Advisers Say Romney Will Show Empathy In Debate

[RandySF]

The Romney campaign believes their candidate needs to show empathy with Americans' economic troubles in the first presidential debate Wednesday, advisers to Mitt Romney told National Review. In debate prep, Romney has practiced coming across as personable and may share stories from the trail about people who have been hit hard during the recession.

From National Review:

Romney’s advisers have a simple strategy: They want their candidate to balance his finely tuned arguments with personal warmth. Since Romney is a reserved man, his advisers acknowledge that it will be difficult for him to endear himself to the country, especially under the hot studio lights. But they consider it critical. “This is really about introducing him to the country,” a Romney adviser says. “It’s the largest audience he has ever had. Everybody’s watching.”

During prep sessions in Vermont this past month, Romney has worked tirelessly on the stylistic aspect of his presentation, and Romney’s advisers predict that the former Massachusetts governor will come across as both presidential and empathetic. Rather than fire off brusque retorts, as he often did during primary debates, Romney will take care “to speak in paragraphs about the economy,” a second aide says.



http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/advisers-say-romney-will-show-empathy-in-debate

[lapislzi]

1. Oh, did they work out the bugs in the "empathy" chip?

Would be more funny if it shorted out.

To appear empathic, one must actually experience empathy, and I do not think Willard is capable of this.

[Whovian]

3. +1

[n2doc]

12. Willard is gonna be more "Lore" than "Data"

For those who aren't familiar with Star Trek the new generation, Data was the android officer on the Enterprise who could not feel emotion (at least until the end), while Lore was his nearly twin brother prototype, who could feel emotion but was an insane psychopath.

[Erose999]

47. If Romney is Lore, does that make Ryan the "crystalline entity"? The analogy works for me, lol.

[Volaris]

91. OMG hahahaha can we hijack this thread, and just do this all night?

[treestar]

14. +1

Not going to work. Mittens would be faking it and the President would not.

[Arkana]

35. Seriously, empathy is not something that's taught.

You either have it or you don't, and Mitt doesn't have it.

[reformist2]

62. Message: I Care

[loyalsister]

79. Something like that maybe

I bet they have had his (best?) bishop moments gathered and constantly repeated as part of his practice.

[Cha]

87. Excellent!

TouFreakingChe'!

[redwitch]

2. He has been practicing empathy too?

No wonder he looks so tired!

[lapislzi]

6. This is hard!

YOU try feeling empathy for the Great Unwashed.

[woo me with science]

42. I found his training tape:

Actual corporate presentation on how to make empathetic facial expressions for customers, from Best Buy:

[renate]

54. awesome find!

It just makes me giggle to think of Romney being taught to express a human emotion--because I do not doubt at all that something like this was part of his debate prep.

[Ganja Ninja]

50. No he's been practicing keeping a straight face.

That's the best he can muster.

[marmar]

4. ........

[flamingdem]

15. +1 haw!

[surrealAmerican]

5. How will that work?

"I feel so bad for those poor folks that I'm going to cut their food stamps and give myself another tax cut."

[slampoet]

7. He will also demonstrate his sense of Smell and prove he has Taste Buds

[tularetom]

8. How the hell is he going to combine "empathy" and "zingers"?

It's almost enough to get me to watch the debate.

But not quite.

[Donkees]

13. Combine empathy and zingers...

...he's working on a Bill Clinton impersonation

[DemzRock]

53. Ah feel your pain, but to do anything about it...

would be a pain in mah wallet, and Obama is a Muslim!

ZIIIIIING!

[Donkees]

55. Ah feel your pain...

...why don't you just go to the emergency room?

[Avalux]

9. They are so stupid....a person either has empathy or they don't.

I don't care how much Romney practices, memorizes....stands in front of the mirror making faces until he perfects a 'concerned' look....can't fake empathy.

[99Forever]

10. This is gonna be good.

I can hardly wait.

Talk about "epic fail" being written all over something.

[Happyhippychick]

11. As a therapist I find this absolutely chilling

The most important determinant of healthy relationships is a strong sense of empathy. This man is running for the highest office in the land and the fact that he has to practice to appear human is appalling on every level.

And it won't work. We heard his true self, his attempts to pretend he cares will fall flat. And I will be delighted when that happens.

[lapislzi]

16. (therapist name redacted)...is that you?

I secretly knew you were a DUer. Rock on, girl.

[Happyhippychick]

19. ?

How do I see something that is redacted?

[lapislzi]

26. I can't call you out if you're my actual therapist

Yanno, we're not supposed to "know" each other outside of therapy.

