If you ever needed more proof that Mitt Romney's "47%" and "gifts" remarks are views shared by those closest to him, wonder no more. In an op-ed in the Washington Post today, the Romney campaign chief strategist Stuart Stevens, defending his boss's failed campaign (and thus his own repuation) had this to say:
On Nov. 6, Mitt Romney carried the majority of every economic group except those with less than $50,000 a year in household income. That means he carried the majority of middle-class voters. While John McCain lost white voters under thirty by 10 points, Romney won those voters by seven points, a 17-point shift. Obama recieved 41/2 million fewer voters in 2012 than 2008, and Romney got more votes than McCain.
Not exactly subtle.
TPM minces no words with the opening sentence of its summary of the op-ed:
Mitt Romney can take some solace in his devastating loss on Nov. 6: at least he won the voters who really count.
Further malarky from Stevens:
According to Stevens, "The Republican Party has problems, but as we go forward, let's remember that any party that captures the majority of the middle class must be doing something right," As a result, "Republican ideals - Mitt Romney - carried the day."
Except, you know, among those stupid lower-class and poor people and they don't really count anyway. Why doesn't Stevens just come out and say he longs for the early days of the Republicn when only white male property owners could vote?
TPM's Benjy Sarlin, who wrote the summary, notes the contradiction here:
The argument that poorer voters are inherently inferior seems to undercut the campaign's central message over the last two years: that Romney's top conern was providing jobs for the jobless.
Good point. But as well all know now from the 47% video and Mitt's "gifts" comments, that was a lie. We all know now what Mitt thinks about those he considers his lessers. And Stevens only seems to back his boss's real feelings.
Stevens notably never mentioned jobs and unemployment in his op-ed, instead focusing on how Romney championed, "the moral case for free enterprise and conservative economics."
Of course. But that didn't help you win. And Sarlin can't help but twist the knife at the end.
Unfortunately for Romney, poor and minority votes counted just the same as the allegedly superior votes Stevens favored.