Some prominent Mitt Romney supporters are saying the presidential hopeful's campaign should stop sending mixed messages about the Supreme Court's health care ruling.
Romney and his staffers have been going back and forth on whether to call it a tax as an attack on President Obama or not a tax, to preserve the argument that Romney never raised taxes in his state despite having a similar health care law.
Head spinning a bit? We'll backtrack.
On Wednesday, Romney, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, said the federal health care reform mandate constitutes a "tax," contradicting the way his senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom, of the Etch-a-Sketch gaffe fame, characterized his position earlier this week. But the similar individual mandate and fee he signed into law when governor of Massachusetts is not a tax, he said in a separate interview, citing the Supreme Court's decision last Thursday.
In March, Fehrnstrom made headlines for saying in a CNN interview that the transition from the primaries to the general election was "almost like an Etch-a-Sketch. You can kind of shake it up, and we start all over again."
Some people are calling the tax chatter another Romney flip-flop. Others are calling it the Etch-a-Sketch redux. Others, like editor of The Nation Katrina vanden Heuvel, are saying this incident makes the previous gaffe look like solid campaign strategy.
Romney now says health mandate is a tax. Making that Etch a Sketch look downright steady,stable and full of integrity.
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Katrina vandenHeuvel (@KatrinaNation) July 05, 2012And now, plenty of people, including his supporters, are hitting Romney on the issue and letting him know that either he needs to get himself aligned with his staff on these issues, or scrap some of the staff and get a new game plan as they charge into the general election.
Media baron Rupert Murdoch, never shy on his views, tweeted that while he supports the former Massachusetts governor he believes Romney needs to shake up his staff to have a chance to beat Obama's seasoned campaign staff.
Met Romney last week. Tough O Chicago pros will be hard to beat unless he drops old friends from team and hires some real pros. Doubtful.
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Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) July 01, 2012And apparently, that tweet upset the Romney campaign, which prompted Murdoch to follow up with a tweet on Monday. He said he wants Romney to win, but instead of the campaign upset about the criticism they should heed some of the good advice Murdoch feels Romney is getting about trying to get his campaign in order.
Romney people upset at me! Of course I want him to win, save us from socialism, etc but should listen to good advice and get stuck in!
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Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) July 02, 2012
Murdoch's tweets of fury were followed by agreement from Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, and then a blistering editorial from the Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal.
Welch tweeted that he hoped Romney's camp would heed Murdoch's advice, noting that the Obama campaign staff is a well-oiled machine at this point.
Hope Mitt Romney is listening to Murdoch advice ont campaign staff..playing in league with Chicago pols..No room for amateurs
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Jack Welch (@jack_welch) July 02, 2012And the Wall Street Journal went further with an elaborate editorial that declared the tax or not a tax issue is indicative of larger campaign problems. The editorial says what could have easily been a choreographed way to attack Obama has essentially turned into a political defeat for Romney.
"Why make such an unforced error? Because it fits with Mr. Romney's fear of being labeled a flip-flopper, as if that is worse than confusing voters about the tax and health-care issues. Mr. Romney favored the individual mandate as part of his reform in Massachusetts, and as we've said from the beginning of his candidacy his failure to admit that mistake makes him less able to carry the anti-ObamaCare case to voters ...
His latest mistake is of a piece with the campaign's insular staff and strategy that are slowly squandering an historic opportunity. Mr. Obama is being hurt by an economic recovery that is weakening for the third time in three years. But Mr. Romney hasn't been able to take advantage, and if anything he is losing ground.
The Romney campaign thinks it can play it safe and coast to the White House by saying the economy stinks and it's Mr. Obama's fault. We're on its email list and the main daily message from the campaign is that "Obama isn't working." Thanks, guys, but Americans already know that. What they want to hear from the challenger is some understanding of why the President's policies aren't working and how Mr. Romney's policies will do better."
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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I really dont need to see any candidate for a political office attack one another. The only subject both of these men and their campaign staff's need to focus on is how to help me and my fellow Americans. So Obama's plans did not work, oh well he tried some things and they fell through, that is life every decision we make has a risk to fail and succeed. Just like they said in one of my favorite movies National Treasure "You know, Thomas Edison tried and failed nearly 2,000 times to develop the carbonized cotton-thread filament for the incandescent light bulb. And when asked about it, he said "I didn't fail; I found out 2,000 ways how not to make a light bulb," but he only needed one way to make it work.". We all have to do our own part to help fix our Country and not blame one person and his efforts. I am not saying I am Pro Obama or Pro Romney, I am just tired of all the pointing fingers. I believe both men have the abiltiy to fix the nation but do they have the time to help any of us, after all the name calling and overall whining. Advise to Romney and Obama focus your efforts on the country not each other We need the help.
