Updated | Thursday, August 30: Includes additional comments from Roy during the program clarifying his remark.
A policy adviser to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Sunday that the Republican activists who write and adhere to the party’s platform, and who will gather in Tampa this week to formally nominate Romney for president, will have “very little” purchase on a Romney presidency if the former Massachusetts governor is elected.
Avik Roy, a health care policy adviser to the Romney campaign, said the GOP platform — which includes provisions like a “human life amendment” to the Constitution that would ban abortions with no exceptions for rape, incest or to save the life of the mother — should not be considered a reflection of Romney’s personal views.
“I think it is a statement of what activists in the party, the consensus among activists in the party believe should be the core of activist conservatism,” Roy said. “But that is different from what a candidate who is appealing to the center of the country is going to try to do.”
Asked how much purchase those activists would have in the White House should Romney become president, Roy said, “very little.”
Roy later clarified his remark, adding: "The base influences things for sure. So, they influence the terms of the debate, they influence the primaries, they influence who gets elected to congress, they influence who staffs an administration. But it’s also true that there is a need to win elections. There is a need to both move the debate in your direction, but also appeal to the people in the center, and that’s the tension. So, as activists your job is to move the debate in your direction. ... The candidates reflect how that debate changes over time."
Former Republican chairman and MSNBC analyst Michael Steele criticized attempts by Romney to distance himself from aspects of the Republican Party platform, as well as the activists who drafted it.
“I know a lot of folks in the base. I’m from the base, I know the base. They don’t want to hear their nominee, as they produce this platform, go, ‘Oh, that’s not my platform,’ or the Republican Party chairman say, ‘Oh, that’s not his platform, that doesn’t mean anything to him,’” Steele said. “They don’t want to hear that.”
Sal Gentile is a segment & digital producer for Up w/ Chris Hayes. Follow him on Twitter at @salgentile.
Leave a Comment:
Why does the republican party get the racist label when it is the democratic party that historically is the party of slavery and also the KKK ? Check wikipedia. The dems put forth falsehoods to control the conversation. I guess when a party gives money or control away (to minorities, unions) in the name of "helping", but in reality is just buying blocks of votes isn't racisism, then maybe racisist and collusion/corruption needs to be better defined.
You are advancing the David Barton view of history.
Because the "Dixiecrats" are now Republicans! Why is that so difficult for the current Republican party to understand? Look at what the current Republican platform represents and compare it to the Republican platform of the 1800's! Seriously?
@1.2 Two part play that is endemic in GOP strategy:
1) We know the truth, but will deliberately lie or distort it.
2) They count on the people they are trying to reach not knowing the truth.
Unfortunately it works. You do it enough times, with enough facts, about enough areas that matter to enough different people and over the course of a campaign, you can sucker a good number of people into voting for you.
Balen,
The problem with people like you is that you jump on "dog bones" instead of trying to understand what it is that you are supposed to believe and why you ACTUALLY support the Republican Party.
Do you even know WHAT you believe are are you just one of the "pawns"?, influenced beyond sanity by propaganda to vote for a party that doesn't have YOUR best interests in mind? Are you still thinking the Republican Party is the same party your father voted for?
Yes, the Dixicrats were against the Civil Rights Act, and because of that they left the Democratic Party and joined the Republicans - so it is YOUR acclaimed party that has all of them with all of their racist and elitist views now, NOT the Democrats!!
Don't you ever wonder why everyone refers to the current Republican Party strategy as the "Southern Strategy"?
Do you even know WHY the Dixicrats were Democrats and not Republicans originally? Do you even know if they actually voted like Democrats when they laid claim to the name?
Why don't you look up the history of the Republican Party, including what happened to it after Barry Goldwater lost. What the "Republican Party" stands for today was no accident - it was "engineered". Look up Joe Coors and some of the initial documents of the Heritage Foundation. There was a purposeful attack on the Republican Party by the right wing nuts after Goldwater lost and they have succeeded beyond their wildest imaginations! They purposely went after the "white crackers" and the fundamentalists and then began a propaganda campaign the likes no one has ever seen before.
