Reply to a comment

Rick,

I'm not sure I would say it is insulting to Americans that Romney didn't visit troops in the field. Such a visit might also be distracting to their mission. I don't think it is a good idea to mix politics with the military.

I will say however that it is generally insulting to all of us the way Romney avoids discussing anything substantively for fear of offending one of his donors. He goes from one safe event to another. He takes no risks. He seems to have no confidence in his own message - whatever it is - and seems afraid to articulate anything. What I find offensive as an American is the way this candidate dismisses my legitimate concerns and questions. Why is is improper to show more than a couple of years of tax returns? Why is it offensive for the press to ask questions? Why won't he spend a few minutes and discuss what being a Mormon means to him and how it has helped shape him? Why are we not entitled to straight answers directly from the candidate's mouth? If we like them, then he will win. If we don't then he will loose. I am offended that I am not accorded enough respect from this candidate for him to answer some very basic questions that ALL presidential candidates answer.

It is like the Republican marketing machine is afraid of what their candidates actually believe and don't want them to speak. They did it with Palin. They were afraid if she spoke, most Americans would be horrified by her answers displaying her ignorance of all issues relating to national governance. They are now doing it with Romney, afraid that if he talks he will either seem too liberal for the conservative base (they don't even seem to like to call him Gov. Romney because they don't want to remind people that he was Governor of Massachusetts and what his liberal/moderate record there was) or else he will sound too out of touch with average Americans. Either way, it is offensive that we are not shown the respect to allow us to learn about these people and judge them for what they actually believe and say.