All politics aside, there is very little someone can do to prevent unwanted images and videos from spreading across the Internet once they’ve fallen into the hands of someone determined to get them out there. This is an issue the Royal Family has become all too familiar with, but more recently the Romney campaign is suffering from what can only be described as a nightmare in public relations brought on by a video Mitt Romney never intended to be released.
In the video (embedded below) you’ll see presidential candidate Mitt Romney explain why he is targeting the 5-10% of the voters that call themselves independents over current Obama supporters. It was a moment of boldness as he stated to supporters that going to a group he feels is largely made up of people who don’t pay taxes with a message of tax cuts doesn’t connect. He generalized Obama’s supporters in his phrasing, and that’s the heart of what has made him look so terrible in this video. If he had worded it differently or simply just said he’s focused on independents because they’re the most likely to vote for him, it wouldn’t have been such a massive scandal.
We don’t know what was said before or after this clip, only that what was said is making quite a few people very upset.
So how could the Romney campaign mitigate this PR disaster? Is there any hope of overcoming this level of bad press? Here are some of my thoughts on how Mitt Romney could turn this around, or at least soften the blow in the long-term.
Below are some suggestions I would give to Governor Mitt Romney.
Open Yourself Up to Questioning on a Reddit “Ask Me Anything”
Spend a few hours doing exactly what Barack Obama did on Reddit. Put yourself in front of the firing squad (so to speak) and have a moment of honesty with the people. This would not only help you shed a little of that elitist image, but allow you to give direct answers to the people’s questions in a way that doesn’t come off as scripted or simply staged.
Don’t shy away from the tough questions, either. People will be more impressed by your candid honesty (as long as it’s civil and polite) than by talking points and rehearsed rhetoric.
Go on an Interview Tour
Let’s face it: that video will circulate around the Web until election day. You could pretend it didn’t happen and hope people forget about it, or bite the bullet and explain yourself on shows that count themselves among your critics.
I’m not saying you should get into a heated debate with Bill Maher here, but perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to take a moment to address the video (and perhaps add context) on a few late shows and perhaps some radio programs.
Aggressive Social Media Strategies
Hit Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ like never before. Do it from a personal angle, not as a campaign or a bandwagon. These are the places you’re being hit the hardest by people sharing and commenting on these videos. Take a moment to have your official social media accounts respond, and do it on the pages of your critics as opposed to your official page.
People are a lot less inclined to remain forcefully and publicly angry when the person they’re talking about has acknowledged that they’re in the room, paying attention to the conversation. Offer apologies here and ask these folks what you can do to change their mind. If anything, it’ll make a dent in the critics’ momentum.
Make the Issue About Politics in General
Sometimes, it helps to fight honesty with honesty. If the majority of the world were told that politicians on both sides of the aisle were corrupt, they’d be willing to buy it in a heartbeat. Just how many members of Congress have criminal records, or are actively being investigated for moral or ethical violations?
I’d be willing to believe that what was shared in that video is just par for the course when it comes to appealing to whatever group Mitt Romney was speaking with at the time. I don’t know enough about his character to judge, but what politician hasn’t been caught at one time or another in a situation that’s difficult to explain?
Ron Paul was practically assaulted during shooting of the movie Bruno as Cohen’s character attempted to seduce Congressman Paul during what he was led to believe was a legitimate interview.
President Obama himself had an open mic moment when he asked Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for “space,” saying that, after the election, he’ll have more flexibility.
President George W. Bush was also no stranger to the occasional open mic slip-up.
If you want to go back a little further, you could consider giving President Nixon’s famous audio tapes a listen. Needless to say, his language behind the scenes was something you wouldn’t associate with the leader of the free world.
We live in an age where technology gives us a backstage pass to the theater of politics like never before. We’re only now starting to realize just what goes on behind the scenes in an aggressive and extremely volatile world. Presidents and presidential candidates are all subject to harsh scrutiny, and I can only imagine what went on behind the scenes — before everyone had a camera on them at any given time — that we’ll never know about.
Photo: Gage Skidmore
We can do this! #ROMNEY2012
You are assuming (as his detractors would have you believe) that what he said was counter to his intended message. The fact that the Left encourages a dependency mentality is not in dispute — neither is the fact that there are a large number of voters (perhaps 47%, perhaps less) who cannot be budged because they have been trained through 50 years of propaganda that the alternative to Democrat-Party guidance is a Republican raid on the lower class’ opportunity to survive. What Romney pointed out was NOT that he doesn’t care about that 47% — he stated that he understands that it’s not worth spending time or money in his campaign to try to reach out to them, as many of them simply won’t listen. If he is elected, he presumes to be able to serve the whole of America — not just the ones who are ‘in his camp’. But only an idiot would believe that any one candidate can appeal effectively to every voter. Don’t drink the DNC kool-aid!
