Republican leaders are still in denial as they attempt to assess their “beating” by the Democratic Party in the 2012 Presidential Elections.  Barack Obama and his team clearly connected with Blacks, Hispanics, women and the young; while the Republican Party remained committed and connected to its base, white, older males.

I have read and heard Republicans say that Mitt Romney was “painted” as a plutocrat, a wealthy executive who outsourced businesses, and was disconnected with the average American.  These Republicans are convinced that Romney was “painted” that way.  However, the realty is, Romney was really an outsourcer of jobs to China.  He made tons of money from what many perceived to be heartless and ruthless acts against failing businesses; businesses that had average wage earners.

Romney did not help his case when he was recorded making the comments about the “47 %” of Americans who support President Obama and do not want to take responsibility for themselves.  He further complicated things for himself and his image when he spoke about women in such a detached way when he referred to a “binder full of women.”  Romney alienated a lot of young people and older ones when he threatened to cut funding for PBS and he even mentioned Big Bird!  His stance on immigration came across as heartless when he said that the Hispanic immigrants should “self deport.”  Romney, in an article titled “Let Detroit go bankrupt,” stressed that Detroit needed to seek private investors when there would not be any to be found (2008 financial crisis).  Finally, after the election, he said that President Barack Obama won the election because he gave more “gifts” to minority groups.  Here are more interesting comments (http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/mittromney/a/Mitt-Romney-Quotes.htm) that Romney made to “paint” himself as out of touch.

No, the Democrats did not wrongly “paint” Romney as a wealthy, detached businessman; they simply highlighted those characteristics.  Romney, himself, cemented those ideas in America’s mind by being “himself.”  He could not get away from who he was.  No matter how much spin he tried to put on his campaign, no matter how much “flip flopping” it was clear who Mitt Romney really was.  He was not in touch with the American people and his campaign illustrated that.

To say that Romney did not effectively rebut Barack Obama’s attacks is not enough.  Most of Romney’s campaign was like a man attempting to use his hands to seal several leaks in a pipe with just his hands; plug one hole and rush to another one, and then back to the original one.  Romney helped to confirm the attacks just by “being Romney.”  The truth was spilling out of Romney even when he didn’t want to admit it or tell it.  Romney was a very wealthy politician who was clearly out of touch with the average American, plain and simple.  No amount of spin could have overcome that glaring deficit!

Watch this video and listen to the song:  “We Are Free Americans.”

Some Americans Just Shouldn’t Vote? – YouTube

How is it that in the year 2012 we have elected officials all over the United States devising ways to keep people from voting?  There is a presidential election occurring on November 6, 2012 and Republican politicians are “bending over backwards” to suppress the vote.  They have claimed that there needs to be provisions put in place to prevent voter fraud (less than 1% cases documented).  This could not be further from the truth!  Millions of Americans, mostly blacks and hispanics, are in jeopardy of losing their right to vote because of these last minute changes made to suppress the vote.  Here are some of those restrictions:

1.  The requirement of a state issued photo Identification card at a cost (in Pennsylvania, alone, that affects approximately 800,000 voters).  This change should never be allowed during a Presidential election year!  It takes years to correctly implement such new changes, not a few weeks before an election.

2.  The reduction of early voting days (in Florida, they had 15 days of early voting in 2008, this year, it has been cut down to only 8 days) will create even bigger lines than what we saw in 2008.  Our elected officials should be looking for ways to expedite the process, not create extreme “bottleneck” and regression to “days of old” when only the “privileged” got the “right” to vote.

3.  Most government agencies could not produce the volume of ID cards necessary to allow all eligible voters to vote in time for the elections.  A situation was created that makes it physically impossible to make the new IDs that would be necessary to allow all voters who wished to, the opportunity to vote.  This is grossly unfair!

4.  In some cities, Florida will have a voting sheet that will be as long as 10 pages per voter (with several referendums to decide on)!  Imagine the extra long lines that will create and the discouragement and frustration it will cause to many seniors and people who cannot afford to miss hours of work (poll tax?) to wait to vote.

How could a party that seems to pride itself on protecting the US Constitution create such scenarios to disenfranchise so many Americans?  This smells of extreme hypocrisy and a gross lack of patriotism.

Below is a link to a commentary I made on CNN iReport about the powerful speeches given a the Democratic National Convention.

Democrats Know How to Do a Convention! – CNN iReport

Michelle Obama managed to give America a clear summary of what matters to the man she is married to; President Barack Obama.  She shared the story about their common family struggles;  how their parents were working class Americans.  She shared about her father’s illness (Multiple sclerosis) and how he did not miss days of work despite his condition.  Michelle shared about Barack Obama’s mom and her struggles as a single mom.  Michelle also shared about the “glass ceiling” that Barack’s mom and other women often have to contend with.  She accentuated that with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which says that there needs to be “equal pay for equal work.”

Michelle stressed that “Success is not about how much money you make but how much difference you make in people’s lives.”  This is so important to note.  I appreciate that kind of thinking because too many people focus on money and not on how to help their fellow man.  She shared how Barack Obama is about helping people.  She mentioned how both her and Barack would not have been able to attend college without financial aid.  So it made sense for Barack to push for legislation that increased financial aid at reduced rates for college students.

Our lives are a collection of hopes and dreams, Michelle said.  She stated that Barack wants to fight to give people access to the American Dream because he himself is living proof of the American Dream.  What he received he wants to give back to all people.

You got a sense that Barack is a man of deep character after listening to Michelle’s speech.  She mentioned him being a  man of truth and integrity.  Michelle also said that “values, visions and experiences make you who you are.”  The most memorable words were when she asked “Does the presidency change who you are?”  She answered, in reference to her husband, Barack Obama, “The Presidency reveals who you are!”  She said that Barack Obama is more committed and more determined to see to it that the needs of the people are addressed and that the middle class is strengthened and the American Dream is within reach for everybody.

This was a speech for Americans from an American who loves her country.  Finally, Michelle said of Barack:  “He knows we all love our country.”  This was a very inclusive and unifying speech.  Anyone who values these things addressed by Michelle will likely vote for Barack Obama.

Julian Castro’s speech was very sound and inspiring.  I really liked the way he said that attaining our dreams is like a “relay.”  One generation passes the baton to another, but the point is, it keeps moving “forward.”

From the speech, you got a sense that Barack Obama cares for the middle class.  You got a sense that the current president considered the regular person.  Castro highlighted the “infrastructure” that’s necessary to help Americans reach their dreams, make them reality.  The investment in education is very important.  Also making money available for “small business loans” was key.  He juxtaposed the government loans with Romney’s statement:  “Get a loan from your parents.”  Not many average (middle class) people have that option.  That was very true!