Super PAC uses Olympic 'opening ceremony' to hit Romney in ad
(CNN) - The super PAC backing President Barack Obama uses the Olympic "parade of nations" to mock Mitt Romney's reported overseas investment accounts in a television ad released Wednesday.
The minute-long ad from Priorities USA is set to air in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia during broadcasts of the London Olympics, the group said. The games begin Friday.
An official with the group said the ad was part of a larger $20 million television and Internet push "to educate voters about Mitt Romney's business record and policies that hurt middle class families."
The spot features an announcer detailing Romney's accounts as video rolls of past Olympic opening ceremonies.
"Welcome to the Olympics!" the announcer says. "There’s Mitt Romney, who ran the Salt Lake City Games, waving to China – home to a billion people. Thousands owe their jobs to Mitt Romney’s companies."
Romney, who will attend the London opening ceremony as part of a three-nation foreign tour, was the president and CEO of the Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2002.
His campaign frequently cites his experience there by saying he turned around a failing operation into one of the most successful games in history.
The spot latches onto a now-familiar attack line from Obama's team, which has hit its rival for reportedly shipping jobs overseas during his time as chief executive of Bain Capital.
Romney's team counters that he left Bain before the firm invested in companies that outsourced jobs, though some records indicate he was still listed as the firm's CEO.
The Romney campaign has also pointed to a nonpartisan fact-check from FactCheck.Org, which poked holes in the "outsourcer" claims, and recently launched a new offensive accusing the president of outsourcing jobs through his administration's trade policies and loan guarantee program.
The Priorities ad ticks off a host of foreign countries as footage rolls of delegates entering an Olympic stadium.
"India, which also gained jobs thanks to Romney, an outsourcing pioneer. And Burma, where Romney had the uniforms made for the 2002 games," the announcer says, before moving on to countries that are regarded as offshore tax havens.
"We know the Swiss have a special place in Mitt Romney's wallet – er – heart," the announcer says. "He kept millions in Swiss banks – those Swiss sure know how to keep a secret. Speaking of secrets, there's Bermuda. Home to a secretive corporation set up by Romney. No one knows why. And Romney won’t tell. And the Cayman Islands. Where Romney keeps millions to avoid U.S. taxes."
The ad concludes: "You gotta say this about Mitt Romney. He sure knows how to go for the gold - for himself."
Democrats have also used this line of attack on Romney in the past, claiming the presumptive GOP nominee isn't being transparent enough in only disclosing two years of personal income tax information. Romney has released his income tax return from 2010, and has vowed to release his 2011 return when his accountant completes it. He did release an estimate of his 2011 taxes.
Romney's campaign says that level of disclosure is beyond what is legally required of presidential candidates, and is plenty of information for voters to decide between Romney and Obama.
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Seeing more negative ads from our leader. One might think he would garner more votes proving to America what his "hope and change" has done for this country instead of harping negatives on his opponent! This voter is still wondering. Obama can keep his change! It stinks!.
somebody wrote:
And yet 4 years later Obama has not disclosed his college records.
And yet 2 years later Obama conceals inormation from Congress on Fast & Furious gun running.
And yet you continue to support this empty suited fraud, cloaked in secrecy
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Dumb.
Dumber.
Medic.
Demanding college transcripts is code language for birthers. The main whistle blower for Fast and Furious was appointed by the Bush administration and most of the "illegal" acts that were performed were committed by the whistle blower himself. Besides, AZ gun laws prohibited them from doing anything to stop someone from walking into a store, buying 20-30 weapons, and then selling them in the parking lot.
For Woman in California – I agree with you. During the Republican primary debates, Mitt Romney made a point of threatening a trade war with China if it continued to keep the Chinese Renminbi low in comparison to the United States Dollar. Such talk is similar to Ron Paul wanting the US dollar to be replaced by the gold standard. Why would anyone advocate a strong Chinese currency against maintaining the US dollar as the global currency exchange standard? If Romney made significant investments in China then we would understand why he wants a strong Chinese currency now. Romney would make windfall profits at the expense to the American people. Is this the type of American values and exceptionalism that conservatives want?
Hey @FORWARD into…
Maybe you’re not old enough to realize that the “Tax Man” line (“that’s one for you, nineteen for me”) is a reflection on the 95% tax rate charged to the highest earners in England in the 1966 when that tune was written. In that same year, the tax rate on the highest earners here in America was 91%.
I know it flies in the face of your narrative of tax loving Democrats, but today’s top earners (who Republicans are beholden to) pay far less than HALF of the tax rate of the 1960s. Tax rates for your republican “job creators” are the lowest they have been in 50 years. So why now are taxes “job killers” when the American economy was booming in the 1960s with those high rates?
Great tune, though. Revolver…great album.
When will Romney start to lead in national polls?
For more than ten months, Romney and his allies have been attacking the president on every issue.
It seems the American people are no longer paying attention to Romney's rantings.
To FORWARD into the Obama FISCAL ABYS, I really want to know why his college transcripts matter. He has been president for over three years. What possible difference would it make? And more to the point, if you saw his transcripts and his grades were average or poor, you would say I told you so and continue to not support him. If his grades were good you would say either they are forged or grades don’t matter and continue to not support him. Then you would move on to the next ‘secret’ he is keeping from us.
Rommey has history of destroying his past business and government affairs, but the right just love a crooked businessman to run the Government. Say alot about the current Republican party, they are ready to tear down President Obama as being foreign and Community worker, at least he was honest at it and leave a paper trail for us to follow.