Not assuming anything. What I’m saying is that when the public perceives something like that, you have to tread extra carefully. In this case, the best defense is a good offense using the very tools his opponent uses to appear more approachable.
Absolutely
Solid. It was a mistake to less than “artfully” present that message. Always assume that the spies are among you in todays political world
If he wanted to make that clear than why isn’t he saying or promoting any of that in his campaign? He got caught red handed and shows that he doesn’t care about that 47%. It might sound wrong but if you wanna become president you have to show that you care about ALL AMERICANS even if you don’t mean it.
I’m an independent who used to be a democrat. I went that direction because I didn’t buy into Obama’s “time for change” election promises, and the way the democrat party has shifted to being afraid to do things in fear of what the republicans will think. I’ve been keeping tabs of Romney and I have come to the conclusion Obama is the lesser of the two evils this time. Not because I like him, but because Romney wants to destroy so much, and one of those religious bigot types. I can’t stand people like him.
We never know what people are like behind closed doors. I prefer to keep my eyes open and concentrate on the issues of today knowing that half of the things I care about aren’t going to be addressed.
What exactly is Romney destroying? Or planning to
I don’t understand what needs to be repaired. This video is absolutely perfect for grabbing all of the people that gave up on voting after they realized that Ron Paul would not be nominated.
I’m not ashamed to say I agree with him whole heartedly. Nearly every obama supporter I run into does so because they want “more free shit!” (paraphrased obviously) which is not free at all (I pay for that). We live in a society that has come to feel entitled, and more outrageously, entitled to gain benefit from the government at other people’s expense. By supporting all of these programs you are supporting threats of violence, and actual violence, on peaceful people if they do not want to pay other people’s way in life. — I have no problem supporting my community voluntarily, but the government has no place forcing people to support things they are morally, religiously, or for any other reason reason against.
I don’t want more of the money that is stolen from me with threats of violence and being locked in a cage to be spent on people that just expect to get things because they exist.
Perception is reality for most folks. This article concentrates on how to mend perception.
Have been following this campaign from both angles. While I am a Progressive who does believe in working for what I have and helping others in an attempt to make a better world all around…all I see from Romney’s camp the same thing I saw from Bush’s camp for eight solid years. Neither will take the chance of appearing with on any forum which would challenge what they will do. For instance…look at what the Romney ‘s do when they open their mouths. They come off condescending and put forth the viewpoint that neither of them have ever worked a back-breaking job in their lives. Obama…has no backbone…but at least he comes off as more likable. I also know Obama came from a broken home.
Actually…you want to vote for change the election…write in George Washington. We know what his record is and what he will do. Can never got wrong with a proven record like this.
you mean like disabled people like myself because I sure as hell “dont want free shit” but thanks to our very governmentt I can’t even try to work
The gov puts down all those who want to work, but if they try to work then we would lose our benefits. I want to work but there is a giant loop between making enough to get kicked off but not making enough to make ends meet. So all who are in the same situations we all have to live together to make ends meet at some time. The Gov can’t keep spending like they have been. Like you said i want to work but will lose benefits if we try to. That is not the american way to be afraid of the gov. If your afraid of the gov they have won but its them who should be afraid of the american people as a whole its not dems or repubs its american people. We are one. But separate at the same time. change never comes because people are afraid of what the gov will do to them. It comes when people a fed up with everything i’m close to that and tens of millions of Americans are to. We all are seeing the corruption that is rampant in every branch of the gov. We have to take a stand before we have no freedom of speech any more. Once they take our freedom of speech away. A civil Revolution will happen. I for one want peace like all american but that peace is ending very soon most people are blind. and say the gov can do no wrong. But the way the gov is working is nothing like our fore fathers wanted it.
ONE BIG TURN OFF!
I thoght Chris Pirillo Was not going to get political on lockergnome?
And by the way Its a big turn of of me supporting anything pirillo is connected To.
Mother Jones is one of those leftist anti-american groups I really can’t stand.
Oh I’m Romney 2012! , I’m 100% pro-life, I’m !00% pro-israel I’m christian!
You can’t say i’m being political because you brought it up On lockergnome!
I don’t agree with everything hes says but the big issue is israel is being my top priority this election.
So THERE!
Please read the article before commenting.
Excellent cut and paste job from Facebook. But have you taken the time to read the article yet?
