A reader writes:
All of that money, all of those highly-paid advisors, years of preparation … and the best response that Mitt Romney’s team can come up with for one of our society’s biggest issues sounds like the words coming from a Jerry Springer guest being booed offstage: "Y’all are just jealous!"
Another writes:
It wasn't too long ago that Romney, in anticipation of the general, expressed his concern for the middle class and, explicitly, his lack of concern for the future prospects of the already-rich: "I'm not worried about rich people. They are doing just fine." And now, in responding to Newt, he has taken the bait and full-throatedly claimed the mantle of defender of Wall Street. Not too savvy, and somewhat reminiscent of Obama's "clinging to guns and religion" gaffe. It's not a game-changer, as Obama's error wasn't, but it reinforces certain preconceived notions and makes the fires in the Democratic camp burn more brightly.
Another:
I've been thinking about this for a few weeks, and it really crystalized with the video you posted earlier, in which Romney accuses his opponents of envy. Mitt Romney's fundamental electoral problem is that he comes off as a complete asshole.
He's got all the characteristic asshole qualities: a dismissive, contemptuous attitude towards rivals; lack of any evident feeling or empathy; a completely transparent willingness to say whatever voters want to hear in any given situation; arrogance; untrustworthyness; smarminess – you name it, he exudes it.
To a certain degree, I imagine nearly all politicians are assholes, but the successful ones find a way to deflect it. Obama is very good with self-depreciation. Dubya had a down home, "have a beer with him" demeanor. Clinton exuded warmth and interest. Romney just comes off like a prick in a suit and hasn't found any way that I've seen to exhibit any self-awareness around this.
At a time in which people are angry and frustrated, this dude is wearing a "kick me" sign and doesn't seem to know it. Can you imagine anyone thinking, "That Mitt Romney, he really cares about us"? That is why the Bain stuff is so devastating – it gives a form to this rather evident but hard to pin down quality about him: that he seems like just a total asshole.
The Dish 