How Should The President Respond To Romney's FEIGNED Empathy Approach?

[napkinz]

Romney is probably going to answer each question posed by Jim Lehrer by looking directly into the camera and mentioning the name of a soldier, a fireman, a mom, etc.

He'll address each of them, saying what he wants to do to improve their lives (after he falsely 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, from Florida, who blah blah blah."

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

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Tell him to put his money where his mouth is.

How are his regressive, pro-plutocrat policies going to help the soldier and the single mom? Since giving tax cuts to rich people doesn't, in fact, create jobs - it does nothing but make the rich people richer - how are those ordinary people's lives going to be improved?

And how does this new-found compassion square with his statement that it's not his job to worry about "those people"?

[napkinz]

3. I think the President should look into the camera too ...

I think he should turn to the camera too, and address the person that Romney had just addressed when he discusses those regressive, pro-plutocrat policies. I don't think he should use those words. Rather he should just spell out how the actual policies would hurt that individual were he/she to elect Romney.

(We have one advantage already ... President Obama doesn't have to pretend to care.)

[gkhouston]

9. +1. Not only is that what he should do, I think it's what he will do. n/t

[napkinz]

11. So do I.

And I think the contrast will be stark.

Real empathy v bullsh*t!

[Avalux]

2. Not a damn thing. If Romney really does that, he's going to sink himself.

The man is not empathetic, and if he pretends to be, no matter how much he's practiced, it just doesn't work. We've already seen him try this on occasion and he ends up looking like an alien.

[napkinz]

5. I assume the president's team is preparing for this approach ...

based on an article I just read, posted by another member.

I'm just wondering the best way to deal with it.

As I said above, in my reply to The Velveteen Ocelot, I think the president should address each of the individuals Romney mentions, by looking into the camera too, and talking to those individuals.

The viewers will then see two candidates addressing individuals, one feigning empathy and one not. But I think for that contrast to be seen, the president has to look right into that camera -- not at Romney -- and talk to those individuals.

I wonder if others agree with this approach.

Any other suggestions for dealing with this new approach it appears Romney is going to try?

[Avalux]

15. I disagree. Obama should not follow Romney down that rabbit hole. n/t

[napkinz]

17. so what would you suggest he do instead?

How is it a rabbit hole?

[Avalux]

34. Like I said, he should do nothing.

Stay focused and on message and not react to Romney at all. If Obama were to allow Romney to lead the debate just as you suggest, he would lose control of the situation because he'd be reacting to Romney. Then he would appear weak.

[Xipe Totec]

36. Agree.

That's how Elizabeth Warren has handled Scott Brown, and it has worked wonders.

[Avalux]

38. Yes it has.

Romney will trip himself up; Obama just needs to do what he does naturally. He has the truth on his side.

[gkhouston]

4. "Jane S, was she the one you told to call 411 after she lost everything to a tornado?" n/t

[napkinz]

7. that's the message he has to get across but

not in that tone

though we of course here can take that tone

[cali]

6. he ignores it of course. what do you want him to do? tell him he's faking it?

[napkinz]

8. well he does have to respond to it

the question is how

Remember, there are undecided, low-information voters who -- believe it or not -- will be "seeing" Romney for the first time. They know the name, they've seen his face, but they haven't been paying attention to what he's said and done.

SNL did a skit on low-information, undecided voters. I don't think they are that pathetic. The sketch had people asking, "When is the election?" and "What are the names of the candidates?"

But the situation is pathetic, that after all these months, some actually don't know who the real Romney is, and not knowing his past, will buy into his empathy display.

Every vote counts. Every impression counts.

[cali]

18. It depends. He should point out that Romney's policies.

will hurt people who are struggling, and he's sure to do that. And people apparently do know who the real Romney is- thanks to Romney. Furthermore, Romney comes off as a total phony when he tries the empathy shtick. What the President doesn't want to do is tell Romney he has the empathy of a flea.

[napkinz]

20. that's an insult to fleas!

[enough]

10. Just let it hang out there to dry. Nobody will be taken in. (nt)

[napkinz]

13. there are still a few undecided, low-info voters ...

And those that haven't been paying attention, and don't know the real Romney, and WHO WILL VOTE ... could easily be led to believe he's empathetic.

And those votes will COUNT.

We can't write off anybody.

