That said, he's not doing too badly either. The reason for this isn't the economy, gas prices, the employment rate, or anything else that pundits normally call out in a presidential race. No, the reason is money and disenfranchisement.
Romney has out-raised and is outspending Obama campaign-for-campaign; the margin isn't huge, but it is significant. Much more importantly, however, is that outside spending is 3-to-1 in favor of Romney... 3-to-1. That Romney is even in shooting distance of Obama, and he most certainly is, is because of the triumph of money in politics. Whether Romney will actually win is still unknown, but that he even has the chance is absolute proof of the overwhelming power of big money in our elections.
What may ultimately give Romney the election, however, is the wholesale removal of registered voters in swing states, all by Republican officials targeting traditionally Democratic-leaning constituencies. These are a modern "poll tax" and their only purpose is to disenfranchise legitimate voters. We as a nation should feel nothing but burning shame.
If Romney wins, he will have both bought and stolen the election. God, I hope he doesn't for all of our sakes on so many levels.
18 September 2012
19 September 2012 Addition: First from Stephen Colbert:
And now Jon Stewart, part 1:
Part 2:
20 September 2012 Addition of another Jon Stewart moment:
21 September 2012 Addition from SNL. It's funny because it's true.
Paul Krugman also wrote a good op-ed in the NY Times. Titled Disdain for Workers, he lays out how Romney's words are not a "slip," but rather a concise description of the Republican party's feelings towards workers. From the op-ed:
For the fact is that the modern Republican Party just doesn’t have much respect for people who work for other people, no matter how faithfully and well they do their jobs. All the party’s affection is reserved for “job creators,” a k a employers and investors. Leading figures in the party find it hard even to pretend to have any regard for ordinary working families — who, it goes without saying, make up the vast majority of Americans.
Am I exaggerating? Consider the Twitter message sent out by Eric Cantor, the Republican House majority leader, on Labor Day — a holiday that specifically celebrates America’s workers. Here’s what it said, in its entirety: “Today, we celebrate those who have taken a risk, worked hard, built a business and earned their own success.” Yes, on a day set aside to honor workers, all Mr. Cantor could bring himself to do was praise their bosses.
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