Rural Thoughts

McLaughlin Group tonight had the lead story as Santorum getting out of the race. I think that was a bit of old news, but since he leans republican, I guess he felt obligated to put it first. And, no doubt, Santorum did surprise people with the support he got from the right. But didn't that say more about where the republican party is at than how good of a candidate Santorum is? Of course, the republicans are patting him on the back and saying that he has a future with the party. But I think this was his flash in the pan. We'll see.

The main discussion though was about the woman who was purportedly speaking for the Obama administration that made the comments that Mrs. Romney hadn't worked a day in her life. It was a dumb way to word what would have been a legitimate point if she had said it right - that the Romney's have not faced the same day to day issues and problems that most people do. But she blew it.

Mark Shields said it best on the Jim Lehrer News Hour. He said that when the president, vice-president, and both wives all issue statements distancing themselves from what was said, that you know they are really worried about it. Shields is right on.

What is unfortunate about this is that the woman probably wanted to make a legitimate point - that if the Romney's try to campaign as if they understand and have lived through the problems of the working class and poor, that they should be called on it. They haven't had to worry about day care, rent or mortgage, clothing, tuition, etc. They have always had lots of money, and most people don't.

One of the things that really gets me about Romney is that he said, a couple months ago, in one of the debates, that he pays his taxes, and not one penny more. Oh really? So he doesn't feel good enough about the country that he is willing to donate even a couple bucks toward the country's problems? I thought that statement was way out of line and almost unpatriotic. But the mainstream media let it pass by.

I guess that's how millionaire/billionaires are - at least some of them. Even though they have way more than enough to live on, they don't want to give one penny more to anyone else, especially their country. I wish McLaughlin would talk about that.