Kudlow: Don't Judge Romney By Unfortunate Video
By: Mitt Romney is much more the victim than the villain !
That was the takeaway from Larry Kudlow's conversation with one of Romney's closest advisors, Ed Gillespie on The Kudlow Report.
Gillespie spoke candidly in response to the firestorm of controversy generated by a recently surfaced video that was secretly recorded at a fundraiser on May 17th.
Published by a political news organization called Mother Jones, the Romney video shows the GOP presidential candidate making rather callous remarks about Obama voters.
But according to Gillespie, nobody should be outraged. The comments have to be considered in context.
Romney was at fundraiser - a private function - held in the home of a private equity manager. He was trying to fund his campaign.
What he was trying to do is explain how he planned to capture swing voters. “We’re going to have to fight over 6% of the vote,” said Gillespie. That’s what Governor Romney meant. And the language that he used was intended to drive that point.
However they way in which Romney made his point was awkward at best, admits Larry Kudlow. Romney said that himself. "It's not elegantly stated. Let me put it that way," Romney said in response.
Perhaps the most conroversial remark follows.
"My job is not to worry about those people,” Romney said..” I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives. What I have to do is convince the 5 to 10 percent in the center that are independents," he said to potential donors.
Romney went on to call Obama supporters freeloaders who pay no taxes and who think government should take care of them.
However both Ed Gillespie and Larry Kudlow say the unfortunate video and these unfortunate comments are just that – unfortunate.
“Governor Romney has a substantial plan to help the middle class. The bigger issue here is how to get people into jobs,” said Gillespie. That’s what America needs. “Specifics are coming in the days ahead.”
(Click here to go to Mother Jones – “SECRET VIDEO: Romney Tells Millionaire Donors What He REALLY Thinks of Obama Voters.”)
Tune in:
"The Kudlow Report" airs weeknights at 7 p.m. ET.