[Happyhippychick]

29. I'm not practicing at the moment so it's not me :)

Getting back to work in 2014 after being a SAHM since 2009.

[lapislzi]

33. Good luck.

My therapist and I are so alike it's scary. We were born on the same day. I don't know if that's good or not, but we have some deep discussions. I am a little sad that I can't ever be her friend.

[Happyhippychick]

64. I know exactly how you feel, I feel that with some of my patients.

Good luck to you too!

[Javaman]

38. What's your opinion on mittens being a sociopath? nt

[Happyhippychick]

65. It's hard to really know with a politician since they may be putting on a persona.

But he is a thoroughly detestable human being. That story of him cutting that boys hair off and putting the dog on the roof literally make me tear up. I have real contempt for those who pick on helpless creatures. At the very least he is arrogant and entitled and struggles with empathy. I diagnose him with asshole syndrome!

[riderinthestorm]

18. I'm not a therapist but I completely agree. Practice empathy?? WTF?? nt

[sdfernando]

77. Exactly!!

Empathy is an emotion. You can't practice it you have to feel it...and rMoney has never experienced empathy for anyone or anything so he has no reference point. It will be blatantly obvious that he is faking it. It will be a good performance to watch, kinda like a huge pileup on the freeway, all in slow motion.

[flamingdem]

17. I think it could work

Every human has the ability to observe and imitate. They probably showed him films and said, notice the crinkling eye and slight smile.

Question is which actor he'll be imitating, Reagan?

[jsr]

20. I say Romney will show his ass in debate

[OldDem2012]

21. Empathy for all Americans with car elevators? nt.

[Nye Bevan]

22. If he can fake empathy and sincerity,

pretend to have principles, and throw in some impeccably-timed "zingers", he really could win this thing.

[Ship of Fools]

84. That's a lot to fake, imo. Under hot stage lights (and believe me, they're HOT), even the

best prepared would have a heavy lift. This could be very entertaining!

[monmouth]

23. "This is really about introducing him to the country." Fer crissake we've been subjected to this

dude for what seems eons. It's like the drunk that keeps re-introducing someone you've met six times. This just won't work..sorry..

[cbdo2007]

24. He'll probably show "empathy" by handing out $100 bills to everyone in the audience.

[mstinamotorcity2]

25. They are going

to have to send out Somebody other than Mitt Romney. His problem is that when he was dissing out his 47% remarks to the $50,000 a plate dinner he led them in the perception that it was all minorities and poor people who were going to vote with this President no matter what. But because he and his Campaign won't be bound by fact checkers they forgot to check the facts. Duh!!!!! The Republican base woke up and realized it was them he was talking about. ( out of the top 10 states to receive some form of Government Assistance are the Republican States which make up quite a bit of the Republican Base. How Clueless can a Campaign really be??? No Mitt Romney really is out of touch. And he will Always be clueless. I better Stop It. I know its hard. Insulting your own base. Go Mitt Go!!!!!!!

[dawg]

27. Am I not merciful?

[BenzoDia]

28. Too late. 47% told us everything we needed to know. nt

[YankeyMCC]

30. So he's learning how to act like he cares

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

75. Exactly what I thought.

So he needs to go from a lousy candidate to a great actor. Tough transition to pull off.

[Ship of Fools]

85. See #84 -- we agree.

[spinbaby]

31. Empathy training?

How bizarre.

[BarackTheVote]

32. Been there, seen that...

every time he tries to "project empathy" he just comes off as a disingenuous snake oil salesman... and, yeah, it's a little late to "introduce" Romney. You can try to make us forget Bush, but it's too soon for most people to have forgotten about the 47% comment.

[Arkana]

34. Sorry guys, but Romney's firmware doesn't accept empathy chips.

[Sheepshank]

36. Romney doesn't even act/perform well

Pursing lips, cocking head to one side and blowing one's nose, isn't real empathy. It's bad acting.

[Javaman]

37. After reading just the title, I thought, "this has to be the onion".

sadly, it is not.

teaching a sociopath empathy is like teaching a dog geometry.

Ain't gonna happen.

At best it will come off as awkward and staged.

we should all look closely at the palm of his hand for "notes" on "emoting".

[Jennicut]

39. OMG. Rombot is so weird.

Showing emphaty? Practicing zingers? This is so...mechanical and robotic. Like Romney needs an upload of human emotion plus programmed zippy responses. It's kind of bizarre really. Rombot version 1,992,4355 needed fine tuning.

