Is Romney being innoculated?

[jberryhill]

Romney remains the likely nominee.

As the GOP primaries seem likely to slog on for a while, and therefore as the fattest target, Romney is taking a pounding.

If he gets through it and wins the nomination, then doesn't "asked and answered" become the obvious way of dealing with his baggage?

General election voters aren't going to be tuning into this thing until September. At that point, it seems the response is "Those are the same distortions and untrue accusations that were made about me by my primary opponents, and they are as false now as they were then. Next question?"

[dimbear]

1. We can move on to the questions none of the other candidates dared to ask.

There's a long list.

[jberryhill]

2. Well I hope so

In 2008, the GOP fired up the Rev. Wright / Bill Ayers Wurlitzer, and part of its failure to work was that "we did this already in the primaries".

[dimbear]

3. There's plenty more, and thanks to the Republican decision Citizens United, there's

no limit to how hard they can be pushed. The fact that Mr. Obama is a gentleman won't figure, plenty of sneaky devils with money on our side too.

[jberryhill]

4. I hope they have as much wit as money

[dimbear]

5. One example. Rmoney suggested that America just let its car industry fail.

None of the Republican candidates had any problem with that.

I do.

We do.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

15. Part of the reason they didn't work in the GE

might just be that they didn't have any enduring power anyway. Economic issues will be the most potent this time around and Bain will feed into that

[CoffeeCat]

6. That's exactly what my husband said...

That possibly the Republicans are allowing all of the Romney dirty to spill out now--so when
the Presidential campaign hits--all of it feels like old news.

I guess I could see that. However, I really fail to see how Romney survives the arguments
made about Romney being a capitalist pig, with respect to Bain.

We're in the middle of a horrible recession, with many out of work and with nearly all of
us scared shitless about holding onto our jobs. Many have lost jobs and are desperately
trying to shore up savings--to provide some protection. I just don't see how Romney
can make the case that vulture capitalism is a good thing. Obama will be able to point to
specific companies and plants that were closed--and put those fired employees in tv ads.

Bain is just one aspect of Romney. What about his Mormonism. A lot of it is total looney
tunes stuff (magic underwear, celestial weddings, etc.). Also Romney putting the dog on the
car and traveling down the road with it on the luggage rack. Sure, it's a side issue, but it
speaks to his elitism and his idiocy. Many people think he's a total idiot, empty suit and that
dog issue really hits home with many Americans. Most people, even Republicans, would not do
that.

Also, Romeny is not a great campaigner. I witnessed it in Iowa. He's a B- campaigner if he's
got a prepared speech. However, he's TERRIBLE off the cuff. He often makes big mistakes, and
we've got a long campaign season.

I think the guy is toast, even before he's out of the starting gate.

[mr_liberal]

8. Thats the wrong angle to take imo

to attack capitalism: "capitalist pig". That would turn off voters. Obama needs to defend real, honest capitalism and explain how its different from what Romney did.

[coalition_unwilling]

17. The anti-Romney campaign commercials write themselves. Straight

cuts between interview clips with workers fired by Romney's Bain and clips of Romney saying "I like to be able to fire people." Romney and the Repukes have delivered Obama's re-election on a silver platter, imho.

[mr_liberal]

7. Maybe a little

But it seems like any time Gingrich or Perry try to bring up the issue the GOP establishment flips out.

Thats the angle Id take. Why don't they want us to know what Romney did at Bain? What are they hiding?

Its like were not allowed to bring up the subject or its "an attack on capitalism". Give me a break, thats not going to fly with average voters.

[Ruby the Liberal]

14. Faux outrage

is all part of the game.

[backscatter712]

9. They can try...

I'd say it's up to the grass-roots to keep talking about the Pain of Bain all the way until the election, even when the corporate media declares this scandal "dead".

But truth has a way of being persistent and coming back long after the lies fall apart...

[grantcart]

10. He is being framed.

[denem]

18. I hope you don't mean 'framed' as in an innocent man being slandered.

I'l go the distance arguing he is as guilty as hell.

[grantcart]

19. lol no I mean his brand is being framed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511407

[MineralMan]

11. Probably. However, everything will come up

after the nomination again, either from the Democratic campaign side or from the right-wingers. An awful lot of voters aren't paying much attention to the primary nonsense, actually. You can see that by the low turnouts for primary elections and caucuses. For most US voters, the primaries are not a matter of much interest. We're different here on DU. We do care. Most people don't. So during the general election campaign, all the dirt will be dished all over again, fresh and steaming hot.

[Greywing]

12. Don't think so as the real discussion about his business experience

has yet to take place. He claims his business experience will help turn the economy around and create jobs. If that is true, why didn't it work in Massachusetts while he was governor? Will the excuse be he did not use his business experience then?

[NYC Liberal]

13. This happens every primary season, for both parties.

It doesn't stop the attacks and it definitely won't stop Romney from being hurt by the same dirt in the general.

[joshcryer]

16. Yes, that's what happened in the 2008 primaries.

The Democrats slogged it out so hard that all of the dirty stuff was completely swept under the rug by the time election season came around.

[MjolnirTime]

20. Not a chance. He is the disease.

[madinmaryland]

21. No, I don't think so. He has veered sharply to the right which is going to provide

a lot more baggage.

[davidpdx]

22. I think to some degree he is

Because his campaign will have time to come up with answers to the criticism about his business dealings. They will probably get rehashed again in the late summer once the Olympics are over and people are actually paying attention (why the hell we have to have our election the same year as the Summer Olympics I can't understand other then the sheer timing).

I think there is still a good chance something will shake up the race. I'm actually now hoping for the publicity whore Donald Trump to step foot in the ring so he can go toe-to-toe with Mittens.

[DCBob]

23. Yes because people will assume the issue was already settled..

otherwise why would Romney be the nominee. This is one of the reasons I want this process over with as soon as possible. Time to move on to the real campaign.