Here's the Republican Party Platform of 1960. Why don't you compare it to the Republican Party Platform of 2012?
The Republican Party of today has NO likeness AT ALL to the party of Eisenhower, Nixon, and Rockefeller! All that exists of that old party is the name!
Well, I still can't post links so just search Google for "Republican Party Platform for 1960". You'll find it!
Yer'a'nut Baien.
The descendants of the Democrats of slavery days are Republicans today. In my long life, I have heard very few modern Republicans praise the name of Abe Lincoln, the first Republican President, and arguably the greatest President of all. Traditionally both parties had their bigots, but after the Civil Rights acts of the 1960s, the Republicans actively welcomed bigots into their camp.
Could be that all the old racist Dixiecrats are now in the Republican Party? If you can believe that change is actually happening, then you may see the light...
i guess the likes of robert byrd left the democrat party and joined the republican part? i think not. orville fabus a democrat refused to let little black kids go to school it was a republican president who took over the national gaurd and forced the racist democrats in little rock to let those children into the school. it was the dems that filibustered the 1964 civil rights act. it was a republican president that freed the slaves. and yet the likes of robert byrd 4th in line to the presidency for years was a democrat until just several years ago up until his death. this idea that the democrats just all of sudden changed like magic is laughable. keep denying facts and truth...
Yep, and if that party still existed, I would be voting Republican instead of Democrat!
I am normally impressed by the astute observations of the tin foil crowd at MSNBC. Particularly the pedantic stylings of Rachel Maddow. Why has nobody cottoned on to the fact that the GOP has no interest in focusing on the economy. They have thrown, like fairy dust into the air, the notion that Mitt Romney’s business background makes him ideally suited to fix the economy. They have provided no specifics and it is not in their best interests to do so. As Gov. Romney himself has said, “I’m not going to say exactly what I’m going to do because I will get attacked for it.” (my paraphrase) The Romney campaign wants to leave the fairy dust notion to float, as self-evident, in the background and use distraction politics until election day. The pundits are all saying, “any day that the Romney campaign is not talking about the economy is a day lost to the GOP.” In reality, any day that the Romney campaign spends on trivialities is another day they will not get pinned down on their economic policies. If they can just play whack-a-mole on trivial issues, then nobody will pay attention to “the man behind the curtain.” Gov. Romney does not have to defend Rep. Ryan’s economic plan because he is running on his own plan. He does not have to provide any specifics about his own plan if the media fails to ask him about it because they are focused on the more prurient issues. Does anybody think through why Gov. Romney has not released his tax returns? (And who tipped off Harry Reid?) Why has the GOP blundered to badly on birth control? Isn’t it fascinating how the GOP is shooting themselves in the foot on the abortion issue. While the DNC is busy giggling about the “clown show” being perpetrated by the Romney campaign, they have overlooked his Achilles heel, his lack of a credible economic plan. If the main issue before the electorate is who can best deliver an economic recovery then the choice will be between the record of 8%+ unemployment for the President and a businessman’s unvetted economic fairy dust which nobody has debunked. 51-49 and pick-em.
I am normally impressed by the astute observations of the tin foil crowd at MSNBC. Particularly the pedantic stylings of Rachel Maddow. Why has nobody cottoned on to the fact that the GOP has no interest in focusing on the economy. They have thrown, like fairy dust into the air, the notion that Mitt Romney’s business background makes him ideally suited to fix the economy. They have provided no specifics and it is not in their best interests to do so. As Gov. Romney himself has said, “I’m not going to say exactly what I’m going to do because I will get attacked for it.” (my paraphrase) The Romney campaign wants to leave the fairy dust notion to float, as self-evident, in the background and use distraction politics until election day. The pundits are all saying, “any day that the Romney campaign is not talking about the economy is a day lost to the GOP.” In reality, any day that the Romney campaign spends on trivialities is another day they will not get pinned down on their economic policies. If they can just play whack-a-mole on trivial issues, then nobody will pay attention to “the man behind the curtain.” Gov. Romney does not have to defend Rep. Ryan’s economic plan because he is running on his own plan. He does not have to provide any specifics about his own plan if the media fails to ask him about it because they are focused on the more prurient issues. Does anybody think through why Gov. Romney has not released his tax returns? (And who tipped off Harry Reid?) Why has the GOP blundered to badly on birth control? Isn’t it fascinating how the GOP is shooting themselves in the foot on the abortion issue. While the DNC is busy giggling about the “clown show” being perpetrated by the Romney campaign, they have overlooked his Achilles heel, his lack of a credible economic plan. If the main issue before the electorate is who can best deliver an economic recovery then the choice will be between the record of 8%+ unemployment for the President and a businessman’s unvetted economic fairy dust which nobody has debunked. 51-49 and pick-em.
