OK. There is one reason to vote AGAINST a candidate. You really hate him/her. This board tends to lean right, maybe because of demographics. Fact is most people in this country do not hate Obama. Some do, sometimes for reasons that have zero to do with facts, some because of his skin color, or just because he's a Democrat, and some really think he's so wrong anyone would be better. But the majority view is he came into a terrible situation, could have done better, but tried hard and things are slowly improving. And that he does have the interests of working families at heart.
So, Romney needs a reason for people to vote FOR him. There are IMHO 4 reasons to vote for a candidate: Policy, experience, personal story/character, and values. The reason Romney will find no silver bullet is he loses on all four. Policy? His is all over the map, he literally says two contradictory things within an hour. He told an NBC reporter that "Romneycare" showed he does care for the poor and middle class, and 30 minutes later told a rally that "Obamacare", which was based on "Romneycare" is Exhibit A for what's wrong with this country. He claimed Obama lied by saying he opposes abortion in cases of rape, incest or threat to the woman's life or health, but his own web site says he supports the "personhood amendment" which outlaws abortion including in cases of rape, incest, and threat to the woman's life or health. The only solid policy he's assoicated with is the Ryan Budget and that's been toxic. People just don't like a budget that gets rid of Medicare, cuts everything, and gives huge tax breaks to the rich. Experience? He left his term as governor so unpopular he never considered running for a second term; his one accomplishment was health care which he is running against when he's not running for it. His Bain experience was great for stockholders while thousands lost jobs and pensions. Personal story? He's widely viewed as a spoiled rich kid who acts entitled. He's made up stories about his "hardship". The dog on the roof came not from a liberal reporter but from his own book, where he talked about the "hardship" of cleaning up the dog who had crapped itself in terror. He came off looking like a jerk, not a sufferer. Ann Romney told a story she thought was "endearing" about how he cut in line at a family reunion dinner, so he was done eating before others had their food. That's not endearing, that's a jerk. Values? In the Parade magazine softball piece, Mrs. Romney talked about how she loved tithing and was so moved she cried. Gov. Romney said he also cried for a different reason. I doubt he actually cried, it was a joke, but a joke about how this very very rich man hated giving to charity even when it is an obligation of his church. As a young man he attended rallies in favor of the draft and the Vietnam war, but he did not serve, he spend the time in France under a draft exemption that applies only to Mormons (how is that Constitutional?) The war is fabulous, let others die, then call disabled veterans "victims" dependent on government, who won't take care of themselves?
The 47% tape was devastating because it confirmed people's worst fears about Romney. The only way out is stop people from voting. The billionaire backed "True the Vote" has, for example, challenged the legitimacy of 700,000 Black, Hispanic, and student voters in Ohio alone, all of whom now have to prove they are legitimately registered. If the only way you get to the Olympics is by smashing Nancy Kerrigan's kneecap, maybe you just don't belong there.
