Romney at Rest: Reeking of Rich
U.S. News
Fourth of July conjures up images of fireworks, barbeques, and sweet neighborhood parades with toddlers waving handheld flags. But nothing says it quite like a presidential candidate and his wife cruising by their lake house on jet skis.
The Mrs. looks tanned and chic driving her husband through the crashing waves with her blonde hair shining in the sun. Women everywhere are giving a great cheer of approval that she is firmly ensconced in the driver’s seat. Romney, along for the ride, looks refreshingly comfortable – and very Ralph Lauren — in his shorts, and equally windswept hair. Great for a clothing ad. Not so hot for a man asking for votes during a deeply painful economic downturn.
The press has delighted in critiquing Romney for his “stiff” appearance and demeanor. While he’s anything but buttoned up in this pic near his New Hampshire estate, it speaks volumes in another, more troubling way.
I’m all for presidents and candidates relaxing on vacation with family. We don’t relax enough in this nation with our constantly wired connections to the office. I don’t know about you, but I do a better job when I’ve had some time away from the computer screen, lazing about on the beach or reading a good novel. Or better yet, both at the same time.
But for a presidential candidate who owns a $12-million home with an unobstructed view of the Pacific, and is knocking it down to build a house four times its size, the jet ski photo-op at one of his other homes is a big wet blanket on what campaign mojo he has generated among undecideds. Doesn’t anyone remember how the Republicans turned John Kerry’s windsurfing into an attack ad?
Many Americans are just beginning to form their opinions of Romney. For independents who are considering casting their ballot for him, the picture shows conveys precisely the wrong image: the very rich playing with their very expensive toys. Everyman he is not. It’s a lesson President Obama may have learned, as he made clear in canceling his annual vacation on tony Martha’s Vineyard.
While we hate to admit it, perception defines reality. Romney needs to learn to ride the wave of restraint on vacation, or risk getting left in its wake.
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