Today, in what has to be the most ingenious way for Mitt Romney’s campaign director to turn in his notice, Mr. Romney gave a speech to the NAACP. Governor Romney was in Houston today speaking in front of the annual meeting of the NAACP. First, he didn’t rub the stump when he first came out, which pissed a lot of people off. Then, he explained to them that “If you want a president who will make things better in the African-American community, you are looking at him. You take a look.” I haven’t seen video on this segment, but I’m sure the crowd was ecstatic to find a fabulously wealthy white guy who finally gets what the black community is going through. I’m sure the crowd leapt to their feet in thunderous applause and cheers because they truly believe that this man knows more about their plight than a man who is 50% more black than he is.
Romney adjusted his remarks, which are geared more towards business owners, for the event. At one point, he mentioned the slow growth of the GDP before quickly explaining that that referred to “the economy.” He also explained that the median age of African-American families is lower than that of white families, and the unemployment rate of African-Americans is lower than that of whites. The crowd collectively gasped and said, “Say WHAAAAAT?” because they had no idea poverty and unemployment were problems that effected the black community.
Mr. Romney also discussed the “soft bigotry of low expectations” as an issue affecting black students. He said, “I know I’m guilty of it myself. When the gardener of my La Jolla estate goes on vacation, his substitute is a black kid who I don’t expect to trim my hedges in the perfect dollar sign shapes that I require.”* Since nobody else had a mic, they couldn’t tell him that drastic underfunding of inner-city schools hamstrung African-American children more than teachers thinking that white kids are smarter than they are. He also didn’t explain how he planned to provide federal funds to parents so they could choose where to send their kids to school. And once again, since there was only one microphone at the event, nobody could ask him why he didn’t just think to fund the schools they do have access to so they wouldn’t have to deal with busing or providing transportation for their kids to a school in a more affluent area.
The winner of the day is when Mr. Romney discussed his plans to make cuts in unnecessary spending. He told them he was going to cut the Affordable Care Act, which went swimmingly. Watch for yourself:
That’s it. Telling a group their unemployment rates are higher than the average, and then telling them you’re going to get rid of the program that gives them access to health care is the absolute best thing you can do.
Romney’s not going to win the black vote. Not by a long shot. But people are praising his appearance as a way to show that he is an inclusive candidate. He’s not going to write off an entire demographic just because the vast majority of them isn’t going to vote for him. That has merit, I guess. But you know what would have even more merit? If he didn’t write off the entire middle and lower classes with his economic proposals. That’s doing you more damage amongst the African American community than being white. If the African American community paid more attention to color than to their best economic interests, Herman Cain would be standing there giving that speech.
*Romney did not really say this. That was a joke, people.
