Althouse: If we're going to pounce on everyone for the words they use, Ann Romney made herself exquisitely pounceable by saying "love."

April 24, 2012

If we're going to pounce on everyone for the words they use, Ann Romney made herself exquisitely pounceable by saying "love."

"I love the fact that there are women out there who don’t have a choice and they must go to work and they still have to raise the kids."

66 comments:

xnar said...: I just love the name Ann; 4/24/12, 1:26 PM
cold pizza said...: But is she now proud of her country for the first time? -CP; 4/24/12, 1:28 PM
Scott M said...: If the Romney campaign can keep up this level of game until November...epic.; 4/24/12, 1:31 PM
Toad Trend said...: Ann Romney is a shrewd competitor.

Life decisions have consequences.

Married women understand.; 4/24/12, 1:47 PM
dbp said...: Kudos to Think Progress for this bit of honesty:

"It seems Romney was trying to express empathy for women who don’t have the option to stay at home, as she did."; 4/24/12, 1:47 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/24/12, 1:48 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/24/12, 1:51 PM
prairie wind said...: Ann Romney used an odd choice of words to discuss mothers who are forced to work while raising their children.

"Forced"?? Are men forced to work, too, or is it only mothers who have to be forced to support their families?

I love the way Ann Romney loves the diversity among families--some mothers work, some don't, but they all take care of their families.; 4/24/12, 1:55 PM
Matt Sablan said...: Some more context:

“My hats off to the men in this room too that are raising kids — I love that, and I love the fact that there are also women out there that don’t have a choice and they must go to work and they still have to raise the kids,” she said. “Thank goodness that we value those people too. And sometimes life isn’t easy for any of us.”

From Politico. What it sounds like she is saying is that she loves that people are willing to do what it takes to raise kids.; 4/24/12, 1:59 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Thank goodness that we value those people too.

Love is a manifestation of a cultural deprivation in its most displeasing-to-look-at-form.; 4/24/12, 2:03 PM
Joe said...: Sounds like ill-timed sarcasm to me.; 4/24/12, 2:03 PM
Anonymous said...: Ann Romney is a shrewd competitor.

Life decisions have consequences.

Married women understand.

Yep, every woman should marry a rich guy, just like her.; 4/24/12, 2:03 PM
Judith said...: I wonder if this "gaffe" isn't simply an ironic use of the phrase "I love," fairly common in Midwestern usage. Such as, "I love that Barack Obama is so critical of rich guys that pay a low tax rate than their secretaries." Or, in shorthand, "I love that Obama pays a lower tax rate than his secretary." Ann Romney's remark is certainly awkward and easy to misinterpret, but hardly evidence of heartlessness.; 4/24/12, 2:06 PM
Joe said...: At least I hope there was sarcastic intent else this rises to the level of a Bidenism.; 4/24/12, 2:06 PM
Matt Sablan said...: I dislike the phrase exquisitely pounce-able.; 4/24/12, 2:07 PM
prairie wind said...: Yes, Matthew, "exquisitely pounce-able" is itself exquisitely pounceable, isn't it?; 4/24/12, 2:14 PM
Rabel said...: "exquisitely pounceable"

Yet another cybersphere first (per google) by the Professor.

Impressive.; 4/24/12, 2:22 PM
ricpic said...: If mothers raise their own children what will there be left for the villagers to do?!; 4/24/12, 2:26 PM
Shanna said...: What it sounds like she is saying is that she loves that people are willing to do what it takes to raise kids.

That was how I took it as well. She worded it awkwardly because she was probably talking off the cuff, and she's not a professional orator. It's fine.; 4/24/12, 2:39 PM
Alex said...: Don't blame Ann Romney for hitting life's lottery.; 4/24/12, 2:43 PM
Wince said...: No one in the world ever gets what they want and that is beautiful
Everybody dies frustrated & sad and that is beautiful
They want what they're not and I wish they would stop saying,
Deputy dog dong a ding dang depadepa
Deputy dog dong a ding dang depadepa

Don't Let's Start

Don't don't don't let's start
This is the worst part
Could believe for all the world
That you're my precious little girl
But don't don't don't let's start
I've got a weak heart
And I don't get around how you get around

When you are alone you are the cat, you are the phone
You are an animal
The words I'm singing now
Mean nothing more than meow to an animal
Wake up and smell the cat food in your bank account
But don't try to stop the tail that wags the hound

D, world destruction
Over and amature
N, do I need this deductoin

Don't don't don't let's start
This is the worst part
Could believe for all the world
That you're my precious little girl
But don't don't don't let's start
I've got a weak heart
And I don't get around how you get around

No one in the world ever gets what they want and that is beautiful
Everybody dies frustrated & sad and that is beautiful
They want what they're not and I wish they would stop saying,
Deputy dog dong a ding dang depadepa
Deputy dog dong a ding dang depadepa

D, world destruction
Over and amature
N, do I need this deductoin
T, need this torture?

