Axelrod Says He'd Fire Anyone Who Calls Romney 'Weird'

[IDemo]

August 12, 2011 11:08 AM

In an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” David Axelrod, President Barack Obama’s senior advisor, said he would go as far as firing anyone who referred to presidential candidate Mitt Romney as “weird.”

Axelrod’s declaration came after an article earlier this week by Politico, in which anonymous aides and advisors from Obama’s reelection campaign were quoted as saying they were ready to launch a “ferocious personal attack” on Romney. One source was quoted as saying that there is a “weirdness factor” about Romney.

But this morning Axelrod pushed back on the report, telling host Joe Scarborough when asked if he’d go as far as to fire staffers who used the word “weird” in reference to Romney that he would.

“I would if someone used words like weird I would certainly do that, yes,” said Axelrod. “I thought that was totally inappropriate.”

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/08/axelrod-says-hed-fire-anyone-who-calls-romney-weird.html

[RKP5637]

1. OK, strange then. n/t

[flamingdem]

2. Maybe that term was floated to psyche Romney out nt

[RKP5637]

4. Yep, could be! n/t

[dhill926]

3. bizarre?.........

[femrap]

16. Unearthly....?

Perry and Mitt....come on....the hair is just not human!

[senseandsensibility]

5. See this is the problem right here.

This is supposed to be politics, not T-ball. Jeez. Weird? That's a firing offense? Okay, I can see both sides about using the term, but a firing offense? Have you heard what the other side calls us? Ya... I know....don't sink to their level. Weird is not sinking to their level; it's Miss Manners compared to their drivel. I'm sorry, but the average voter does not respect mealy mouthed sweet talk.

[LaydeeBug]

6. And see? *I* think Axelrod should have said, "He *is* weird". nt

[eShirl]

7. Romney is *fair game*

[Frustratedlady]

8. Axelrod was specific. He said "weird" not "weirdness factor".

Personally, I don't see either. The thing that stands out with Romney is his inability or hesitation in giving his opinion in public, but seeing the way everyone jumps on any flub, I can see why. Look at last night. They had ads before Romney finished the sentence. Great for the Dems, but it goes to show how tongue-tied today's political game can make them.

I can't imagine the drive/ego that would make anyone subject themselves to today's media and/or the Internet/public. Few are listening to their proposals/beliefs, as they are too busy watching for flubs and gotchas.

[Cali_Democrat]

9. Awkward is a good term for Romney. n/t

[H2O Man]

10. Willard is weird.

No doubt.

[graywarrior]

11. Well, in a way, Axelrod brought attention to the fact that Romney warrants being called weird

[SpiralHawk]

12. "We will whack anyone who acknowledges Romney's weirdness." - Axey

"you may know damn well that Romney's weird, and the people may be gossiping about how weird he is, and even Republicons in their dark, dank occult cells may be nattering about Romney uber weirdness, but you will never hear me talk about Romney's weirdness.

"In fact, it would be beneath me or any other decent Dem to mention the word WEIRD in connection with Romney. So I will not mention Romney's weirdness. I will not hint at Romney's Weirdness. And I will not allude to his weirdness in any weird way.

"Please do not throw Romney's astounding weirdness quotient into the Briar Patch of Punditry weirdness.."

- Sincerely Yrs without a scintilla of a hint of mentioning Romney's weirdness, Axey

[kmla]

13. Hmmm. Looks normal to me...

:puke:

[daa]

14. And Axelrod will not be surprised to know that here is the south

the pugs will be using code words to remind people Obama is, well not like them.

We had a special runoff between 2 pugs here in Georgia. The day of the election, the crook that was behind and going to lose reelection, had his people hand out literature with the picture of the black woman he was running against. Not his picture, just the black woman who should have won.

So Obama can play nice and still get Willie Hortoned or whatever er swiftboat tactic the koch bros come up with.

I am guessing this guy will never learn. The only reason Big Dog hung so tough was his rapid response team. Obama never responds.

[unblock]

15. wierd choice is very important. to get the right message out, you have to pick the right wierd.

using the wierd "wierd" send the wrong message -- it's perceived as a negative attack and reflects more on the speaker than on the intended target.

you have to be slightly more subtle than that. work the wierds you want into the same sentence as your target, but don't directly accuse your target of being wierd. safer to pick out a few of his choices of policies, friends, vacation spots, or whatever and label THOSE as "weird" while referring to your target as a lady or gentleman.

or better yet, find a wierd other than "wierd" itself and use that instead. something that gets the message across without being so obvious. classics are calling the target's choices "unusual" or "puzzling" or "concerning". i'm troubled and concerned with those choices, etc.

[bemildred]

17. And they wonder why Obama's approval is down.

With "advisors" like Axelrod, Obama doesn't need enemies.

[Creideiki]

18. I prefer "hateful"

The guy's "job" before politics was to take over companies and lay people off. The Republican Presidential candidates in 2008 said the same thing about him. There's a reason why Palin was set up to torpedo his announcement of his candidacy.

[chelsea0011]

19. He went on a family vacation and put the family dog in a crate and attached it

to the roof of the car. If that's not weird, what is?

[roomfullofmirrors]

20. So wierd is unacceptable? How about steaming piece of shit? is that OK Dave?

[gkhouston]

21. Romney is weird, but I don't think that has much to do with his religion.

He's just a cold fish. Rachel nailed it last night when she said he's terrible at retail politics. He doesn't know how to connect to people. Some people have that gift in abundance. Apparently one of them must have swiped Romney's share.

[jwirr]

22. He won't have to. That "corporations are people" thing last night

went a long way in convincing the people that romney is weird. That and the fact that he does such idiot stuff like talking to those people in the lawn chairs. Plus plenty of people think all Mormons are weird because of their religion.

The word is out - no one needs to push it.

[kestrel91316]

23. I think he's downright CREEPY. So fire me, Axelrod.

[IDemo]

24. Not at all weird, Dave....