What We're Reading - September 18
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Good morning, everyone! The news has been dominated by Mitt Romney’s comments at a private fundraiser earlier this year where he said it’s not his job to worry about 47 percent of Americans who “pay no income tax.” Meanwhile, another Republican missteps as Todd Akin’s wife speaks out. Here’s what we’re reading this morning…
Mitt Romney writes off half the nation in remarks at a private fundraiser. “Romney Calls 47% of Voters Dependent in Leaked Video” — “WASHINGTON — During a private reception with wealthy donors this year, Mitt Romney described almost half of Americans as ‘people who pay no income tax’ and are ‘dependent upon government.’ Those voters, he said, would probably support President Obama because they believe they are ‘victims’ who are ‘entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it.’ In a brief and hastily called news conference Monday just after 10 p.m., Mr. Romney acknowledged having made the blunt political and cultural assessment, saying it was ‘not elegantly stated,’ but he stood by the substance of the remarks, insisting that he had made similar observations in public without generating controversy… Democrats quickly condemned the remarks as insensitive, and Mr. Obama’s campaign accused Mr. Romney of having ‘disdainfully written off half the nation.’ The video surfaced as the campaign enters its final 50 days and as Mr. Romney sought to restart his campaign with new ads and new messaging, in response to calls in his campaign and from outside for him to be more specific about how his policies would fix the nation’s economy and help the middle class.”
California is actively supporting the health care implementation. “Calif. exchange wants TV shows to help tout Obama healthcare law” — “Officials in California want prime-time TV shows to help promote President Obama's healthcare law. Outreach to television producers is part of the marketing plan adopted by California's insurance exchange — a new marketplace, created by the Affordable Care Act, where individuals and small businesses will be able to buy private insurance. The exchange's public-relations plan says ‘individuals from California’s robust entertainment industry will be approached at the most senior levels’ to promote the new marketplace and get people enrolled. ‘A number of popular television programs and personalities such as Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, the Biggest Loser, Dr. Oz and others will be approached and pitched to incorporate story lines or mentions of health care reform that would reinforce campaign messages,’ the marketing plan states. Dr. Mehmet Oz of ‘The Dr. Oz Show’ is already appearing in ads run by an outside group urging people to ‘get enrolled,’ according to The New York Times, which noted the state's marketing plans this weekend. California's exchange is also considering a reality show to boost enrollment.”
Another Akin doesn’t get it. “Todd Akin’s Wife Compares GOP Abandonment to Rape, Tyranny”—“Rep. Todd Akin’s wife, Lulli Akin, says the Republican Party’s attempts to push her husband out of the Missouri Senate race — over his false assertion that women who are raped rarely get pregnant — are like rape itself. She also believes the GOP’s abandonment is on par with the tyranny that launched the American Revolution. Akin’s wife isn’t the first one to compare Akin’s explosive rape comments, and the ensuing fallout, to rape: Bryan Fischer said the party’s treatment of the embattled candidate had made Akin ‘a victim of forcible assault.’ Lulli Akin made the charge in a new National Journal profile, which reveals a family affair of a campaign — Akin’s campaign manager is his son, and Lulli is also a key player. Lulli Akin says in the profile that she is not turned off by the refusal of national Republicans to contribute money to the race. She says small donations — and God’s will — will help her husband win.”
