NewsHounds
We watch Fox so you don't have to!
  • Home
  • About
  • Archives
  • Forum
  • Blogroll
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
Home →

Bill Hemmer Does His Part To Help Boost Romney’s Likeability

Posted by Ellen -7842.60pc on May 30, 2012 · Flag

On the same day that Fox & Friends unveiled its 4-minute anti-Obama attack ad in the guise of a review of President Obama’s last four years, Fox’s America’s Newsroom played Part 1 of co-host Bill Hemmer’s softball interview called Getting to know the Romneys which just so happened to (uncritically) address the very issues that Romney needs help with: his likeability factor. Co-host Martha MacCallum even acknowledged that during her brief chat with Hemmer after the interview.

A few weeks ago, a Gallup poll underscored Obama’s big likeability edge over Romney, especially regarding “is likeable” and “cares about the needs of people like you.” So what a coincidence that Hemmer’s interview seemed designed to focus on those very points!

As B-roll footage showed “regular guy” Romney putting a towel around a grandchild coming out of a pool, Hemmer said he spent the weekend with the Romney family and “lots of grandchildren” on behalf of a country that is “just now getting to know him.”

Mitt and Ann Romney sat in straight-backed chairs as Hemmer asked a blue-jeaned Mitt, “What kind of a boss were you?” When Romney said, “You’ll have to ask the people who worked with me.” Hemmer prompted pressed, “Were you the first one in the morning, were you the last one to leave?”

Ann Romney jumped in to say that he was the first one in, the last one to leave and “no lunches.” She added, “He’s the hardest-working person I’ve ever met besides his father, who was a crazy man.”

Uh-oh, that might get misinterpreted. So Hemmer jumped in to help clarify: “Crazy good?” Yes, crazy good, Ann and Mitt assured us.

“I paid other people more than I paid myself because I thought they were doing a better job,” “regular guy” Mitt noted.

Hemmer made the point more explicitly. “Here you are traveling all over the country and you’re meeting with middle class families that have been through some kind of trauma over the past four years… How do you make a connection to those people?”

Why, Romney feels their pain, yes indeedie. He said, “The statistics understate the kind of pain and insecurity that exist in America’s homes. I see people who may be employed but are very concerned they could lose their job at anytime.” He didn't mention people who work but still can't afford health insurance or to pay college tuition for their kids or dental bills.

Hemmer didn't seem to think of it. He said, “And back to the connection aspect of this. There will be people – and you know this already – who will look at you as just a successful rich guy.”

“Like FDR and John F. Kennedy,” Mitt quipped. “This is not a nation that divides people based upon whether they’ve been successful or not (except on Fox News). We don’t say, ‘Oh, boy, this person won the lottery and therefore they can’t understand me.’ We instead look at people and celebrate their success and their achievement.” Romney added, “The real need in America is to help middle income families get good jobs with rising incomes and more security and help people who are poor come out of poverty and become middle income.”

Of course, there’s a reason that middle class Americans liked FDR and don’t like Romney – and it has to do with a perception about whether or not he’d be working to help people like themselves or not. Romney oozes not. No matter how many lapdog interviews Fox News does with him and the family.

Back in the studio, co-host Martha MacCallum suggested that addressing Romney's likeability problem was the very point of the interview. "And you look at the likeability numbes which he’s had a tough time with to a certain extent. This gives people a window to sort of decide where they think for themselves based on a little more understanding of who he is," she said.

It's worth noting that even she didn't say anything about what regular or likeable folks the Romneys are. 

Follow @NewsHounds

Follow @NewsHoundEllen


Do you like this post?
Tweet

Showing 3 reactions



    Review the site rules
Kent Brockman commented 2012-06-01 04:14:09 -0400 · Flag
Romney flies at 120,000 feet with the Acquisitions Crowd. And with a net worth of 200 to 250 million what does he pay for a pair of socks?

Tall Tales About Private Equity

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/opinion/creating-jobs-wasnt-romneys-job.html

Even if a few of the middle class make it to 20,000 feet Romney wouldn’t notice.
truman commented 2012-05-31 10:31:00 -0400 · Flag
In his lust to capture the Repug-Teabagger Party nomination, old etch-a-sketch disavowed any moderate and progressive ideas he may ever have entertained. Mittens is strictly of, by and for the wealthy one percent. Screw the 99 percent. If they were worth a damn, they would be in the one percent anyway.
NewsHounds posted about Bill Hemmer Does His Part To Help Boost Romney’s Likeability on NewsHounds' Facebook page 2012-05-30 18:15:24 -0400
What a coincidence this was the same day that Fox & Friends aired its four-minute anti-Obama video.








or sign in with Facebook, Twitter or email.
Follow @NewsHounds on Twitter
Subscribe with RSS


We’ve updated our Privacy Policy
Sign in with Facebook, Twitter or email.
Created with NationBuilder