Because you are an idiot? Move on to the 21st century, if you can.
so let me get this straight- Romney is flip flopping again on his flip flog and is now saying that the people he supports he doesn't really support???? that you shouldn't believe what he has said? So now add the base to the groups of people who do not benefit with a Romney administration (adding to middle class, women, minorities, elderly, children...) Really, who is left, who does he represent for real?
Re: #2
"Follow the money"
Mitt Romney has been bought by and will represent the ultra-wealthy.
hes not flip flopping... like obama does with debt ceiling, gay marriage, lobbyists in his administration, transparency, guantanamo bay, the ending the wars... as obama so eloquently puts it, his postion has "evolved"
Isn't it interesting how the democrats try to paint the republicans as racist when in fact, historically the democrartic party IS the party of slavery and also the KKK. Search wikipedia. MLK was a republican, Abraham Lincoln, a republican. The republican party has done more to help and the democraric partry has done more to hurt and the dems do what they do to buy blocks of votes... minorities, unions...
@Baien Re:#1 and #3
The last time I got into a discussion about this topic I learned that, while there is some truth to the statement that Democrats fought against civil rights, it was really more a geographic difference than a party difference. It was North vs South rather than Republican vs Democrat.
To stick to your claim, you have to ignore the changes in positions that the two major parties have undergone since the 1960s.
Let's think for a minute about your last statement:
" the dems do what they do to buy blocks of votes ... minorities, unions..."
What do you mean by "buy". If you mean that the Democrats support policies that benefit minorities and workers, than I guess that is true. And contradicts your claim that the Democrats "hurt" minorities.
Right now, if you look at who is doing the "buying", it is clear that the ultra-wealthy are buying the Republican Party.
Baien it would be the same thing if the New York Jets had traded all their players to the Giants, and the Giants traded all their players to the Jets. That is what happened in 1965 with the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Only Jets fans now rooted for the Giants. Former Giants fans now rooted for the Jets.
Balen, you are correct in the sense that Southern Democrats used to be the racist party that fought the passage of the Voting Rights Act, just as Christians used to be the terrorists that invaded the middle east killing Muslims in the name of God. Democrats are now the party that is more open to minorities and more interested in protecting the rights of minorities, women and the middle and poorer classes. It is the Republicans that want to now repeal the Voting Rights Act. It is NOW the Republicans that have engaged in both obvious and "dog whistle" racists tactics, including the out right attempt to sin elections by suppressing the vote (which makes me sick to my stomach). So your history may be correct, but it has no bearing on the present sad state of the Republican Party.
Avik Roy said:
“I think it is a statement of what activists in the party, the consensus among activists in the party believe should be the core of activist conservatism,” Roy said. “But that is different from what a candidate who is appealing to the center of the country is going to try to do.”
To put it mildly, this is a bunch of bat-poop crazy BS.
The Republican party platform restates EXACTLY what the Republicans have ACTUALLY done on the state level and tried to do at the national level.
Any candidate that tried to "appeal to the center" never made it through the primaries.
Don't just believe what the candidates "say" they want to do. Look at the actual records.
The Republicans - in 2010 - ran on "jobs, jobs, jobs" and what the policies they supported are what is in the Republican Party Platform.
The "core of activist conservatism" has control of the Republicans to a degree that does not allow exceptions.
If that is what you want - then vote for the Republicans.
I don't. Obama/Biden 2012!!