[Blue Idaho]

23. I wonder about that...

Remember 2008? You couldn't turn on a TV without seeing some dufus talking about their tortured soul and how difficult it was to make up their mind about who to vote for. Fast forward to 2012 - I have yet to see one article or TV news story about the angst of undecided voters. More importantly, where are those undecided voters? Idaho? Mississippi? Arizona? Ohio? And just who are these undecided voters anyway? Celebrity seekers looking for their 15 minutes of fame? Racists? Tea Baggers trying to change public perceptions about the election's outcome? Finally, ask yourself who's meme the whole undecided voter narrative supports? Could it be a way for the M$M's to drive up political talking heads TV viewership and the cost of political ads?

Now its true we need to work for every vote. But I suspect the real number of undecided voters is really below the margin of error for most political polls - in other words - this cake is mostly baked.

[democrat_patriot]

12. "Mr. Romney, when you met them, did you tell them the following?

That the Republican party just voted down a Vets jobs bill?

That you plan to replace medicare with vouchers - but only for those younger than 55?

You will HAVE to raise taxes on those two people to help out your millionaire buddies?

That they may be part of that 47% you so famously quotyed as not caring about?

And if so, what were their responses?

Mr Romney my vision is vastly different than yours and it goes like this......"

[napkinz]

14. excellent!

thank you!

edit: but I think he should quickly turn to the camera and talk to the individual Romney had just addressed.

[bluestate10]

25. That would be an excellent tactic. Once facing the camera, Obama can be Obama. nt

[napkinz]

27. that's our biggest advantage

They can't let Romney be Romney!!!!

[Nye Bevan]

16. "I met with Mrs H, whose health insurer canceled her policy when she got breast cancer".

"Governor Romney, why have you have pledged to overturn the Affordable Care Act, which bans this practice, on the first day of your presidency?"

[napkinz]

19. yes!

[spanone]

21. we already have romney's own words saying he doesn't give a flying f*ck about 47%

[napkinz]

26. WE have Romney's words about the 47%, we know how he really feels about them/us

But there will be a few -- how few? -- who actually haven't been paying attention and for whom tomorrow's debate will be an introduction to Romney. (I know, that's pathetic.)

So for these few undecided, low-information voters, first impressions will count, as will their VOTES!

Let's "leave no voter behind."

[WinkyDink]

22. "What would you like to do with [X]'s Social Security? Is [X] a 'taker' member of the 47%?"

[bluestate10]

24. President Obama should honestly compliment Romney.

Then point out that he has met the same type of people during his Administration and that he is happy to see Romney come to have a small amount of understanding of the people that Romney met. President Obama should avoid coming off as trite, but should work to point out that Romney meeting the type of people that meet and support President Obama every day is a revelation to Romney.

[progressivebydesign]

28. hand Romney a hankie with a crocodile print on it. nt

[napkinz]

29. I know just the guy to hand it to him

[BenzoDia]

30. He should just ignore it. It'll look petty to comment on it. Romney comes across as a phoney

anyways. Only hist supporters by his crap.

[riderinthestorm]

31. Beside the many fine responses above, he has to hammer home the 47% meme.

He must talk to John G, a soldier who fought in Iraq, and tell him that Rmoney believes he's a taker, not a maker. That Rmoney believes he doesn't really have to care about him because he doesn't believe John G. will ever take responsibility for his life.

[napkinz]

32. I agree

I think there's a consensus here that that's what he should do

(the pundits have been arguing on how does the president bring up the 47% video ... does he introduce the term or "wait for an opening from Romney" and then pounce)

[kurt_cagle]

33. Do Nothing

Romney is a man who memorizes zingers to use against Obama. If he plays the empathy card once, he will play the empathy card so often that people will get sick of all the supposed empathy. Moreover, his base is going to be turned off by the empathy even more than Dems will be, because many view empathy as a weakness, not a strength.

[pinboy3niner]

35. Even if Romney tries that, he can't deliver sincerity

President Obama has something Romney lacks--sincerity and passion.

No sale, Mitt.

[reformist2]

37. Obama should respond by talking up POLICIES that will help them.

Even if Mitt sounds compassionate (a BIG if), it will ring hollow if Mitt doesn't offer any real government action to help them.

That's where Obama can trump him.

[napkinz]

40. Well the day is here

I don't think Mitt's attempt at empathy will work.

He himself may fail. Or the way the president responds may derail Romney's attempt.

Tonight we'll see.

[loyalsister]

39. How are they getting by?

Veteran's Benefits? Unemployment? Welfare?

[napkinz]

41. Well I knew he was going to take that approach

There he goes, addressing individuals ...

"I met a woman with a baby in her arms"

Feigned empathy!