Don't don't don't let's start
This is the worst part
Could believe for all the world
That you're my precious little girl
But don't don't don't let's start
I've got a weak heart
And I don't get around how you get around

I don't want to live in this world anymore
I don't want to live in this world

Don't don't don't let's start
This is the worst part
Could believe for all the world
That you're my precious little girl
But don't don't don't let's start
I've got a weak heart
And I don't get around how you get around; 4/24/12, 2:51 PM
carrie said...: According to Merriam Webster on-line, one of the definitions of "love" is: "unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1): the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2): brotherly concern for others." So, maybe love wasn't such a bad word to use afterall.; 4/24/12, 2:54 PM
traditionalguy said...: Ah ha. That's weird wording.

Have the Dem's told you that the Romneys are weird lately. You know, really weird.

Expect to see the "weird" adjective or a suggestion of weirdness inserted into all Dem comments until election day.

Our own Garage threw it in about Romney yesterday.

It is a taylored version of the old Dem branding that all GOP candidates are stupid.

And have you heard about Joseph Smith's golden plates? They were weird, you know.; 4/24/12, 2:59 PM
edutcher said...: Ann Romney is a mensch and people see that. Going after her is a really bad idea.

Freder Frederson said...

Ann Romney is a shrewd competitor.

Life decisions have consequences.

Married women understand.

Yep, every woman should marry a rich guy, just like her.

Yes, being rich means you don't have to put up with petty inconveniences like cancer and MS.; 4/24/12, 2:59 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: The writer must be a gay man. A straight man immediately thinks of sex when someone mentions pouncing on a woman.; 4/24/12, 3:17 PM
Fen said...: But the comment that she “love[s]” that some women “don’t have a choice” and must work is unusual, to say the least, and could lead to a new round of charges

Only from idiots.

She's saying she loves that women who must work still find a way to prioritize raising the kids.

Team Obama must have some really bad internal polling to be this desperate.; 4/24/12, 3:23 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: "Team Obama must have some really bad internal polling to be this desperate"

Agreed- Obama can't find any chinks in the Romney armor and is flailing like a fish caught in a fisherman's net.; 4/24/12, 3:26 PM
Fen said...: Speaking of idiots...

Freder Frederson: Yep, every woman should marry a rich guy, just like her.

A self-made man? Yes, that appears to be very attactive to women.

Democrats. The Party of Envy.; 4/24/12, 3:26 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: For the Love of God what is happening here?; 4/24/12, 3:30 PM
CatherineM said...: I think what she was trying to say was that she loves that women have choices, but let's try to gin up some controversy and pretend otherwise.

And may I note, all my mom friends who are "stay at home moms" are middle to lower middle class. Whose husbands are maintainence workers for pete's sake. They are not rich. They made a choice. One car, no splashy vacations (go to the Catskills or LI beaches). I have other friends that don't "have" to work, but choose to. You don't have to be "rich" to be a stay at home mom and you don't have to be poor to be a work outside the home mom.

Enough.

What Obama needs to remember is his kids were born with "a silver spoon in their mouth," (and the Obama's will only get richer after they leave DC) and should his kids they therefore be disqualified from politics? I don't recall this hatred of wealth during the Kerry campaign either.; 4/24/12, 4:10 PM
Sydney said...: I love the fact that the writer classified the whole stay-at-home mom brouhaha as part of the "silly season" but treats this little verbal aberration as if it is a worthy scandal.; 4/24/12, 4:12 PM
CWJ said...: Freder@2:03

Yep, every Democratic presidential candidate should marry a rich heiress like John Kerry.

Sucks that sarcasm cuts both ways, doesn't it.

Now let's move on(.org), so you can get your next talking point.; 4/24/12, 4:16 PM
Anonymous said...: For the Love of God what is happening here?

The GOP nominee for Utah's 4th Congressional District.

She really gets going at about 3:00 into it.; 4/24/12, 4:20 PM
bgates said...: Yep, every woman should marry a rich guy, just like her.

Of course we understand that there aren't enough rich guys to go around at the moment, after three years of Obama.