Exactly spot on, maphi. And I'd like to add: This is really unbelievable! Romney is actually saying NOW that "whatever the Republican Party decides is its platform this week, that's not MY platform". Does he actually expect anyone with half a brain cell to believe that utter crap? Everyone knows the tea party fringe has him squarely by the balls and he would enact their policy in a heartbeat. Ryan is the candidate here, not Romney, let's make no mistake about that. Romney is nothing but a puppet.
It is empty logic that Avik Roy says that the official Republican Party Platform is the platform of the party's fringe activists and not that of the mainstream party. Why would it be passed as the "Republican Party Platform" rather that the quack extreme "Activist Republican Platform" as implied by Roy. Republicans are unable to accept the fact that they are who they are. They take extreme positions that are known to be unwelcome by the great majority of Americans and then step back with their sheepish grins and blame their public position on the "fringe" or the "activists." Either own it or not, but quit trying to hold yourself out as "reasonable" when you darn well know that you are not.
Man, Michael Steele. Not only only is he so sick of trying to defend this GOP garbage, he's given up even dressing up for the occasion.
Michael Steele needs to just give it up and come on over to the Big Blue Tent. Plenty of room, and he seems like a pretty decent guy who, lately, has done more to defend Dem ideals than back his own republican party. I think he's finding it more and more difficult to defend their batchittiness.
You just have to love Michael Steele, don't you? Even when he was the Party Chairman, he had a tough, tough job hanging on as a reasonable traditional GOP republican that happened to be born with black skin. I think he's great. He represents what the party used to be, difficult but reasonable. I would welcome him if he were to decide to pass over from the dark side, but I sure do enjoy him where he is. There are so few good representatives of a reasonable GOP. Steele Rocks! Shibble, shibble!
It's too bad the xenophobic, anti-women, anti-science GOP majority do not watch UP or believe anything from MSNBC, even when it's their own GOP party officials and advisors being video-quoted.
Here's clear evidence their candidate would throw their party platform under the bus, yet they're not here to see it. (Oh, maybe Mitt will be reaching for that solid-gold Etch-A-Sketch in an hour.)
Chris compared Romney's "off-handed" birther remark to Obama (hypothetically) poking fun at Romney's Mormon belief in magic underwear. While I agree such a personal remark would be impolitic or inappropriate, beneath Obama, I don't think it's inappropriate for the rest of us to ask: "Why are we considering a candidate who believes in magic underwear?" This is 2012, not 1212. For that matter, why do we consider candidates who believe in the virgin birth or worse, the Rapture? I'm in the Dawkins, Harris, Hitchen's camp and wonder why we bother to differentiate between the literalist beliefs of Bush, Bachmann, Romney, or Akin. Sure, they're entitled to their medievalism, but allowing them into office... And if we elect these anti-rationalists, why are we at war with our fellow fundamentalists overseas? Oh right, because their magic underwear, magic virgins, and death-cult Rapture differ from ours.
I have zero use for organized religion myself; don't care if others embrace it as long as they don't shove it down my throat. But....I just have to really wonder....how on earth are all these fundies and super-religious folks wrapping their brains around the fact that Mitt Romney believes Jesus Christ is Satan? I mean, really?!?
While I am no fan of the Mormon religion, I think we all ought to keep in mind that other religions have "sacred garments" also. Why do Catholic Nuns wear habits? Why do priests wear collars? Why do Jewish men wear yarmulkes or talits, why do Muslim women wear scarves or more, etc.....
it isn't the "magic underwear" that frightens me, it is the secrecy and the complete disrespect for women.
Re:#7.2
I finally got around to finding out what "magic underwear" is.
According to wikipedia, these are "sacred garments" that must always be worn. But unlike the ones you listed - nun's habits, priests collars, yarmulkes or head scarves - they are not visible to anyone else.
You could add wedding rings - another outward sign of a sacred vow.
Having a constant - private - reminder of commitments and doing what is right - I'm thinking they might be on to something!
Reminds me of the passages in the New Testament instructing us to pray in private. (and - no - I don't know these by heart - had to look them up)
Matthew 6:5
"When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get."
Matthew 6:6
"But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."
