On the campaign bus interview (with the terrible optics of Ann Romney half hidden behind Mitt's shoulder) enabler David Gregory tried to give the Romneys a helping hand and yet another opportunity to try and make themselves sound like real humans with actual feelings towards others.
Ann Romney talked and talked, but still did not sound convincing that she and her husband really, really are not terrible people. Playing the victim card (which was only a matter of time) she complained that 'Mitt has been 'demonized'.
David Gregory said "you had an opportunity to talk about yourself and to talk about your husband, and to talk about how he is connected to people and your family. At the Democratic convention there was a line that sort of went to this charge that neither one of you is empathetic, the line was from Julian Castro who said you just don't know how good you've had it. How did that sit with you?
Mitt and I do recognize that we have not had a financial struggle in our lives. But I want people to believe in their hearts that we know what it is like to struggle. And our struggles have not been financial but they have been with health and difficulties and different things in life. And one thing that I again would like to tell people is that MS has been my teacher at times it has been a cruel teacher but it has also been a great gift in my life because what is has done is taught me to be more compassionate and more caring for others that are suffering.
And I know that people are suffering right now. For people to think that we don't have empathy just because we're not suffering like they're suffering is, is, ridiculous! Its' ridiculous to think that you can't have empathy for someone that's struggling. Our life has always been devoted to those that are struggling more than we are. I was grateful for the opportunity at the convention that others to speak up and talk about the kind of lives we've led and in particular for Mitt who really has been demonized in many ways as being heartless.
And for people to stand up and say excuse me he was there when my son was dying of leukemia he came to my sons' bedside there's hundreds of stories that haven't been told and it was refreshing to me for the American people to see the lens through which I see my husband and the persepctive through which he operates.
Is there anything more repugnant than trying to turn the tables and play the victim card by whining that this vulture capitalist who has ruined the lives of thousands of people, (yes, including Joe Soptic's) has been
demonized? No matter how many times she keeps telling us what a wonderful guy Mitt is Americans prefer President Obama in every category, including
loyal friend, nurse, and ship captain.
This little speech of Ann's was clearly prepared in anticipation of this 'question' being asked. All this time to come up with something and still Ann can't convince people that she can empathize with others. No matter how many times she keeps insisting they have empathy, somehow it's just not convincing. While it might be 'ridiculous' to think that someone is incapable of empathy just because they haven't struggled, you Ann Romney, have not shown any evidence of the ability to empathize. None. Just insisting that you have learned to be compassionate, is not enough. Not to mention that acknowledging after all that she knows that they haven't endured financial struggles contradicts with her tale of hardship in her speech at the convention, eating tuna casserole off an ironing board dining table. Which as it happens a Democratic PAC just intends to use in an upcoming ad, sure to spark some controversy.
It seems Julian Castro got it exactly right - Ann Romney really has no idea how good she's had it.