain for working-class people to his shape-shifiting and ability to switch views to polar opposites within one sentence, that phony is thoroughly untrustworthy. And not in the usual 'I can't trust a politician' kind of way...


http://borderlessnewsandviews.com/2012/04/willard-mitt-romney-the-shape-shifter/

http://borderlessnewsandviews.com/2012/05/whats-so-funny-mitt/

http://borderlessnewsandviews.com/2012/05/the-most-boring-and-phony-man-in-the-world/

http://borderlessnewsandviews.com/2012/05/mitt-romney-staying-true-to-the-wimp-within/

[FailureToCommunicate]

11. We knew he was a jerk when he 'governed' Massachusetts.

Didn't like him then. Really can't stand him now.

I am so glad he is the Republican candidate.

I am so glad Occupy has reframed the discourse into the Wall Street elites vs the rest of us.
Romney is going down.

But he may help wake up a lot of voters, who will have the vail drawn from their eyes about who really rules this "democracy" and how some powerful men want to drag women back to 'their place'

Bye bye Mitt Scissorhands

[drm604]

12. No only is he not a populist, he's unable to even put on a facade of being so.

He's so clueless about what working people face that he can't even put on a convincing pretense of understanding or caring.

He thinks that every college aged person's parents can loan them $20,000. I'm still flabbergasted that he actually said something that stupid and out of touch.

[GoCubsGo]

16. I'm flabbergasted that...

...after all this out-of-touch shit he's been saying, and after all the continuous revelations of bullying behavior throughout his life, and all of his displays of outright creepiness, nearly half the voting population STILL thinks this asshole is an acceptable leader of their country.

[goclark]

15. K and R

Thanks for the post ~

[MsPithy]

17. Jerk is way too nice a word.

He is a malevolent sociopathic bastard.

[Angry Dragon]

18. Willard scares a lot of people that don't normally vote

they intend to vote this year

[polichick]

19. We've already had an entitled jerk in the WH - thanks to the Supreme Court.

[itaest]

29. If it happens again, I hope they count the votes...

But if the Supreme Court gets into play again and rules for Romney you can be sure the people will not accept that verdict.

[polichick]

31. Wonder if the Dems would fold again - sure hope the people would be in the streets.

[edcantor]

20. Brilliant column! n/t

[DFW]

21. 42% of them will

But then 42% of American voters will blindly vote Republican even if their candidates are Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer.

This is why they are working so hard on voter disenfranchisement in Democratic districts. There are some voters (not as many as they have) that will also reliably vote Democratic. If they can nullify those Democratic votes, they have an advantage we don't, as we do not go into wealthy wards thinking up schemes how to disqualify their votes. We do not hire thugs to scare voters away from the polls, and we do not hire sleazy programmers to arrange robocalls telling people that the election is a day later than it really is.

Republicans could hold a deep conviction that their candidate is a child molester, a tax evader, a serial killer and a drug smuggler. As long as he has an "R" before his name, they will vote for him, blindly and gladly, convinced they did the right thing. After all, Charles Manson is white with a WASP name. "Barry" is not, and that's all that matters to them.

[itaest]

28. voter disenfranchisement in Democratic districts is a big problem

I always get upset when I hear about it because I know how much Republicans cheat and I don't have a trust in the Democrats to know how to deal with bullies.

[Cosmocat]

36. YEP

THE most effective part of the republican machine has been its ability to demonize democrats and the evil liberal to the point where their base almost literally would die before they could not vote for an R as some sort of mission from god to save this country from satan himself.

[Chemisse]

41. LOL! That is so true.

Just count up the number of people who voted for McCain - who were actually willing to let Sarah Palin within 2 blocks of 'the button' - and they will vote for Romney no matter how big an asshole he is.

[NoMittens]

22. This American won't

Mitt Milquetoast Mittens Romney will NEVER get my vote!

[tblue37]

23. Bill Maher pointed out on his show Friday that Mitt

shows kindness and concern for people like himself--rich white people. He has no compassion for anyone who is not like himself.

[Icicle]

24. Good post, Babylonsister

This line is great as summation...

A jerk is one thing. But a jerk who takes no responsibility for his jerkitude is pretty much the definition of an unlikeable person.

[abelenkpe]

25. He's so horrible

I won't believe he's the nominee until it's official.

[maddiemom]

44. By their convention...

I find it hard to believe they won't be desperately seeking someone else, as it just keeps getting worse for Romney, Unfortunately I'm afraid Jeb is just biding his time, maybe for 2016. I often suspect that they don't believe they can win in 2012, and just want to get Mitt's "turn" out of the way.

[SunSeeker]

26. He's not just a jerk. He's a sociopath. People can see that. nt

[Arugula Latte]

30. Hey, Mitt:

Yeah, well, the jerk store called, they're running out of you!

[Luddly Neddite]

32. People instinctivly distrust him

As much as people might want to vote against Obama, two minutes of watching Mitt is enough to know he cannot be believed or trusted. But, as someone pointed out, he has the one thing the right wingers require of their candidate - white skin.

[bluesbassman]

33. Yeah, well I sure can't wait to hear from the five people for whom Mitt has performed a kindness.

Wonder if they'll interview them from behind the wheel of their Bentleys or sitting in a golf cart?

[Chemisse]

42. What's funny is that he doesn't even realize that those locations would be a problem!

[wakemewhenitsover]

34. Great article, but... if. I. see. One. More. Sentence. Written. Like. This. I. Will...

[Whisp]

37. such a great piece! thanks for bringing it

[grantcart]

38. Letterman et al is going to remind them every night until the election.

[Javaman]

46. My definitions of: moron, idiot and jerk...

Moron: someone who does something wrong but doesn't know better.

idiot: someone who does something wrong but does know better

jerk: someone who does something wrong, knows better but enjoys it.

fucking jerk: someone who does something wrong, knows better, enjoys it then does it again.

mitten's qualifies for the last one.