General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEnough on the Bain and taxes for now
I'm concerned about some recent polls showing Romney pulling even with the president. The Bain and tax evasion issues have been beaten and people are still focused on the economy and jobs. The focus needs to shift back to those things. And shift real soon.
People get the message about Bain and Romneys taxes. But we are presenting reasons why people should not vote for Romney. The message now needs to be about why people should reelect the president. The message so far is not convincing. Excuses that blame an obstructionist Congress aren't enough either. The message now needs to shift to convincing reasons to reelect the president.
I don't know what that message should be or how it should be presented. I'll leave that to the high dollar consultants as this is just my 2 cents. But it needs to happen next week.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)bears plenty of scrutiny. People can draw their own conclusions about the information that is revealed--maybe they won't think it's important. But I do.
Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)Yes we need to talk about the issues extensively, but that does not meen we need to stop fighting the opposition.
Gman
(24,780 posts)I'm saying stop throwing only body punches and get in some uppercuts, so to speak.
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)you will see that there are areas where the candidates are tight -- within 4 points of each other -- and others where Obama dominates.
Romney's nonsense about Bain and whatever scandal is in his hidden money IS about jobs and the economy! That's why they are setting it up this way.
The Obama campaign is doing a great job (again). Wait until you see what's next.... (!)
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)In the clips that I have seen of President Obama on the stump, he hasn't been talking about Romney's taxes. He has been talking about how he has more to accomplish. He has been contrasting himself to Romney as the "man of the people" who would do more for the middle class. There could be more, but I'm limited to a few clips shown on MSNBC. They seem to show a little of his speech and then cut away. But, I do want the president to stay positive and leave the "attacks" to others.
All of the focus on Bain and Romney's money seems (to me at least) to be coming from reporters and pundits. Have any of the surrogates been rattling on and on about it?
If there is incriminating evidence in those tax reports, it needs to be divulged. I want the reporters to keep digging. For example, the story about the "dirty money" used to start up Bain just came out. I want to see a lot more about that.
Here is a link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/125158034
Gman
(24,780 posts)And the president has been getting tens of thousands out to his public speeches. So he has a message that does resonate.
flamingdem
(39,328 posts)StrictlyRockers
(3,855 posts)He stinks.
flamingdem
(39,328 posts)every time he gets an aggressive call from a billionaire backer telling him to cough up.
StrictlyRockers
(3,855 posts)We have six more weeks until the first convention. This is just going to get better and better.
How many prominent Republicans have called for him to release his tax returns now, two dozen? Drip, drip, drip. The refusals are becoming the story now.
2pooped2pop
(5,420 posts)at least as much as they beat their dressage horse, don't you?
Though I don't think this particular horse is dead yet by a long shot.
NNN0LHI
(67,190 posts)Look at it like this. When it comes to the election what we are trying to do is keep Romney at 49.9% and not 50.1%
Its going to be that close. All the Bain and tax ads are trying to do is sway that .2 percent of voters into not trusting Romney. These ads are neither for the hardcore Dems or the hardcore Republicans. We know who they are going to vote for already. Its that .2% of the voters who are not yet committed these ads are directed at. And this has to be beat into their heads until November for it to work. These voters may not even understand why they won't vote for Romney when they get into the voting booth. But it will be this constant barrage of ads that does it.
Does that make sense?
Don
flamingdem
(39,328 posts)they don't think about parties they are usually just disgusted with it all and are moral types themselves.
rocktivity
(44,577 posts)It was the independent vote that put the Dems over in '08, the reason why we lost the House in '10, and the only group Obama does not have a edge in the polls with. We can get the indie vote back if we can convince them that between his tone-deaf gaffes and his arrogance over his finances, Mitt is totally unworthy of consideration.
rocktivity
flamingdem
(39,328 posts)but they have their discernible qualities
and does put it into perspective. I do know this line about Bain is primarily aimed at the battleground states that have been devastated by layoffs from offshoring and it shows what Romney would do as president. And maybe we'll never give many of the broader 25-30% of the undecideds enough of a reason to reelect the president. But we can't get too far from the general economy issue when it's all said and done. I understand that the Bain issue is about the economy and what Romney would do. I would just like to see more convincing arguments. Maybe then he can eke out a bit more daylight between him and Romney.