@J are you sure, did Tesla develop it and Edison took credit for it?
tesla or edison it really does not matter I liked the movie just using the message not the historical facts. it does not matter now who invented it all that matters is that it works and we are all better for it.
I am sure there are other people in this country that are just as CONFUSED as Mitt, but they are not running for the presidency. That's my point. OK 2020, I may be just as CONFUSED as Mitt but I'm not running for political office. That makes a big difference.
Romney is just not capable of being honest for fear of losing a vote. He should Just bite the bullet and take a stand. Tax or no tax. And let the chips fall. He's indecision is rediculous and troubling.
The GOP harped on the mora-religiousl-social agenda, and settled on a loser. Romney is a "Obama Lite" he ain't no true conservative that is for sure.
Read this book!
SECRET CEREMONIES – A MORON'S INTIMATE DIARY OF MARRIAGE and BEYOND.
Wake up people! He's 4th generation!
Take your meds first
Flip is not confused. When one strategy does not work, he is willing to do a 180 on everything. He has no principles. He is a jellyfish.
The problem in politics is that in all reality 90% of it is complete non-sense. The scary part is that unfortunately in our nation we are leading towards a two party system and politically and historically leads to disaster. The republican party will be the first to shed its weaknesses. It's hard to hardline party lines when you believe something personally yourself and have actually signed, enacted and enforced in your own state. Republicans want him to back track, Romney should just be honest, and the American people are so twisted about Healthcare Law anything that they don't know what to think or believe. There have been so many what ifs, and prediction senarios based on sensuses of less than 1500 people that people litteraly lie to themselves just to meet a party line not because of an understanding but because of an ignorance from poorly funded education. We keep ourselves stupid so we can actually harm ourselves because of a product or a lifestyle we as individuals enjoy but never really think of the collective of society and its effects on us and those around us. Sorry for the long post but I am just rambling and saying, educate thyself in not only the art of intelligence but in humanity and civilizations history and how it effects all of man kind. Read your history and ancient history and you will find that the day we begin to neglect others for their true value is the day that a nations weakness is exposed and it's greatest weakness becomes it's self.
Romney is a fatally flawed candidate. He is such a hypocrite and flip-flopper it's pathetic! The only good thing he ever accomplished was the wonderful universal healthcare coverage in Mass., but he is doing everything in his power to disavow any involvement! Jeeze - Romneycare = Obamacare!!! To hear him parroting how he'll turn over ACA if elected makes my stomach churn! Let's not get started about the "tax" v. "penalty" gaff. He can't even keep up with what lies/positions his own campaign is using (well, using today anyway......just wait till tomorrow when then do a 180!) Every day the polls show (especially in swing states) that people are going to Obama – and who can blame them!? Afterall - Mittens is an elitist boob, who has no spine/scruples/morals, who looks down on EVERYONE except his 1% peers, AND WHO WANTS TO DRAG OUR COUNTRY BACKWARDS - THE GOP IS OFFERING NOTHING TO THE MIDDLE CLASS!! We've already suffered through the GOP's ideas and they caused the depression we're in!! NO MORE!!
Of course he's sending mixed messages; if he were not he wouldn't be Mitt Romney.
My kids think he's Voldemort. Kids are so astute!
That's too funny!
Kids can smell bs as soon as it has left someone's mouth...
that's a perfect description. Now, if we could only get people to agree to never say his name...
Mixed messages are a symptom of acute flip flop disease.
Well, "to be or not to be," that is a no brainer question! Just try some Kool-Aid!
Call the $$ whatever you want. People in MA love Romneycare very much and it works for the majority of the people there. Only the 1% who can afford to buy insurance chooses to be the freeriders in ERs. Can we not treat the 1% in the ER and let them suffer? Just like flood insurance. You know that one day your house will be flooded in your area; but choose to take the risk not to have flood insurance. Take the responsibility or empty your bank account. Your choice.
Romney change his stance to fit the most recent Supreme Court ruling or Obama statement? No way! Oh my bad, he did just contradict what he said last week on health care and immigration. Or did he? Geez, I just can't make up my mind on this guy.
His problem is he has too many "bases”. He has to "please" the neo-cons, the religious right zealots, the moderates, and every "fringe" and Obama hate group he can, to put together a coalition to beat the president. He has no real beliefs, I have seen no real solutions (other than to say Obama is wrong) he seems lost, confused and unable to fathom just what he's gotten himself into. He's out of touch with the "regular Joe" and is spending millions on confusing and often contradictory advertising, which really never gives his positions on anything. (If in fact, he really has hard & fast positions on anything) All Obama has to do to win, is run political ads showing his opponents comments from the primaries, run tape of Romney’s contradictory statements over the years and show how uncomfortable Romney is answering direct questions on his position.