Given this information, I think everyone should just SHUT THE H**L UP about these garments.
------------------
http:/ /en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_garment
{delete space between first two //} emphasis added
According to the LDS Church, the temple garments serve a number of purposes. First, the garment provides the member "a constant reminder" of the covenants they made in the temple. Second, the garment "when properly worn...provides protection against temptation and evil". Wearing the garment is also "an outward expression of an inward commitment" to follow Jesus Christ. General authority Carlos E. Asay adds that the garment "strengthens the wearer to resist temptation, fend off evil influences, and stand firmly for the right."
-------------------
I wonder if they are "comfortable". Nothing worse than having your knickers in a knot!!
As a St. Pete/Tampa resident I thought Mayor Buckhorn acquitted himself better than most national politicians. And while I was aware of the historical biases that inform the land-use debates, I really hadn't considered how infused with culture-war ideology the urban versus suburban planning/funding debate is. Gov. Scott refused federal funds for light rail. Why? Is this attitude a principled stand against spending and big government? Or is light rail, mass transit simply an affront to a preferred lifestyle of imagining that policy dedicated to non-progress is perfectly sustainable?
It’s hard to believe there are Americans who STILL vote for Republicans. I’m convinced this phenomenon is mass insanity caused by psychological warfare. AM Radio Free Conservative and that terrorist cell at FOX News perpetrated the most successful brainwashing of a target population in the history of ideological buzz. The FBI and Homeland Security really let the American PEOPLE down on this case of seditious UN-AMERICAN activities. See actspo.blogspot.com
EXAMPLE:
The Tea Party has all but disappeared because of SHAME! These Conservative rubes realized they got played for fools by a bunch of silver spoon trust fund babies. Can you imagine? After the Bush/Cheney catastrophe, Tea Baggers still believed the GOP was working for their best interests. The Republican Corporate Ho Party used Conservative voters like a $10.00 meth whore. (right Ted Haggard) lol
Not only that, but you pathetic morons wanted Democrats/Progressives to believe if only Conservatism had one more chance it can work? The very definition of insanity, isn’t IT? Over and over AGAIN! Just separate yourselves from the Bush/Cheney DISASTER… bull$#!~ MISINFORMED people into believing they’re part of a NEW Conservative Movement. In reality right wing imbeciles never learned the new boss is same as the old boss… The 2010 election was an affront to GOD and everything the USA stands for.
In OTHER WORDS Republican Party talking points are based on the ignorance of their constituents. They revise history and LIE because they CAN… because morons who vote for Republicans DON’T KNOW THEIR OWN HISTORY! This ain’t NO Tea Party… it’s a full scale CLASS WAR and all the silver spoon, trust fund babies like Mitt Romney are kicking the American PEOPLE’s @$$.
The Billionaire Aristocrats and their Republican Party flunkies have a LOT TO ANSWER FOR! These vain, self-serving, power-mad, greed stricken silver spoon con artists have turned the USA into the United Suckers of America.
Reagan/Bush killed ANTI-TRUST and any regulation that kept industry HONEST. When Reagan/Bush came to power, the USA was #1 on the planet in exporting goods and importing raw materials. This is the very definition of a prosperous economy. By 2006, it is the exact opposite. Why? Years of Republicans selling out the American middle class, that’s why. The Bush’s and a Republican Controlled Congress (1994-2006) gave it up for a very few wealthy families.
And what did these elitists DO? Stall new technology, steal pension funds, move to China, India, Mexico. THIS while paying for those high priced, patriotic commercials, WE LOVE THE USA, THIS IS OUR COUNTRY, etc. BS! (when I snap my fingers you‘ll wake happy and refreshed… lol)
I think we need to focus on those in the TOP 1% Koch Bros, Sheldon Adelson, Bob Perry, Diane Hendricks, Rich Devos, Foster Friess, Louis Moore, Trevor Rees-Jones, and those rich @$$holes on the Council for National Policy. Let’s not forget the Neo-Con, War Profiteering, banking scandal, Bush Crime Family types along with their flunkies such as the Mitt Romney, Scott Walker, Rick Scott types.
