Bullshit denied: Romney's failed attempt to woo black voters

By Michael J.W. Stickings

I wrote yesterday that black voters aren't going to buy what Mitt Romney is selling and that his speech to the NAACP was really just a symbolic gesture.

Well, those in attendance at the speech certainly didn't buy it, booing him for attacking Obama and pledging to repeal Obamacare, and to the extent it was all just a gesture, it failed on that level as well.

Dear Leader Rush, never known for anything resembling sensitivity and understanding concerning the interests of non-whites, may say he was booed simply because of his skin colour, but of course the NAACP isn't racist the way, say, Dear Leader Rush is, and it's been more than supportive of various white figures in the past (Bill Clinton comes to mind).

No, he was booed because, as some of those in attendance said, he was "patronizing" and "totally disconnected," that is, because he was himself. "I don't think he has any way to even remotely relate to the everyday citizen, let alone African-American citizens," said one woman, while the organization itself issued the following statement:

This morning Governor Romney laid out his policy agenda for this nation. Unfortunately, much of his agenda is at odds with what the NAACP stands for – whether the issue is equal access to affordable health care, reforming our education system or the path forward on marriage equality. We appreciate that he was courageous and took the opportunity to speak with us directly.

In other words, they respected him for showing up and genuinely wanted to hear what he had to say. And they oppose him not because of his race but because of what he stands for, that is, they oppose him on the issues.

And then there was this:

Mitt Romney told the NAACP on Wednesday that President Obama has made it worse for African-Americans "in almost every way."

"If equal opportunity in America were an accomplished fact, then a chronically bad economy would be equally bad for everyone," Romney told the nation's leading civil rights group at their national convention in Houston, Texas. "Instead, it's worse for African-Americans in almost every way. The unemployment rate, the duration of unemployment, average income and median family wealth are all worse for the black community."

This is just stupid. The economy was in terrible shape when Obama took office, and if anything he's successfully pulled the economy back from the brink of collapse despite all-out Republican opposition and obstructionism. Of course the economy is still in rough shape, but it's rough for everyone and it's not like Romney actually has a plan to fix it. Obama has a plan, one being blocked by Republicans, but for Romney it's all about tax cuts for the wealthy, for people like himself, while cutting programs that benefit non-rich Americans of all colors. (And to the extent blacks are worse off now than non-blacks, it's only because they were worse off to begin with. What, he's really saying the Obama has made it especially worse for blacks? That's beyond stupid.)

Romney's pitch depends on ignorance -- that is, on voters buying the bullshit he's selling without any understanding of the truth. That may work with right-wing voters who despise the president and are willing to swallow whatever anti-Obama nonsense Republicans are spewing, but it won't work, or at least shouldn't work, with anyone who actually cares to know the truth and is willing to peel back the layers of Romney's bullshit, and it certainly won't work with the NAACP and the vast majority of black voters generally.

More bullshit:

-- "I believe that if you understood who I truly am in my heart, and if it were possible to fully communicate what I believe is in the real, enduring best interest of African-American families, you would vote for me for president." Surely he doesn't believe this. I think we've all had ample opportunity to get to know who Romney truly is, and most of us don't like what we see.

-- "I am running for president because I know that my policies and vision will help hundreds of millions of middle-class Americans of all races, will lift people from poverty and will help prevent people from becoming poor. My campaign is about helping the people who need help. The course the president has set has not done that -- and will not do that. My course will." Seriously? Obama was the one who got health-care reform passed. Obama was the one who issued an executive order enacting the provisions of the DREAM Act. Obama was the one who came out in support of marriage equality. Wasn't all that about helping people who need help? And, to repeat, Romney's policy agenda is largely about doing whatever it takes for the rich to get richer.

In other words, it was must Mitt being Mitt. No wonder they booed. Any sensible person would.