[Historic NY]

40. empathy with the poor 1% percenters.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

41. I didn't know empathy could be planned...

When I've felt it or shown it, it has always been spontaneous.

Programming empathy is sociopathic.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

44. Then mean, Mitt Romney will "FEIGN" empathy in the debate.

[hobbit709]

45. Will they spray it on like his tan?

[Spazito]

46. LOL, from what I have seen so far....

when Romney tried to show his 'empathy' it came across badly and only reminded everyone his 'empathetic' 47% comment.

He can try and walk that back but, imo, it won't work, everyone SAW him say it, heard the vitriol he spewed toward half the population with his 'they think they are ENTITLED to food'.

[Lisa D]

48. His empathy will come across as condescension.

And that's because he doesn't feel empathy--especially for the 47% who he believes "fail to take possibility for their own lives" and "feel like they're entitled to food, to shelter...."

Actually, I can only think of examples where he showed the opposite of empathy.

Look his response to LGBT people: "I didn't know you had families."

His response to a homeless woman asking for help after the flood in New Orleans: "Go home and call 211."

His response to a teacher he'd invited to a roundtable. When she tried to explain something to him, he cut her off with: "I didn't ask you a question."

Not sure this empathy gambit is going to work. You have to actually feel empathy before you can show it. Even worse for Romney, you have to make people believe it.

[laundry_queen]

76. That's my view exactly.

When someone tries to show empathy when they don't actually feel empathy that's exactly how they come off - as condescending.

[Johonny]

49. So he'll show me empathy but not his tax returns?

[DearAbby]

51. When you are still trying to convince people

he is a human being, 30 days out from the election...you have problems.

He had to prep on being empathic...that says a lot. HOURS AND HOURS of prepared text to give the appearance he has empathy....Sheeeeeeesh

[polichick]

52. Too fucking late and too fucking fake.

[The Second Stone]

56. Faking sincerity is hardest part

he's gotta do it for 90 minutes? With pre-fab answers and "zingers"? Bring it on.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

57. “This is really about introducing him to the country” a Romney adviser says.

I thought the Republican debates were about introducing himself to the country. Then I thought the RNC Convention was about introducing himself to the country. How many introductions does it take?

[msanthrope]

61. That fucker's been campaiging for over a decade....and this is his "introduction?" nt

[gkhouston]

66. As many as needed until someone's willing to shake his hand.

I ain't touching that.

[kiranon]

58. To show empathy, Romney would have to change his policies

and his life/business history. Retroactive empathy? Prospective empathy and I have a bridge to sell you.

[MatthewStLouis]

59. Ha ha ha! Maybe he'll bring some home baked cookies or something...

I think this empathy thing needs it own thread: "Ideas for how a cold fish like Mitt Rmoney can demonstrate empathy at the debate"

[MadrasT]

60. Oh, this is going to be *great*.

Fake empathy. Zingers. I can't wait.

[jmowreader]

63. Someone find out where Stan Winston is

Stan Winston is the Hollywood special effects genius who turned Arnold into the Terminator and built the dinos for the Jurassic Park franchise.

While I do not think Mitt Romney is a robot, I do think a robot shaped like Mitt would be capable of empathy. Mitt...not so.

The game plan for Wednesday: send out the Mittinator to debate Obama. Reviews on Thursday will highlight how Mitt wasn't as robotlike as usual.

[entanglement]

73. Sadly, Stan Winston died of cancer a few years ago. He was truly an SFX genius.

[jmowreader]

89. There must still be someone good...

Ve Neill was makeup department head on Hunger Games and a few of the Batman movies, Jake Garber did Hellboy and Morag Ross was makeup department head on The Aviator. Any one of the three could do Mitt Romney prosthetics on an actual human being, and that would be safer than sending the real Mitt Romney up against Obama.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

67. "I will now initiate humor while expressing mass quantities of empathy"

[CreekDog]

68. .

[Bake]

69. He can try it

But nobody's gonna buy it.

Bake

[ck4829]

70. I thought "empathy" was a codeword for "COMMUNISM!!1!" for righties

Everyone else remembers the confirmation process for Sotomayor, right?

[mikeytherat]

71. Mitt Romney's biggest problem is that he's Mitt Romney, and Mitt Romney is an unlikable asshole.

This sad little fact is underscored by Mitt's inability to open his mouth without being a dick.

Now, to any naysayers or partisans out there, notice I have not said one word about Mitt's politics, positions, or presidential passions - one must get past the "unlikable asshole" stench before anything else is discussed.

mikey_the_rat

[yellowcanine]

72. I guess we can expect a lot of forced fake smiles then.

The man doesn't appear to show empathy, even with his own family. How is it going to work to have him fake it now?

