Video: GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Leno
posted at 1:08 am on May 3, 2007 by Bryan
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Gotta say, he was pretty impressive. He can take a joke, he can (kind of) deliver one, and he definitely knows an applause line. Regarding his debunked claim to be a life-long hunter, well played. He scores a couple of goals on Pelosi and Reid–and gets some support from Leno’s audience.
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Hey Bryan yes I agree he was impressive and polished but it is Leno so hope you weren’t expecting hardballs thrown. I mean Obama looked good too. I still have to go with a gut feeling and I’m still not sure about Romney there is something seedythere cant put a finger on it. Oh well wehave 8 months whens Fred gonna throw his hat in?
Kevin43 on May 3, 2007 at 1:53 AM
Rudy still strikes me as the most capable of shoving a bomb down al-Qaeda’s collective throat, and the most eager to. Romney is holding second place for me, and I’m not joining Fredmania until I hear more from him and his take on the war.
Plus, you just know Rudy has the far greater certainty of stomping Hillary than Romney does, and that alone should clinch the nomination for him.
Romney is sopolished, it makes me just a little uneasy, too.
Halley on May 3, 2007 at 2:11 AM
I think Romney is a cyborg from the future, and tomorrow at the debate, when he sees Arnold sitting in the crowd, there will be a massive brawl involving lasers and the such.
JG2K6 on May 3, 2007 at 2:41 AM
Yes, Mitt is certainly an impressive enough speaker, even with the qualifications suggested above. He can be funny; he can be grave; and he can be charming.
Romney clearly outshines all other Republicans when he’s got a slew of semi-extemporaneous talking points and even more so when he’s truly speaking extemporaneously (think YouTube’s carrying of the Romney-Kennedy Senatorial ‘94 debate, upon re-dredging up to which Team Mitt had uploaded a video of Mitt doing a radio show in response, which was publicized within hours of the negative ad surfacing).
Not many were paying attention, but that was one of the most salient moments of the 2008 race for me – Romney showing that he can shoot from the hip, speak off the cuff (or whatever metaphor you prefer).
This wasn’t his best performance tonight, but as the race converges more and more on televised appearances, Romney only stands to gain among the GOP field. Great speaker, tremendous poise, incredible telepresence, and the most Presidentially goregous coiffe we’ve seen since 1980 (and I’ll bet it ran him less than $400).
As for foreign policy impact, bear in mind that the worst Republican candidate among the announced field would be “frostier” (to use Dennis Miller’s word) than the most hawkish of Democrats. If ever there were a Presidential prospective who at least pretended to be serious about the Global War on Terror, it was Hillary. Happily (or maybe unhappily), she’s showing her true colors early, in response to the electorate swinging left and swinging defeatist.
flip on May 3, 2007 at 2:44 AM
Rudy’s got solid executive experience, but with his baggage he just can’t deliver a line like “the most important work in America is happening between the four walls of the American home.” That’s a very important concept to go up against the left’s “it takes a village.” I usually don’t have much use for the words that politicians say, but in this case it reminds me of how Romney would pick his Supreme Court nominees. I really have no idea how Rudy would pick his nominees.
pedestrian on May 3, 2007 at 2:45 AM
Smoooooth. I love Romney. Again, why is being extremely articulate and refined a bad thing? It’s like you guys are looking for fault where it doesn’t exist. As for me, I’m really liking Rudy, Mitt, and Fred, not sure which more. I’d be happy with either, frankly, but Rudy is the most electable so he gets the slight nod right now.
Patriot33 on May 3, 2007 at 3:26 AM
RE: Rabbits
Hey, they can be dangerous, just ask Jimmy Carter. (someone had to say it)
- The Cat
MirCat on May 3, 2007 at 3:53 AM
Contrast this with Conan (the only one of these shows I actually watch) who is doing the show from San Francisco this week. The crowd’s cheer the most idiotic crap, including the set-up for a joke the other night where he said something to the effect of “Big story in the news today – Mayor Gavin Newsom has announced that San Francisco will be a sanctuary city”. The crowd cheered wildly at this… then angrily booed (jokingly back) at the punchline which was something like “Yeah, Newsom also announced that the city will be changing it’s name to Los Angeles”.
