Lessons Learned

Helen-Margaret Nasser

Unless you have not turned on a TV or picked up a newspaper or read the news on your new iPhone 5 within the past week then you must have heard the endless attacks on Mitt Romney for his latest campaign foible. In what he described as "inelegant" remarks, Romney's comments were directed towards the 47% percent of Americans who are dependent on the government, according to his estimations. The audio tape, taken from a fundraiser in a private home in May, is replete with fodder for the Obama campaign as Romney makes gaffe after gaffe.

While I do not at all agree with Romney's comments, I'm not in the least surprised by them. Simply consider his audience. Consider his setting. The event was a dinner that cost $50,000 a plate hosted by and attended by Romney supporters. What would you expect him to say? These types of events are pep rallies, opportunities to solidify the cheerleaders of your team. If you are the star quarterback, you are going make sure you are on your A-game and deliver crowd-pleaser after crowd-pleaser. Mitt merely delivered the play.

Romney's comments have made center stage because their inelegance has been painted as out of touch and offensive. Nevertheless, the parameters of what is considered to be politically correct are blurred on both camps as the election draws nearer. Don't you think Obama would have similar anti-53% comments in a room full of Obama supporters? How else would a politician be expected to rally support and build his base?

In short, this is campaign season - crunch time! Each candidate will say anything at anytime to any specific audience to please and gain their support. Unless you are a novice, these types of comments should not be surprising.

What else is considered a cardinal rule of campaigning? Making sure that these types of comments don't get leaked to ruin your campaign. A perhaps wiser Romney once said in 2007 "Running for president in the Youtube era, you realize you have to be very judicious in what you say...you have to recognize that anytime you're running for the presidency of the United States, you're on."

It might have taken him a few years, but I think Mitt Romney has learned that lesson now.