Mitt Romney Tells 'Humorous' Story About Father Closing A Michigan Factory

[RandySF]

Mitt Romney is known for his sometimes awkward sense of humor, and some of his biggest campaign missteps have come when he has made statements that seemed out of touch with Americans' economic struggles.

During a tele-town hall meeting with Wisconsin voters Wednesday, those two issues converged.

At the outset of his 35-minute conference call, Romney told what he thought was a "humorous" story about how his father once shut down a factory in Michigan and moved production to Wisconsin, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

"One of [the] most humorous I think relates to my father. You may remember my father, George Romney, was president of an automobile company called American Motors. ... They had a factory in Michigan, and they had a factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and another one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And as the president of the company he decided to close the factory in Michigan and move all the production to Wisconsin. Now later he decided to run for governor of Michigan and so you can imagine that having closed the factory and moved all the production to Wisconsin was a very sensitive issue to him, for his campaign."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/mitt-romney-wisconsin-humorous-story_n_1386383.html

[LuvNewcastle]

1. Romney has some weird fetish about his dad.

I've seen several large posters of his dad at different campaign quarters and rallies. I saw them in photos, of course. I would say it's creepy, but I've learned to expect creepiness from Romney. Most people have let go of daddy's coattails by this point.

[JaneQPublic]

4. McCain & GWBush also had issues with their father.

However, in their cases, it seemed more a matter of doing them one better, proving them wrong, etc.

I remember John King (CNN) once asking McCain during the 2008 campaign that since his dad was an Admiral, wouldn't it be cool to be Commander in Chief and outrank him. McCain responded with a maniacal gaze and laugh... really spooky.

And of course GWBush no doubt took great pride in invading Iraq when his father chose not to, and again later when sonny got that second term his father never got.

Lot of father/son issues among the GOPers.

[Lawlbringer]

10. I always thought that W...

was just acting on his father's orders, rather than trying to surpass him.

[AllyCat]

2. This man is an utter nincompoop. And a loser.

He has not one iota of a clue what is happening to people and has been happening to them for a long time. People losing their jobs? Hilarious! Jerk.

[pokerfan]

3. "I like to fire people."

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

5. His neural net hasn't been programmed for humor

Data from Star Trek also had trouble trying to tell funny stories but at least he was capable of expressing compassion or a reasonable facsimile. I think even Data would understand that closing factories is not funny.

[newspeak]

18. what's funny about taking away people's livelihoods and causing hardship to families?

I don't think he should have told that particular story today, when people are losing jobs now. To me, it shows a lack of sensitivity for others and a reminder of where he really came from, and it's not from the proles. Oh wait!! keep telling those stories mittens!!!

[99th_Monkey]

6. So Mitt "loves firing people" so much he can't stop himself from firing himself from being POTUS?

This gaff-a-day clown will never be elected president.

[TeamsterDem]

7. Absolute scumbag, this guy. nt

[ibegurpard]

8. Everything to this tool is all about politics

[gordianot]

9. Why would Romney want to become President?

Such statements totally rule out compassion for working people. There are obviously no strong ideological convictions. This man is walking empty milk glass.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. I just don't thing he's very smart.

He makes the most horrendous blunders and doesn't even realize it.

[trof]

12. Uh...did they leave off the punchline?

I don't see this as a 'humorous' story.

[gordianot]

13. Be gratful if you got the punchline there would be something seriously wrong with you.

[EnviroBat]

14. Oh, that's a knee-slapper there Rmoney...!

This guy is a complete pud.

[WI_DEM]

15. Oh man! That's funny--like a crutch.

[WI_DEM]

16. 'but,' Romney continued, 'it had a happy ending becuz my father was elected Governor.'

[Evasporque]

17. "ha ha ha the workers left with no severance or pension...ha ha ha...Dad got a 7 figure bonus."...nt