Detroit (CNN) – When Mitt Romney delivered his much-hyped speech here Friday on his plans to fix the economy, much of the buzz surrounding the event focused on anything but economics.
The optics of Romney's speech, hosted and organized by the Detroit Economic Club, were not ideal for a campaign meticulous about image control.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
Weeks ago the economic club moved Romney's speech to the cavernous Detroit landmark Ford Field after the campaign said a smaller venue quickly reached capacity. But the audience of 1,200 seated on the AstroTurf in the football stadium appeared dwarfed by the 65,000 seats arcing above them on all sides.
"I guess we had a hard time finding a large enough place to meet," Romney said during his speech. "And this certainly is."
Laughter and applause from the audience were swallowed up in the giant venue, which made the response appear muted to those seated inside.
At one point Romney seemed to reference the quiet after he was asked whether he was the best candidate to challenge President Barack Obama.
"I not only think I have the best chance, I think I have the only chance. Maybe I'm overstating it a little bit," he said laughing. And he encouraged the audience to applaud by pointing out: "I, uh, that's my family leading the applause down here."
Later, Romney made an offhand remark that seemed to broadcast his wealth. A Michigander by birth, Romney told the audience he drove cars manufactured in Detroit.
"I drive a Mustang and a Chevy pickup truck," he said. "Ann drives a couple of Cadillacs actually, and I used to have a Dodge truck, so I used to have all three covered."
A campaign spokesman said Ann Romney owns two Cadillac SRXs and keeps one at each of the family's two homes. The 2012 SRX model sells for between $35,000 and $49,000.
In his speech, Romney highlighted a tax plan, outlined earlier this week, that would cut marginal tax rates for individuals by 20%.
Also see:
Maher puts one-million dollars behind pro-Obama Super PAC
Romney says Obama will 'divide 1% vs. 99%'
Jariv wrote:
Romney all the way. ... I think that will be a great success so this people can actually get some knowledge.
--------------------
This, ah, "optical illusion" is good example of what happens when you people can actually get the disease known as conservative knowledge. It makes you do and say stupid things. George W. Bush had it bad. So did Rick Perry. I think a new mutated strain must have hit Herman Cain and brainwashed him. The vaccine I hear is readily available free of charge by listening to the Politically Incorrect.
Yo Jariv, Right back at your temple self, Yall need to apoligize to the African American Race for being so racist!! Start with we are very sorry you cant become an Elder in our all white ELDER CULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL The GOP dislike for President Obama has finally turned their collective brains. I have begun to believe that the GOP contenders are all smoking crack. They seem unable to understand that most of America has gotten accustomed to having a black president. Worse yet, the economy is getting better, jobs are coming back, some from China AND the stock market broke 13,000 twice in the past couple of days. Good luck GOP.
The way this article is written represents that CNN is not a New Network but a Obama PR newtwork. Everyone know from the begining that only 1200 people will be attending. The event is about Economic plan and why doesn't CNN cover that part...because it's the one that doesn't suit Obama reelection. CNN is just doing the dirty laundry for Obama reelection campaign.. Probably Obama should be happy as these pseudo campaign costs need not be represented in actual costs...
Ha!! He could have held that "rally" in a Denny's parking lot.
Wow, I never knew I had so much in common with Mitt Romney. He has five cars for two people, and I have two cars for five people! Gotta go now and call my banker in the Caymans...
Jariv
Romney all the way. Maybe he can mandate all the stupid people liker John, Wire Palladin, and so many more democrats to take some history lessons, some science, and some personal development classes. I think that will be a great success so this people can actually get some knowledge.
Romney 2012 !!!
Seriously, you took history classes? Well I was wrong about ALL Republicans having short term memory issues. Maybe you can recant to us the story of how this Country came out of the 90's w/ a budget surpluss and a thriving economy only to end up to our eyeballs in dept w/ a crumbling infrastructura and in two worthless bloodsucking wars w/ a collapsed economy after two terms of Republican control. If you can get it right w/out Fox New revisionism talking points, I'll let you stay in during recess and clean the chalkboard.
Yo Jariv, answer the mans question, why Mitt? Go on wit your badself John!!!
Steve, it is people like you that make this country in the state it is in. Going to kegger parties in high school, isn't that illegal when you are in high school. Did you even do your homework? Oh, sorry you are to drunk to do your homework. You read one article and believe everything that it says. The Detroit Economic Club are the ones who found the venue and put this all together for Romney. Romney is the only one amongst all the candidates to put this country back on it's feet. I wish that the American people would have a mind of their own and do their homework on all issues. We have way too many people just listening to the media without researching the information they were given to make up their own minds!!! Go MITT!!!!!!