RightWinged on May 3, 2007 at 4:39 AM
MITT!
csdeven on May 3, 2007 at 7:29 AM
I’m wit Mitt!
Doug on May 3, 2007 at 7:42 AM
That’s the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on!
Carter- You tit! I soiled my wranglers I was so scared!
Look, that rabbit’s got a vicious streak a mile wide! It’s a killer!
Perhaps Carter thought he was in possession of the “Holy Boat Oar”?
RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!
csdeven on May 3, 2007 at 7:43 AM
I’m wit Mitt, too!
Anyone spot Leno’s Mormon joke/jab?
Brat on May 3, 2007 at 8:09 AM
I have to admit Mitt has really impressed me the past few months…I can’t say he’s my #1 at the moment but I think I could definitely vote for him.
DCJeff on May 3, 2007 at 8:11 AM
wow, I don’t watch Leno much but the audience response was very heartening. Especially the applause at the Pelosi/Reid comment and the United We Stand comment. I’d expect a pretty liberal audience out there.
ctmom on May 3, 2007 at 8:23 AM
While I’m firmly in the grip of “Fredmania” I have to admit that I like Mitt a lot (and more each time I hear him speak). I like the line about Arnold and lasers and such.
Buzzy on May 3, 2007 at 8:37 AM
Plus, you just know Rudy has the far greater certainty of stomping Hillary than Romney does, and that alone should clinch the nomination for him.
Romney is so polished, it makes me just a little uneasy, too.
Halley on May 3, 2007 at 2:11 AM
I want to wait and see what the polls are saying next year. I hope if someone overtakes Rudy in the polls, that they will have the poll numbers to defeat the traitor the dems put up. I’m going to be very dissapointed if the reps end up eating Rudy and that leaves no one left to beat the traitorous dems.
I want a president to be polished. It presents an air of statesmanship that I believe this country needs in a president. Even with the class George and Laura have brought to the office, 8 years of blowjobs in the oval office by Clinton and the utter disdain for it by Hillary is still a stain on this countrys image. We need another 8 years of class. And good conservative policy too. In that light, I’d vote for a less polished candidate with decent conservative leanings if that’s all we have to defeat the traitorous dems.
csdeven on May 3, 2007 at 8:38 AM
Don’t expect too much from this debate. I’m going to be looking for the candidate that takes a chance on distancing himself from the field.
csdeven on May 3, 2007 at 8:40 AM
I thought he did a nice job and loved the reference to Senator Vandenberg….our current leaders would do well to remember that..
Pam on May 3, 2007 at 8:40 AM
I have always liked Mitt. I think I could actually vote for him and not feel like I voted for the lesser of two evils. But then, I’ve had that feeling before and was let down.
lynnv on May 3, 2007 at 8:41 AM
If Fred doesn’t get into the race, then I would rather have Mitt than Rudy.
gmaninatl on May 3, 2007 at 9:06 AM
Yes, but I don’t think it was a jab. The point of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir reference is not that they’re Mormons, but that there are 360 members. They’re the reference standard for ‘lots of people on the same stage’.
The Monster on May 3, 2007 at 9:17 AM
People keep saying that they’re not excited about any of the candidates in the field. I used to see it that way, too, but now I have to say that there’s a bunch to be excited about. I really wouldn’t mind if any of them (except Charles) got the nomination.
amerpundit on May 3, 2007 at 9:25 AM
Yeah, I don’t think it was a jab, either. When you look at Romney, most people don’t think “He’s a Mormon”. Jay just picked something that had a lot of members standing up on a stage.
amerpundit on May 3, 2007 at 9:26 AM
There is a singing group made up of very low IQ persons. Because they get really agitated when they eat the wrong foods, they are limited to apples and TAB soda.
The name of the group?