Hey, if the women end up with the rich, can the Democrats still have their War on the Rich without stumbling in to a War on Women?; 4/24/12, 4:30 PM
harrogate said...: edutcher,

At least be honest. You mischaracterized Freder's comment awfully badly. Freder was clearly responding, not to Anne R., but to Don't Tread's comment about Anne R.

Interestingly, Don't Tread seems to be the only commenter here who is taking Anne's comment at face value, and is praising it as such.

Oh, the bar continues to rise ever more, on the quality of discussion.; 4/24/12, 4:46 PM
Toad Trend said...: Fried Freddie said

"Yep, every woman should marry a rich guy, just like her."

You say that like its a bad thing. You really ought to get a woman's take one in awhile there, Freddie.; 4/24/12, 4:47 PM
harrogate said...: Oh, now I see that several commenters are carrying on as though Freder said something he didn't. Good Lord, an entire chain reaction of stupid.; 4/24/12, 4:49 PM
CWJ said...: Harrogate,

I see you are at least doing your part to make sure that the bar stays as low as possible.

How was freder's ciroperv hyicaomment in any way a meaningful response to Don't Tread's?; 4/24/12, 4:58 PM
edutcher said...: harrogate said...

edutcher,

At least be honest. You mischaracterized Freder's comment awfully badly. Freder was clearly responding, not to Anne R., but to Don't Tread's comment about Anne R.

Like Hell.

Don't hand me that.

He quoted Don't verbatim and then said what he felt (I can't say thought).

It's his opinion of Mrs Romney as much as a response.

Spin it all you want. Hit it with all the sophistry you want.

Doesn't change what he said.

And the "chain reaction of stupid" belongs entirely to harro for trying to defend it.; 4/24/12, 4:59 PM
CWJ said...: I have no idea how the WV got embedded into my comment, but I like it. It makes at least as much sense as Freder and Harrogate. Gibberish is gibberish.; 4/24/12, 5:04 PM
harrogate said...: CWJ: Ok, perhaps I missed something. Please tell me which of these are not true:

1)Don't Tread celebrated the face value of Anne's comment, calling her a "shrewd competitor" and reminded us that "married women understand" the competitive victory that her comment, at face value, reflects.

2)Freder very reasonably disparages the idea (the idea promoted by Don't Tread, not Anne Romney, btw) that women are engaged in a competition with one another and that if they should seek to marry rich guys.

3)Several commenters afterwards miss the point. And of course no other commenters challenge Don't Tread's comment. (who would expect otherwise?)

Also, please note that I in no way believe that Anne Romney really meant to say, as she observes the landscape of women who must work and raise families at the same time, she thinks about her own economically wondrous choice and is therefore "lovin it" McDonald's style. To put those words in her mouth is inane. To put those words in her mouth and then AGREE WITH THEM, is what you call a garden variety Altnouse commenter?; 4/24/12, 5:21 PM
Toad Trend said...: Look, liberals are the first to 'pounce' about stuff like what Mrs. Romney said. Just look at Freder and harrogate's reactions to my observations. Fine.

I find it refreshing that there are those like Ann Romney that aren't overly-concerned with what the 'conventional wisdom' is, or what others 'think' she should say.

Liberal conventional wisdom is mealy-mouthed bullshit of the first order and if a couple of whiny commenters don't like it, tough.; 4/24/12, 5:29 PM
harrogate said...: So, Don't Tread, just to make sure we understand: you really think she meant it exactly like it sounds? And you celebrate what you consider to be her intent, as a refreshing break from whiny pc conventional wisdom?

Also, what do you think of the many conservatives who are saying things like, what she really means is she loves how people will do anything to support their families? Do you think these commenters are caving to the pressures of wussdom?; 4/24/12, 5:33 PM
harrogate said...: also, edutcher and/or CWJ:

either of you feel like ponying up a little intellectual honesty at this point?; 4/24/12, 5:40 PM
pm317 said...: You are so right about this. I don't like the way she uses the word love in these sentences. She also went around saying 'I love that women are talking about economy, jobs..' I hope she gets coached and acquires some polish in the way she talks. In this instance as the other she is trying to compliment women. But it is all awkward.; 4/24/12, 5:40 PM
Toad Trend said...: OK harrogate, I will play, but just one inning with you.

"you really think she meant it exactly like it sounds?

No, that is what you or someone else said. If it sounds bad to you, that may be a 'you' problem.

"And you celebrate what you consider to be her intent,..."

No.

You liberal folks are f'ing sick, you know that? You spend inordinate amounts of time putting words in people's mouths and twisting.

