Republican leadership needs to lay off Romney. All this crazy distancing by the Jindals and Gingrichs, this sudden epiphany that the reason republicans cannot connect with the American majority is because we aren't actually gift-seeking individuals is wrong. We do like gifts. We love them! We want more of them! We just aren't particularly fond of the types of gifts you're willing to give, Republicans.
I see you creepin' Tea Party Patriot! I know you're there Redstater. I smell the stench of you hoverin' Freepers. You think this is an "A-ha!" moment. "A-ha!" you say. "Evidence! That fool Leavingthezoo just totally fessed up to being bought by Obama! Damn, cheap Democrat. She probably got a pony."
Much to my chagrin, I did not get a pony.
But here is what I did get. In exchange for my vote, after hearing the offers from two severely different men, I received a leader with personal integrity, concern for the common man, woman and child, a man who listens, a man who would sacrifice his time to improve the world, a man who champions for equal rights, fair pay, affordable healthcare, and betterment of a nation, and a man who calculates risk before acting, but takes action decisively and knowledgeably. These are the gifts promised that bought me. Pretty tricky of that Obama guy, huh?
But, here's the thing. I'm going to do you a favor, Republicans. I'm going to make this as easy for you to comprehend as can possibly be done. While you were promising gifts to CEOs, the profoundly (and dare I say obscenely) rich, the insurers, the bankers and Wallstreet, Obama was listening intently to the needs of a nation. The real gift he promised us, the one that matters most, is that he would hear our voice, and try to govern for all people. You want to right your elephant, then climb down off of him and view us as "We the People", not "You, the easily bought."
You think the "made up" free gifts Obama offered us is something of concern, but what should most concern you is the free gifts he was given by "we, the people". We are the Hispanic man, who has provided this nation with a wealth of honest days' work, whose vote was given as a gift. We are the gay couple, in a state without marriage equality, whose votes were given as a gift. We are the Mom and Pop shop, who fight tooth and nail to provide health insurance to our valued employees, whose votes were given as a gift. We are the insured and uninsured, who both recognize the value of affordable healthcare, whose votes were given as a gift. We are the African-American teachers, who buys supplies out of our own pockets for students who deserve an education, and our vote was given as a gift. We are white. We are poor. We are rich. We are workers. We are business owners. We are Christians, non-Christians, and everything in-between. We are veterans, students, leaders and we are Americans. And, quite honestly Republicans, we're not interested in the gifts your giving. We don't want the gifts of division, drums of war, unequal rights, diminished citizenship, political threats, or religious control. We want freedom. Real freedom. You know, that thing you wave like a banner, but refuse to share with the rest of us.
Romney didn't lose because Obama promised gifts. Romney lost because the majority of America wants a president who reflects its values. Not the manufactured values that sound good in word, but are lacking in deed, but the values that champion every citizen. See, we see your lips moving, but the long trail of disregard, lack of integrity, policy that hurts Americans and backhanded smugness drown out the sound. Distancing yourselves from Romney isn't going to fix it. You're going to have to distance yourselves from your own policies, prejudices, injustices and hypocrisy. You're going to have to distance yourselves... from you.