The moron tab and apple choir.
csdeven on May 3, 2007 at 9:26 AM
Did anyone see Leno talk to D.L. Hughley before Mitt? They spoke of the Imus situation and D.L. was on the side of free speech and told some pretty good jokes about Sharpton and Jackson. He also agreed that the Rutgers players weren’t “the H word” but were still nappy headed and one ugly bunch of girls. No outrage?
icelandicfarmer on May 3, 2007 at 9:26 AM
Must admit, this actually made me interested in Romney again. I remember seeing his ad here on hotair a while back I believe, and since then I’ve really only known.. well, ‘about’ him.
In related news, I’ll be heading to Massachusetts in June. Kennedy country, I believe.
Could be interesting.
Reaps on May 3, 2007 at 9:36 AM
Point taken, amerpundit and Monster. I don’t want to seem Mormon sensitive, but Leno would have never said to Obama that the Dem “press conference” (debate) looked like a gospel choir.
And there was just too much talk about Mitt’s hair. I don’t hear anyone ask Barry about his nap or Hill about her highlights. But hey, they joked about Reagan’s hair, too. Mitt seems to take it all in good-humored stride.
Brat on May 3, 2007 at 9:52 AM
I can’t understand “pundits” who say that there is no enthusiasm for the Republican Presidential candidates among conservatives. Is this wishful thinking, or based on credible research?
I think we have a fabulous bunch of candidates, with the exception of McCain who has the right position on Iraq but is wrong on just about everything else.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2007 at 10:31 AM
I heart Mitt. *sigh*
foxforce91 on May 3, 2007 at 10:42 AM
He DOES have The HelMitt hair ….MADE for TV….and isn’t that what we, as AMERICANS, are all about anymore, the cable nursing LOT OF US?????
Give us pretty. Screw substance.
PPffttt……..
seejanemom on May 3, 2007 at 11:03 AM
That’s good stuff. He earned a lot of points from this appearance and seems to have really good joke writers. I’ve always said he’s kind of the dark horse candidate in this race, you can’t count him out.
Jim-Rose on May 3, 2007 at 11:10 AM
He is everything that W isn’t.
He is quick on his feet, charismatic, articulate, anti-illegal alien, and a leader.
I believe he will hold to Bush’s objectives in the Middle East and do a far better job of rallting Americans around the cause because he will better articulate the reasons for being there and he will be the leader we need.
The ONLY thing that W is, that I wish Mitt would become, is a Christian! To me, it is a character flaw to be involved in a cult religion. It demonstrates a weakness: the need to belong to some group, a need so great that even a cult will do.
However, to me this in no worse than having someone claim to be Christian and then support all things that go against Christian doctrine. How many so-called Christians also call themselves liberal democrats? It just doesn’t jive!
LonelyMassRepublican on May 3, 2007 at 11:58 AM
If Romney is the nominee, it is a certainty that the MSM will bring up the, uh, “weirder” sides of Mormonism. They will do this effectively, and many, many people of goodwill – even on the Right – will be appalled.
It’s something to consider.
Halley on May 3, 2007 at 12:18 PM
I think Mitt was fantastic last night (and I’m a Fred!er).
If Mitt is our nominee, I agree with Halley:
Expect a sh*tload of news “investigations” about polygomy cults in Utah
omnipotent on May 3, 2007 at 12:29 PM
*shrugs* Yes, you guys are bringing out how horrible it is to belong to Mormonism. If only Mitt would become a Baptist!
Perhaps it is BECAUSE he’s Mormon that he’s doing so well? Yes, the media will try to make hay, but that will happen regardless of which candidate comes out.
And besides–there’s more Mormons than Jews in the world now, I believe. Most people likely have met a few. And you know what? We are normal people. We don’t sacrifice goats in the backyard. We don’t worship space ships.
And we are Christian. The name of the church is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” So please, please, PLEASE give it a rest with the “Mormons aren’t Christian” bit. Simply because we don’t do the whole Nicene creed doesn’t mean we aren’t Christian. Sheesh.