[porphyrian]

74. He's going to show empathy for the persecuted rich by promising them more tax cuts. n/t

[silvershadow]

78. What? Examples in a powerpoint slide? Is he going to channel Mother Teresa? Oh, brother. n/t

[haele]

80. They probably think "If Reagan could do it..."

But then, Reagan was a trained actor to some degree, and had quite a lot of experience playing the harmless, congenial honest working man that could possibly be viewed as being "empathetic" before he went into politics, so he was pretty decent at "winging" it on stage and sounding as if he knew and felt what he was talking about. He was also pretty much working class growing up, so he did have some experience with regular working people.

I don't think Mitt has the talent to create a persona and live within that "skin" of the average american for any length of time, let alone deal with the complexity of creating a concerned presidential leader of "the people" persona.
The only persona he's ever been able to pull off is the successful financier/executive. Not a role as a real businessman/business owner mind you, but as a rich guy who works with other rich guys and with money.

Acting is a talent - or at least a skill that takes lots of practice to pull off. I don't think Romeny has the time - or interest - to learn what he needs to learn to pull off the Reagan role I think his handlers want him to. I don't even think he has the time to learn to pull off GWB's bored goof-ball frat-boy personality.

Haele

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

81. I never understood why "there you go again" was considered brilliant

It sounds like something only a brain dead person would say when he has no other response.

[MrSlayer]

96. Somehow, that was political gold.

He implied that the President was a liar. Reagan was an actor and knew how to deliver a line and for some reason that four word sentence resonated mightily with the people.

Never mind that the statement Carter had just delivered was correct and important, never mind that Reagan offered no real substantive counter argument. He was able to dismiss Carter entirely and look good doing it. People didn't like Jimmy's harsh truths and preferred Reagan's sunny racist bullshit.

Your description gave me a good laugh though.

[progressivebydesign]

82. WTF? He has to fucking PRACTICE being empathetic??? Kick that ass to the curb.

Seriously... how messed up is that?

[frylock]

83. what is this emm-pa-thee you speak of?

[napkinz]

86. he's probably going to look in the camera

and mention the names of a soldier, a mom, a fireman, etc.

Then he'll address each of them saying what he wants to do to improve their lives (after he tells them how the president's policies had hurt them)

We're going to hear a lot of "I met with John G., a soldier who fought in Iraq, who lives in Ohio, and has been out or work."

"I met with Jane S, a mom, with two kids who blah blah blah."

Now the question I have, is how does President Obama respond to this [font size="3"]feigned[/font] empathy approach?

[baldguy]

88. Empathy can't be read off a teleprompter.

Or purchased with SuperPAC money.

[DearHeart]

90. You can't show empathy if you weren't born with that quality/trait!

And he certainly can't fake it...that overly, syrupy-sweet "sincerity" voice he uses, just makes me want to puke!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

92. Ok. Lemme see

If Romney shows up at the debate and shows us some "empathy", we can forget about the 47% remarks and presume that if elected he will have compassion and empathy for the 47% and make sure they are better taken care of than they would be under President Obama? Ok, jolly good. Move along. Nothing to see here.

[grantcart]

93. Do his advisors absolutely despise him or are they that stupid?

What is the point of telling people ahead of time that he is going to have zingers or that he is going to be empathetic?

It just completely undermines Romney's performance.

If he doesn't do it people will wonder what happened and if he does they will say it is practiced and insincere.

This group of advisors are the worst ever assembled for a campaign.

[VOX]

94. "I'm just plain folks. A regular Joe. A man of the people. I love 100% of Americans"...

"I want everyone to succeed, regardless of race, creed, national origin or sexual preference. I'll put a chicken in every pot -- I'll even issue chicken vouchers. Tax cuts for all. Love for family and Almighty God, loving master of everything, including America, still the greatest nation on Earth. I've got that can-do spirit. Jobs for all, provided by your best friends, big corporations, those heroic, long-suffering job creators. All needs of the infirm and elderly will be met. Love me, I deserve it. Trust me, no matter what I've said before. Ignore all that. I'm your man. So, you like my spray tan and white sidewalls? Huh? Am I cool and hip or what? See you at Chipotle, where I hang out all the time -- you saw the photos, right? God bless each and every one of you, and the United States of America, where the trees are all the right height. I'm Mitt Romney, and I really, truly, totally approve this message."

[SpartanDem]

95. With any luck his software update will work well as the maps in the new Iphone