An American Aristocracy, who made their fortunes on the backs of American workers… The water, air and wealth of resources used to manufacture the goods. The brain power and innovation, with American ingenuity, technology, ideas… using infrastructure paid for by the American taxpayer… And how did they repay us? The silver spoon, trust fund baby m’f***er’s moved all our jobs to Asia/Mexico, fouled our environment with stuff that would make a bill goat puke and turned our politicians into a stable of high priced prostitutes.
It used to be called bribery, collusion and all those crimes covered by the RICO Act. How come they can get away with a white bred corporate crime wave of epic proportions but our jails are filled by pot smokers? WHY IS THAT? These Wall Street guys ruined our economy with their ALEC, reckless policies, deregulation and “Citizens United” so why aren’t the American PEOPLE standing up to them? WHY AREN’T THE FED’S PROSECUTING? WHERE’S THE IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIVE NEWS REPORTS documenting the outrage?
It’s up to the PEOPLE to focus on those billionaires at their meetings such as the Koch Bros, rich @$$hole Convention in San Diego. These are the true enemies of the our beloved USA who want to do a “Citizens United”, hostile takeover of everything Americans hold dear about our great country and turn the average American into a low wage, debt slave. Ask Mitt Romney why he’s meeting with scandal laden bankers, hedge fund swindlers and other crafty special interests IN LONDON?
Conservatives are insane, you pathetic bunch of brainwashed fools! Here’s the thing Conservatives/Republicans have yet to grasp. Sure we’re fighting war on terror (allegedly) at the front door but you people left the back door open to economic terrorists. Remember the COLD WAR? Remember our former enemy those Red Commie pukes? How much did we spend to fight them, TRILLIONS? AND WHAT BECAME OF THAT? The rich guys decided to sell the American worker out to the Commies. Communist China now owns a third of our national debt. Thanks for NOTHING m’#*@/r’s!
AMERICANS WHO VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POOR VOTING CHOICES!
And there is a growing number of sane, moderate Republicans on the American scene. Progressives must help the other poor dumb neo-con *****’s along at cyberbitchslap2.blogspot.com
© 2012 by SPQR
Ohhh and I forgot:
The RNC in Tampa a good time for GOP, like Minneapolis 2008 most popular hangout was Larry Craig’s airport Men’s room ooolala
Guest Sophia Nelson spoke about Romney not having a minority advisor sitting in his kitchen everyday telling him about important minority issues, but what she was really trying to do is place the blame on minorities for not stepping up within the Republican party to take on these roles. All of your guest were minorities representing the republican party and it is obvious they aren't being listened to either because it is not the intent of the party to truly represent minorities; they simply want their vote.
this guest was on real time with bill maher and the over time segment he came out that he was a total climate change non believer and so why was he on this show today??
rule 1 for chris hayes, no climate deniers.....watch bill maher's over time from Friday. are climate denier's now allowed on the show??
Yet another *have it both ways* and *trust us* example. The first kind of makes the second impossible.
Very interesting discussion today, as usual.
I just want to reinforce something that was discussed in two different ways on today's show: first Chris re-iterated his position that there is no empirical evidence that the Republicans will act in a financially responsible way, and second, the professor who was brought in late made a comment about how the Democrats have taken on the role of tax collectors for the tax-cut state.
I say: the Democratic party is the Conservative party of America. The Republicans like to use the word "conservative" but show NO indication of knowing what it means. The Democrats are clearly the financial conservatives. There was even a discussion early in the show about how the Republican position on abortion is IN NO WAY "small government conservative". How is a state-mandated vaginal probe a "small government" rallying cry? They Republicans also want to change the US Constitution (as un-conservative a thing as there can be) to make certain kinds of religious ceremonies illegal, just because they don't want to let gay people get married.
So any real "conservative" Republicans should vote for the real conservative this Fall: Barack Obama.
If Roy is dismissive, then the yahoos are as well. Norquist's now famous quip is that the only requirement for a GOP President is that they are breathing and can sign their name. So the White House can flatter itself all it wants about who does and does not have "purchase". The President will sign the bills that appear on his desk, and that is all that will be required of him.