Vanceone on May 3, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Mitt’s a good second. Still like Fred! !
opusrex on May 3, 2007 at 12:53 PM
Seejanemom, the substance is there. Smart, articulate, good morals, strongly anti illegal immigration, pro second amendment, deep and full understanding about Constitutional law both in letter and spirit, against cutting and running from WOT, in favor of strict constructionist judges who won’t legislate from the bench… What exactly is the substance you are looking for?
And for those worried about the MSM pushing the crazy mormon angle. Yes they will try but it won’t matter. As long as Mitt has a chance to introduce himself and talk to the American people the only result will be the American people will no longer fear mormonism. If the MSM tries to stick Mitt with the “crazy” lable it just won’t stick. Just as Reagan was known to be the “tethlon President” Mitt will have the same ability to make unjust labels and critisisms slide off. If Rudy was a mormon he’d be in trouble. Mitt will be fine. Its kind of funny how the MSM never mentions the fact that Harry Reid is a mormon too.
Zetterson on May 3, 2007 at 2:18 PM
The tenets of the LDS faith are completely natural to the saints, BUT those same beliefs are a threat to the Nicean creed followers. And you have never seen a meaner bunch of hypocritical jerk-offs than “christians” who think they, and only they, preach the “truth”.
The MSM wont have to start the attacks on Mitt! because the a$$hole “christians”, jealous with rage, will be more than happy to oblige.
If you doubt me, just vist your local evangelical fundemantalist church’s website and chances are good that you’ll see entire websites devoted to trashing decent people of the LDS faith who believe in Jesus Christ.
csdeven on May 3, 2007 at 4:01 PM
Vanceone – no one, I believe, is implying that Mormons aren’t Christians. I’m non-aligned churchwise, for the record. And I’ll take Mormon family values over those of the Left any day. But there are aspects of the LDS faith that can, and will, be used against Romney should he be the nominee. It’s just a fact. It’s like if he were a Buddhist. Buddhists don’t believe there’s a God, but can be great people – and will never, ever be elected POTUS. So much of LDS is so far from mainstream USA when you start digging into the beliefs, that – given the virulently hostile media – the negatives of a Mormon candidacy just cannot be taken out of consideration. I’d personally be happy to vote for Romney, but I fear the MSM would have such a devastating field day with him that Hillary would barely have to campaign at all to walk into the White House in 2009.
Halley on May 3, 2007 at 5:18 PM
You are totally correct. The LDS have a real committment to the prophet of the church. I can hear the complaints now that Mitt! will defer to the prophet every chance he gets.
And that’s the EASY stuff because the Dems Senate majority leader is LDS and no one accuses him of deferring to the prophet.
Nope, the stupid “christians” (I call them that because they are not true Christians) will lead the charge to defeat Mitt! in the primary. It wont matter to them how he polls against the dems potential candidate because they are bigoted fools. The rest of us will vote for which ever rep has the best chance of winning the general.
The sad part is, regardless of his contributions to society, he’s going to be crucified for his religious beliefs and he wont deserve it.
csdeven on May 3, 2007 at 5:50 PM
The media already tried to play up the Mormon angle when he ran for govenor. It didn’t have any traction.
Does anyone else notice how much coverage the cancer of Edwards wife got, but his wife has MS and nobody cares.
Resolute on May 3, 2007 at 7:39 PM
I hope you’re right because the guy deserves to be judged on his positions and not his religion. It isn’t like Mormons are jihadists.
The movie “September Dawn” is coming out just in the nick of time to screw Mitt! to the wall.
csdeven on May 3, 2007 at 10:48 PM
Is it just me but he does not seem like he is very smart. He just seems like a male blond. May be it is the hair?
He has that wonderful background story about how he met his wife when he was 18 and she like 15. Hummm 18 and 15? I guess he must be a conservative, he’s a pedophile. (I am kidding, and Mark Foley did not break law by sending text messages soliciting sex from young male pages. What hole did he crawl in?
gmcjetpilot on May 4, 2007 at 3:32 AM
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