"...as a refreshing break from [whiny] pc conventional wisdom?"

YES. You sir, are the whiny.

Now please take your mealy-mouthed bullshit down the road.; 4/24/12, 5:40 PM
CWJ said...: Harrogate,

Actually all three. Nothing you said can be inferred from what was actually written by the parties involved. I repeat. Gibberish is gibberish.; 4/24/12, 5:43 PM
Fen said...: Gee Harro, you miss the irony while you pounce on everyone for the words they use [cough]

But just to continue your foray into Stupid, why does it offend you that women who are forced to work choose Life over killinng the inconvenient little parasites?; 4/24/12, 5:44 PM
harrogate said...: Don't Tread, my but you are clearly such an old school no-nonsense badass. Just like the words you write. Hey everybody, don't fuck with Don't Tread!

You're carrying on like a caricature. Bone bare stupid and flaunting it as though it were a mark of pride.

By all means please continue.; 4/24/12, 5:44 PM
harrogate said...: Preening, y'all have down cold.; 4/24/12, 5:46 PM
harrogate said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/24/12, 5:47 PM
Fen said...: Wormtongue gets upset that people no longer care to respond to him in good faith: "wwaaaaah its NOT FAIR!"; 4/24/12, 5:48 PM
harrogate said...: (Good thing Fen brings in his piercing mind at this juncture)

But anyway, the only way that what Romney said becomes a gaffe is if enough ignoramuses do with it what commenters here are doing.

For her sake I hope that doesn't happen. And I invite you to Observe how different her own response would/will be, from you fucking morons.; 4/24/12, 5:53 PM
Kirk Parker said...: AJL said "chink". Whoa.; 4/24/12, 5:53 PM
harrogate said...: Fen, of course, correctly identified what she meant upthread. So cheerfully we can cede that maybe it is possible, regardless of the responses to me, that every commenter here except Tread understands what she meant.; 4/24/12, 5:56 PM
Toad Trend said...: The takeaway from what Mrs. Romney said is this, in the article:

"It seems Romney was trying to express empathy for women who don’t have the option to stay at home, as she did."

If you take away that she was 'loving' or saying 'its great' that women didn't have a choice, I think you overlook that she may have chosen her words poorly. She would have nothing to gain from such a statement.

You may simply be following the age-old script of a liberal looking for a way to be offended, for political purposes.

Maybe you just want to say that she is stupid, just like all liberals say about conservative/republican women.; 4/24/12, 5:58 PM
harrogate said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/24/12, 6:01 PM
harrogate said...: Ahh, Don't Tread comes to the light of non-grunting reason, finally.

A far cry from the "shrewd competitor," "life decisions have consequences," and "married women understand" comment, but hey, better late than never.

Fen, I just noticed you brought up abortion a few comments ago. Shocking.; 4/24/12, 6:04 PM
edutcher said...: harrogate said...

also, edutcher and/or CWJ:

either of you feel like ponying up a little intellectual honesty at this point?

Clearly, he/she/it can't handle it.

Or knows it when he/she/it sees it.

PS Yesterday, he/she/it was 36sfiend. Must be tough keeping those identities straight.; 4/24/12, 6:56 PM
Lori said...: My college poetry professor (male), upon noticing I was late to class (again), circa 1982:

So, you are late because you are holding some man's (#*@)in your hand for too long? Does he have the money to support you when you fail this class and don't get your degree? Do you know that it is just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as with a poor man."

Actually, I've thought of all three questions many times over the years. Some of the best words of wisdom I ever heard from a college professor.

I recall being shocked at his forthrightness (and insight), but not at his meaning.; 4/24/12, 7:55 PM
Penny said...: So why is it that everyone assumes Ann Romney misspoke?

Maybe she was looking for her "beer summit" moment with an offended feminist.; 4/24/12, 7:58 PM
Phil 314 said...: The issue was largely dismissed after a few days as a ginned-up “silly season” controversy, but...

The "ginning"will continue!; 4/24/12, 8:31 PM
Penny said...: Phil doesn't approve of an Ann Romney "beer summit"?

He suggests gin?; 4/24/12, 10:06 PM
Penny said...: Who would disagree?

Long as there are... "refreshments".; 4/24/12, 10:11 PM
Penny said...: Like leslyn!; 4/24/12, 10:14 PM
hombre said...: And a cheer went up from the Dems in all 57 states as ThinkProgress and Kos gave the signal for a pinko petty party!; 4/24/12, 10:22 PM