DENNA
... Worse yet, the economy is getting better, jobs are coming back, some from China AND the stock market broke 13,000 twice in the past couple of days.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
And the $16 trillion debt is still rising, Medicare runs out of money in 2024 and Social Security runs out in 2036. Obama's answer? An unfunded Payroll Tax cut so Social Security runs out even earlier? He is incapable of managing the American federal government. He apparently doesn't care about any of this. Romney 2012!
For all the people that think there are not any blacks in the LDS church, you have never been to Africa. The church is very strong there and so are it's members, especially the black ones.
Jariv – Thank God you did not get trampled at the Mittens rally at Ford Field. I was worried you could have been hurt in the mosh pit.
I think that it's more likely that there are 600 people there. The people in the back are reporters. If you count out ten people in the main section and extrapolate how many groups of ten people there are, that seems closer to 600 than 1200 to me.
But they're all probably wealthy so they count for more than regular people. At least that's what Mitt and Citizens United say.
Four – Be patient grasshopper. It takes a while to dig out of a near republican depression. When the president gets people back to work, the national debt and social security will be all right. Wish you could convince your disgusting party to help, but no.
Jariv-
"and so many more democrats to take some history lessons, some science, and some personal development classes."
Democrats aren't the ones that deny science.
If we include TARP and Bush's last year, $12 trillion of our debt is due to republican leadership.
Yo AMY, get your facts STRAIGHT, 0, YES 0, YES 0, YES 0 BLACK ELDERS IN YOUR CULT!!!!!!!!!! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?????????????????? YOO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I AM TAKIN BOUT , DONT PLAY DUMB!
Jariv,before you make comments that someone don't know what they are talking about. Try reading and then make an intelligent summary. I know it hard but try it
The most simple reason for failure of GM Chrysler and Ford is UAW. The first and foremost thing that Obama Administration should have done is removing unions rather than giving federal money. Ever heard the word thown to the sharks... thats what happened after the bailout with UAW becoming one of the major stake holder in the new GM and Chrysler. Lets look at the basic figures
GM Ford Chrysler Toyota Honda
1. Wage $39.68 $28.88 $29.15 $24 $24
2. Value of Benefits $33.58 $41.63 $46.71 $24 $24
3. Compensation (Wages and Benefits) $73.26 $70.51 $75.86 $48 $48
are these the salaries that can be afforded in a manufacturing plant that competes with overseas market where human resources are chear...
A white collar worker makes less including benefits compared to what the manufacturing worker makes in Detroit. The average salary paid for a developer in IT is 100K including benefits...but at 70$/hr avg, the Detroit manufacturing workers are earning way more than white color jobs ( perhaps it happens only in USA courtesy of Democrats/UAW). the bailouts are made not to recover the companies but to strengthen the reelection chances at the cost of the stake holders and bondholders...How can one explain giving a stake to UAW when it is the source of the problem..Obama made good investment of the government money for his reelection. By the way what dis the ultimate result of the bailout...structured bankruptcy...employee cut off by 22,000 (just in GM not including delerships closed)...13 of the 47 plants closed , brands that have been developed for years are shelved instead of being sold for some money... ultimate result.. increase in Obama's reelection chances at the expense of Tax payers money
Wire Palladin, S. F.
Four – Be patient grasshopper. It takes a while to dig out of a near republican depression...
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
You can't get out if you are going in the wrong direction. The only improvements we have seen came after the mid-term elections. Thank goodness the American voters came out in force and the Republicans have done a fantastic job doing what they promised since taking the House. Finally someone looking out for the population and the nation instead of the Party and their special interest groups. In November we will complete the shellacking. Very soon Democrats who want to get elected again will start distancing themselves from Obama. By October he will be a lonely man.
Bad optics? How about stupidity.
Not sure I would show 1000 folks in an empty stadium, it might get people recalling when in 2008 President Obama not only filled stadiums but had that crowd size outside watching on giant flat screens.
I particularly like the "crowd control" barriers, looks a bit extreme, but to be safe, the barriers were suggested in case any of the unwashed masses comprising the 99% should show up!
It is very interesting that every Sunday that I go to worship my savior in the pew next to me is a black man sitting with his family. And yes, he is an Elder in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Next time you want accuse me of lying maybe you need to read up on the information you are trying to accuse me of lying about!!! The END!!!
Yea Jariv, What he said! I truely believe that The US should cut off the Tax Exempt unless this CULT enacts a brother all up in that Cult, then, & ONLY THEN I will call it a true Religion!
Lol, lmfao, or any other smiley face icon or stupid internet jargin can not express how hard im laughing! Obama fills stadiums and romney likes to hear his voice echoing through empty chambers! It gets more clear every day that obama wins in a landslide! And dont brag about houses and cars dummy! You do remember mccain last election, with the 12 houses and 20 cars? Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Can a brother become an Elder all up in that Cult??? Tax exempt Status revoked!!!!