The last thing we should do is take Obama out of context, especially when his own words can be used so effectively against him. But that’s exactly what Romney did in his new TV ad. Note the line where Obama says “if we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose”. Sure, it looks right and is even something that is true. Except that Obama said it back in 2008 when he was mocking McCain, blaming McCain for the economy:
HUFFPO – The Romney campaign dismissed the criticism, saying it clearly addressed the issue of Obama’s language in a press release and blog post accompanying the new ad, which is slated to run for a week starting Tuesday.
“Three years ago, candidate Barack Obama mocked his opponent’s campaign for saying ‘if we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose,'” wrote Romney’s communications director Gail Gitcho. “Now, President Obama’s campaign is desperate not to talk about the economy. Their strategy is to wage a personal campaign — or ‘kill Romney.’ It is a campaign of distraction.”
Even if you feel, as the Romney team does, that it’s well within bounds, because it is out of context it creates this unnecessary drama and smells of dishonesty to people who don’t pay much attention to it.
What do you think?
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