(Not) Continued
Today, I was going to talk about what Obama and Romney needed to do to earn my (undecided) vote. But since yesterday, so many articles have reported "candid Romney" saying he doesn't care about the poor - and how that video "leak" is a game-changer for undecideds (like me).
As a "persuadable", let me tell you that the "gaffe" does not affect me. And here's why:
Immunity to negative campaigning
Evidently, negative campaign ads work. I guess that's how 90% of America has already decided. But us remaining 10% won't become decided when we see another negative campaign ad, message or gaffe.
Romney: I like to fire people (when they don't do a good job)
Obama: If you have a small business, you didn't build that (street that connects you to your clients.)
Us "Deciding 10%" haven't been swayed by those "previous gaffes", and we're not swayed by this one either.
Romney: I don't want the votes of poor people (who are too lazy to work for the benefits offered by my presidency which will reward hard workers.)
Nothing new
If anything, the gaffe will reinforce people who've already decided on both sides.
Republican: I'm so glad I'm going to vote for Romney, he really does want to reward hard workers!
Democrat: First Ryan pushes grannies off cliffs, now Romney admits he doesn't care about the poor!
As for undecideds like me, we already know that Romney (and Obama) are going for a 51% win. It's the smart thing to do - that's why Obama isn't campaigning in Texas, and Romney isn't campaigning in Illinois.
You might say: But this isn't geographic discrimination, this is class discrimination!
Which brings me to:
The real gaffe
The real gaffe is Romney's manipulation - telling people numbers that they want to hear/what is most helpful to Romney. (Like "23 million" unemployed at the RNC, when it's like 13 million unemployed, and 10 million "underemployed.)
The "hidden video" wouldn't be notable at all if Romney said: "I don't care about the 13% who don't pay income taxes, because my tax cuts aren't going to help them."
Instead, Romney said "47% are victims." He (probably) said this to a wealthy (potential) donor who said "I'm not going to give you money unless you've got 75% support!" So Romney had to manipulate the donor and say "I'm not going to get 75% of the vote, because 47% will automatically vote for Obama, because they're not as smart/hard-working as you are!"
Obama uses "fake numbers" as convenient too. And I'm sure he tells wealthy donors what they want to hear to. ("Why don't I get more votes in Texas? Well, those Texans like their guns too much.") And actually, Obama has had his "manipulations unknowingly recorded" gaffe in this election already. (Telling the Russian president "I'll have more flexibility after the election.")
Conclusion
So I'm actually glad that both Romney and Obama have had their "unknown recorded" gaffes - that's what they get for trying to manipulate people instead of just being honest.
Some day, there will be a candidate who has a good plan, and does NOT need to manipulate people. That day is NOT during this current election. Until that day comes, like most undecideds, I'm going to vote for the candidate who has the better plan. (Which will hopefully come out during the debates.)
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