NNN0LHI
(67,190 posts)We have to ride Bain and Romney's refusal to release his tax returns all the way to November. Otherwise the voters will just become confused.
Got to stay focused on one or two issues for months to have any effect at all.
Otherwise it is a waste of time.
Don
2pooped2pop
(5,420 posts)we are a nation addicted to sound bites.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)Both are non-transparent and both obstructionist - just stamping their feet and demanding their way.
(R)s are running from him right now, so shackle them at the ankles.
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)haughtily and defensively try to explain it away. This is just the first volley and I can't get enough.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)In campaigns you don't just stop one thing and start another. You add things.
StrictlyRockers
(3,855 posts)I hope they take your advice and keep hitting him, hard and in multiple areas.
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)there are too many polls, too many with outdated methodology, too many paid for by right wing sources.
Romney is not even with Obama. No way.
I love DU, but after 11 years, I've come to loathe the constant poll posts.. we have four months for this. Focus on the stuff that will MOVE the polls, and it's the tax returns. It really is.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)justice1
(795 posts)I participated in one of the polls that was quoted on here, that showed Obama was down. The questions were leading, and the information cherry picked.
While I don't remember the exact numbers, I was asked on incomes of 15-25k, should it be taxed at 30%. Later I was asked, on incomes 80-100k, should it be taxed at 15%... after my response, they didn't ask about incomes over 100k. Yes, I was asked about Nascar, and would I consider doing an interview for a journalist at a later time... Needless to say, I haven't been called back.
BumRushDaShow
(129,543 posts)They need to make sure that every time someone says "Romney", they associate him as a tax evader and outsourcer.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)JHB
(37,162 posts)Everything should feed in toward painting the picture of Romney as a shifty lying weasel out to benefit himself and his fellow greedy bastards. Which he is.
Bain and taxes reinforces that. So does the likely next item, drawing attention to the Soviet-grade editing and outright lying of what Obama has said (from the things over the past few days, back to the the one where his guys edited Obama quoting McCain in order to put McCain's words in Obama's mouth).
Other things will come up, but don't think "enough on this for now...". Raising a subject and then dropping it doesn't work. you have to keep hitting that drum. Sometime louder, sometimes softer, but you never let up the beat.
Iggy
(1,418 posts)has. certainly not postive economic/job growth- not totally his fault, I agree, but voters have
very short memories.
scheming daemons
(25,487 posts)datasuspect
(26,591 posts)the goddamn pigfuckers don't give ANY ground, why should dems?
rgbecker
(4,834 posts)Monday - Obamacare ....30 million uninsured will be covered and added to the insurance risk pool. Must be reelected to keep Romney from repealing. (Coverage for preexisting conditions, 26 year olds, blah blah blah.)
Tuesday - Bin Laden .....KIA
Wednesday - Iraq ....American soldiers/heroes welcomed home.
Thursday - Afghanistan ....Surge completed per generals' advice, Al qaeda eradicated, troops coming home. Must be reelected to keep Romney from starting another war.
Friday - Financial regulation ....Law is passed, 300 new regulations are being put into position to keep another 2007/8 from happening again. Must be reelected to keep Romney from gutting regulations and allowing another meltdown.
Saturday - More work to be done to keep Medicare and Social Security safe from Republican Raiders.
Sunday - People across the world like Obama and see him as a global leader.
Repeat next week.
WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)ananda
(28,877 posts).. I think Obama is way ahead of Romney.
CanonRay
(14,119 posts)There's no downside, and Rmoney can "easily" put an end to the controversy by releasing the returns as all other candidates do. To NOT release the returns makes it the story, and that is on him.
We'd be f'ing nuts to stop talking about this. Even the hardcore rethugs, down in their dark little hearts, are wondering what Mittens is up to.