With a two party duopoly on power and with the party planks being utterly unacceptable to citizens of the opposing parties, what agency does a citizen and by extension their elected officials really have?
What of the other activists? Libertarians and the true left have been effectively silenced in their parties, and have every reason to feel that the system is rigged to exclude consideration of their views. Since reform of the duopolistic electoral system something the parties will never allow, it is time that the disaffected activists press for a mechanism that can perform an end run around the parties:
An amendment instituting national binding referendums. With this tool, the pathway would be a constitutional amendment referendum to eliminate the electoral college and make all national office elected by preferential voting.
It seems a reasonable conclusion that the the Romney campaign is conveying different stories depending on the audience to make it sound like they are every demographics best friend. For the Fox crowd red meat from Romney and Ryan, for the msnbc crowd a surrogate claiming Romney doesn't care about the hardcore GOP base. The Romney campaign is literally speaking out of both sides of its mouth.
It also seems likely their true goal is to continue the GOP assault on civil rights, the middle class, medicare, social security, and women's rights.
I think I finally figured out the current Republican party mindset. At about 03:40 into the third clip, Michael Steele says this - and I'm pretty I sure I have the quote correct. He is speaking in the context of a discussion as to whether or not Mr. Aiken, in his 'legitimate rape' gaffe was caught in a moment of 'honesty'.
Michael Steele: "Yeah, I think there is a lot of truth to the idea of being honest."
For today's Republicans everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is defined by 'political weight'. Air, Gravity, Life, God, Children, Health, Energy, etc. These are merely political terms; they have no meaning or purpose beyond their political significance.
The discussion with Corey Robin regarding the deficit made me realize that even with the real bright and educated guys Chris gets on the show, the truth of republicans views and strategy regarding deficits is still hiding in plain site. It is called the "Two-Santa Theory" and first appeared in the National Observer on March 6, 1976 and was written by Jude Wanniski, a 70's convert to Supply-Side-ism.
Wanniski said that the repubs were seen by the electorate as the party of reduced spending and 'fiscal responsibility' while offering NO help to working and middle class Americans. Dems were the 'tax & spenders', the Santa Claus party. ONLY dems proposed and passed legislation that helped workers, the poor and middle class while the repubs tended to transfer wealth UP and away from these folks.
So he said that when repubs got into office, they should have as many big of tax cuts as they could get, running the deficit as high as possible, giving some small portion to working folks, but most importantly, RUN UP THE DEFICIT and pay off their base. This would force the dems to clean up their mess (be the adults) when they inevitably got back in office, forcing them to abandon most if not all their planned social spending or tax cuts. The dems become the anti-Santas (See Reagan/Bush V Bill Clinton, Shrub V Barak Obama!).
This is the repub strategy – they have no interest in balancing any budget UNLESS there is a dem (who they consider illegitimate by definition) in the White House.
For more info, see
and
Chris Hayess grow some real balls not fake MSNBC balls owned by Comcast
Have the Corrie parents on. You will not be sorry.
Even Huffington Post (USAToday/People magazine type site) covered this story
Rachel Corrie Verdict: Court Rules Israel Not At Fault In U.S. Activist's Death
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/28/rachel-corrie-verdict_n_1835303.html?show_comment_id=181536449#comment_181536449
Mondoweiss has the most up about this. Come on Chris have the Corrie parents on.
Cindy Corrie following the verdict: ‘I don’t think that Rachel should have moved. I think we should all have been standing there with her.’
http://mondoweiss.net/2012/08/cindy-corrie-following-the-verdict-i-dont-think-that-rachel-should-have-moved-i-think-we-should-all-have-been-standing-there-with-her.html
Every body could figure out that the "flip flopper" of all time appointed Ryan so that he could move back to the center. It is pathetic to look at the Republican Party platform and believe that Romney does not intend to pay off on it. When you are trying to play both ends against the middle and the ends are so far apart, it looks pretty dumb and frankly, dishonest. When is some one going to stand up and simply say you're lying, end the interview and then hum for a few minutes, while we all have a good laugh.