Gaffe-Prone Romney to Headline GOP Fundraiser, Smooth Talk State Legislators
Days after the New York Sun called him “the most gaffe-prone of all the Republican candidates,” the candidate ironically pegged as “smooth talking” Mitt Romney returns to the Sunshine State, home of one of his most infamous blunders. Earlier this year, Romney offended Cuban Americans by quoting Fidel Castro's traditional communist slogan "patria o muerte, venceremos" in a Miami speech on Cuba policy. [Miami Herald, 3/20/07] Romney’s “painful Cuba gaffe” was one of a litany of blunders listed by the Sun, which also cited his bizarre decision to praise Hitler’s energy policy to promote his own, his blatant misrepresentation of his hunting history, and the time he “accidentally insulted his wife” on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference. [New York Sun, 4/20/07]
After weeks of goofy gaffes, when Romney heads back to Florida he’ll need to also explain his ongoing policy blunders to Sunshine State voters, including:
His refusal to say whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should resign or be fired for misleading Congress and the American people about the political-motivated firing of eight U.S. Attorneys. Romney said this weekend he needs more information, even after Gonzales told a Senate hearing more than 60 times that he could not recall details about the firings. [AP, 4/20/07]
His continued support of President Bush’s failed strategy in Iraq and his decision to reject responsible proposals to change direction in Iraq by setting clear milestones that will hold the Iraqi government and people accountable for their own future. [The Big Story, Fox News, 4/3/07]
His decision to put his loyalty to big oil’s big donors first by endorsing offshore drilling off Florida’s coast. [Orlando Sentinel, 2/17/07]
His cozying up to the special interests behind President Bush’s failed Social Security privatization plan by expressing his support for “reducing benefits” and hiring the architect of the Bush plan as a campaign advisor. [Union Leader, 3/2/07; Special Report with Brit Hume, Fox News, 2/7/07]
His persistent attempts to hide his real record from the voters by flip-flopping on everything from abortion, to gay marriage, to gun control, to tax cuts, to immigration reform—even his own political heroes.
“Mitt Romney may be tripping all over himself trying to smooth talk his way out of his single digit poll numbers, but Sunshine State voters have already seen enough of Romney’s flip-flops, goofy gaffes, and policy blunders,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. “Floridians are looking for a real leader who presents clear plans for America's future, not a smooth talking opportunist who will say anything to win the GOP primary.”