Romney's a fraud and Republicans Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry, Ron Paul and crazy Bachmann all told Americans about him. Obama's not running negative ads, they were already run for him, he's just reinforcing them by reminding people of the truth about Romney.
@Rudy NYC,
You are more crazy than a birther is you really believe wanting to see Obama's college records is code words for a birther. If Obama's college records are so inocent, why not release them? What reason does Obama have for hiding his college records other than there if something in them that would harm him? Everyone on the left seems to beleive Obama is the most brilliant man ever to hold his office. Maybe Obama was a C student like Bush and Kerry and wants to hide it to protect his image. Or maybe there is someting worse. If Obama is so brilliant, why not prove it and release his college records? What is he afraid of, what is he hiding? Intellegent people want to know.
Mitt Romney is going to the Olympics to make sure his made in China USA uniforms tags are fully visible for the whole world to see! And by the way, his noble horse gets two tags! Go China...I mean USA!!!
TEAPARTY MIKE wrote:
@Rudy NYC,
You are more crazy than a birther is you really believe wanting to see Obama's college records is code words for a birther. If Obama's college records are so inocent, why not release them?
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"Papers, please." Same difference, whether your asking for a birth certificate or transcripts. it is coded language for birtherism. You seem to have forgotten where the whole idea to see Pres. Obama's college transcripts originated. It came for the King Birther himself, Donald Trump. It's coded language for birtherism.
Ron Paul... we need you.
@ Teaparty Mike
I don't believe for a minute that Barack Obama was elevated to President of Harvard Law Review because he had bad grades! You're either drinking too much tea! Perhaps you should try some Kool-Aid!
What's the deal about Obama college records.........this time right wing and tea bagger this is not going to work. Why are you not asking for Romney college record , taxes and etc.. His parents probably paid for his grades........there is something very wrong with his taxes and he is a LIAR..............
Blah blah the wheel's off your trailer
I don't believe for a minute that Barack Obama was elevated to President of Harvard Law Review because he had bad grades!
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Yes, and he did a lot to get that Nobel Peace Prize as well. I guess they hand them out now like cards on the Vegas strip. All it takes is giving a good speech with a teleprompter.
And here we thought that the Republican clown show was over. The second act is just starting.
These attack ads will continue to turn voters away from the polling booths. They are nasty and have no redeeming qualities. These ads on television are just the tip of the iceberg. There are worse ads being circulated by those on the far right who wish to accuse Mr. Obama of everything under the sun. They are mean, vicious, and vindictive. They are far worse than anything sent around during the last campaign. Unlike John McCain, Mitt Romney is doing nothing to stop them but is accepting help from these groups. He has gone so far is to water down their accusations and suing them in his stump speeches.
Just as he did in MA Mr. Romney is leaving the bashing up to others and then he will ride in on his white horse. He was totally aware of every move being made to get Jane Swift out of the Governor's mansion and he succeeded. It was a stepping stone to national politics.
When will the majority stand up and say enough is enough and force these leaders away from approving these ads. Stand up and tell us what you want to do and how you will do it. We can they decide on a candidate.
Rudy NYC - it is coded language
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Wow, two posts in here talking about "code langauge" and "code words".... Looks like the Obama talking points are making the rounds. Yes, I'm sure the word FAILURE and INCOMPETENT are code words as well. Look them up and you'll find Obama's picture next to both.
"Same difference, whether your asking for a birth certificate or transcripts. it is coded language for birtherism. "
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So what are we allowed to see about the President's past without being labeled a "birther"... a "bigot"... a "racist"... what exactly are we allowed to know?
I'm just curious but didn't Obama also ship jobs overseas to China, Finland, India etc? Over $29Billion TAXPAYER stimulus dollars were given to companies who create jobs overseas. For example Finland's Fiskar Car co. What about GE's CEO, Jeffrey Immelt, who happnes to be Obama's Jobs Czar? More than half of GE employees are overseas. Yet Obama gives GE corp. access to TAXPAYER funded low inerest loans and TAXPAYER grants (ie money they don't have to pay back!). GE made of $5billion in corporate profits and paid ZERO in corpoate taxes in US. Yet Obama tells the American buisiness people "Look at GE. You could learn a thing or two fr GE". I guess that means, learn how to ship jobs overseas or dodge paying taxes ie "your fair share".
So I guess the point here is, We should be upset with Romney for shipping jobs overseas with his own money but support Obama shipping jobs overseas with our Taxpayer money. Also interesting to note that factcheck proved Obama is lying again about Romney and he did not ship jobs overseas. But hey, he has a D next to his name so he must be good.
@ TeaParty Mike:
I'm willing to bet Vegas would back the president releasing his college records against Willard releasing his tax returns, birth certicate and any information regarding his tenure in MA and the Olympics because they know a thing or two about odds.
They just neglect to mention how many jobs have been outsourced (after Obama gave businesses taxpayer dollars to make or build items in other countries). Or the taxpayer money Obama gave to Brazil so THEY could drill in the gulf, but is doing all he can to destroy the oil business here. And I love the phrases such as "secret homes, secret bank accounts, etc". Doesn't appear that they're so "secret", if everyone is talking about it!
looks like the republicans with there secret donors,secret taxes,secret plan. wants to take another run at the cliff,it might be americas last run
Romney needs to stope acting like a victim , he's a volunteer !
I don't mean for the military , since he opted to go to France and not Vietnam , I mean for wanting political power.
Mitt hit his republican primary opponents with everything including the kitchen sink.
Now he is playing the victim , typical Bully !
It's hard to feel sorry for guys like Romney and Rove. They only take kindness for weakness !
That's a great ad, very clever and well executed.