I would like to first commend Chris for allow Ryan to post this article. This has nothing to do with the election but more to do with how now, in this time and age, we are able to get insights behind the curtains so to speak. With this type of information you can see how people are in front of different people.
I would expect nothing less than 100% professionalism from a former Infowars.com writer. Great job Ryan!
You guys should really educate yourself. 47% is some B.S. Here are the facts.
Included in the 47% are the elderly who already paid into their social security, students (yeah, I mean they are getting over big time), the military, people making less than 30K per year, and people receiving child tax credits.
No lets just remove the elderly from the 47% and see what the new figure is…..Well looka here, its only 7% now that pays no federal income tax. I mean that is one hell of a lot of people.
Now just take out the other group of people that I took out and you now get a total of 4%. Yea I mean the lazy bums in America are sickening.
Now of the states paying the east amount of federal income taxes are Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, New Mexico, Alabama, and Idaho. What do these states have in common? Well looka here, they just so happen to be southern Republican states (excluding Idaho).
But who was the president that said all the people who are not paying federal income taxes are? OMG!!! Can you believe it? It was none other than Ronald Reagan. The god of all Republicans.
You guys are just ……….
Now as far as the article goes, it was excellent.
And yea I know the grammar was bad. It was for a reason.
Elderly don’t pay taxes?
i dont see any problem with what romney said. why waste time and money on people who will never vote for you? that’s why he’s a millionaire (billionaire?). he makes good business decisions.
What BS. I think we are far more than
47%, if what we are counting is who depends on what. Who cares! No one capable
of responding to others or to their environment is not somewhat independent,
and may (Stephen Hawking?) clearly contribute more than most of us. No one at
the other extreme could survive a week without the help of other human beings.
Just like folks who “…cling to their
guns and religion…’ aren’t to be attacked just for doing so, that IMHO is a reasonable
response to being bypassed.
Those who chose to feel insulted: well,
they have chosen to feel that way, may they enjoy it as and if they can.
Reality is that politics involves at least
accepting clients and servants if not recruiting them, I know, I have been elected
and re-elected, and never by proposing to do what I did not intend to try to
do, nor by acting as if other people’s opinions or actions for that matter, mattered
to me one damn bit. I myself do not want a job involving telling others what to
think, or to say, or to do. Though I can do that all quite happily, and have.
Having power over others is an apparently a real reason why many wish to become
power figures, but those who feel that way are missing the point: IF one wishes
power and IF one gets it, the reward is being able to think later that one helped
others without injuring oneself, that’s it. No one will be grateful or will love
you later (with a very few exceptions) nor can one either count on continued
power or take it beyond the grave.
As to what Obama said 4 years ago, he’s
right; the bypassed DO cling to whatever can sustain them.
As to what Romney said 4 months ago,
the whole POINT of the Democratic Party nowadays is to sling benefits around,
and YES it buys clients – who nonetheless deserve respect; it’s not the Democrats
per se who impoverished us, though their policies IMHO make it unlikely that we
will ever be otherwise…
This whole idea that politics is NOT
what it is – who-gets-what on the small beer scale; how to make things mostly
better for most with the great ones; how to make the necessary possible for the transcendent ones –
this is WRONG.
You’re a politician who insults and demeans half the voting population then doubles down on those comments? What do you SUPPOSE the outcome might be??
Americans might be stupid, but there is a limit to their stupidity. Unfortunately for Willard.
What we have here is a failure to communicate. Romney will say something that can be a bit problematic (the 47%). Then Obama will say something that can be a bit problematic (“Fast & Furious” began under the previous administration). Then the ball shifts back to Romney. Then back to Obama. It seems like this is a comedy of errors. Why the voters continue to look at only Republicans and Democrats is disconcerting. At one time there was the “equal time” law that allowed other parties equal air time to express their views and their platform. Unfortunately, it was the Reagan administration that took that off of the books. The country deserves better representation than they have but the voters don’t want to take the time to be responsible and informed voters.
It’s pretty sad that he’s being crucified for saying something that’s true. The large percentage of the people on government payroll don’t give a rats butt about lowering taxes. I respect Mitt more now for bringing up the point that we have become a welfare state. And just like socialist, we are redistributing the wealth through all kinds of unconstitutional taxes and fee’s. Just look at your telephone bill at those special taxes that’s imposed. And now they’re saying that everyone has a god-given right to have internet access and now we’re paying for free internet service for the “unfortunate”.
And then there’s all the BILLIONS of dollars that we give away free and clear to other countries around the world, even some that hate Americans with a passion.
Then everyone wonders why we’re TRILLIONS in debt, all the while there’s approx 47% of people that don’t even pay taxes. It’s insanity…..