'What's wrong with this guy?'
By Steve Benen
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Thu Feb 2, 2012 8:00 AM EST
Mitt Romney suffered another self-inflicted wound yesterday, telling a national television audience, "I'm not concerned about the very poor." As First Read noted, everyone makes gaffes, "but in politics, what becomes damaging is when a verbal gaffe fits a pre-existing narrative."
 Associated Press
This one certainly fit the bill. In seven words, Romney reinforced doubts about his candidacy -- he comes across as an out-of-touch elitist; his agenda is heavily stacked to help the wealthy; he's indifferent towards Americans struggling most -- in the clumsiest way possible.
What was especially interesting about yesterday, however, was that Romney didn't just face criticism from the left; the right seemed dumbfounded, too. The Weekly Standard's John McCormack called the former governor's comment "the most stunningly stupid remark of his campaign."
It's obvious that Romney's statement that he's "not concerned about the very poor" is incredibly tone-deaf. A candidate can say he's "focused" on the middle class without saying he's "not concerned" about the very poor, just as a candidate can say he's "focused" on the economy without saying he's "not concerned" about national security or even less vital issues like education.
But Romney's remark isn't merely tone-deaf, it's also un-conservative. The standard conservative argument is that a conservative economic agenda will help everyone.... Had Mitt Romney picked up his conservatism sooner, perhaps he would know these arguments by heart.
McCormack wasn't alone. Michelle Malkin was dismayed, as was The American Spectator and Rush Limbaugh. One conservative joked that Romney came across as "a really bad Stephen Colbert parody of a Republican," while Jonah Goldberg simply asked, "What is wrong with this guy?"
It's probably not what the Romney campaign wanted to see the morning after its big win in Florida.
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