David Plouffe recently said that Mitt Romney is the “godfather” of the health care reform bill — which is true, by the way — and Romney is still scrambling to explain why the very idea he supported as governor is now a socialist plot to destroy the country. And he gave this really weird answer to that question on the Hugh Hewitt radio show:
Hewitt: Yesterday, the president’s campaign manager said that you are the godfather of Obamacare … if that’s who you are, can you make the Democrats an offer they can’t refuse to repeal it?
Romney: (laughing) That’s a great idea. We counted, by the way, that Mr. Plouffe is the Rumpelstiltskin of trying to turn straw into gold. He will not be successful. I can tell you one thing. If I’m the godfather of this thing, then it gives me the right to kill it.
Huh?

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Bronze Dog
March 30, 2012 at 12:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
…Okay, everyone, keep him away from children.
Jordan Genso
March 30, 2012 at 12:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I thought Rumpelstiltskin is the Rumpelstiltskin of trying to turn straw into gold? I’m confused.
Chiroptera
March 30, 2012 at 12:52 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
If I’m the godfather of this thing, then it gives me the right to kill it.
In fairness to Romney, as a Mormon, he may not understand what godparents are.
He probable thinks godfathers all head mafia families and godmothers are all magical fairies.
fifthdentist
March 30, 2012 at 12:53 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
If Mittens has any grandchildren: Runnnnnn! Get away from the crazy Cyborg. Especially if he tells you that he would never, ever shoot you.
fifthdentist
March 30, 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Godchildren, not grandchildren. Doh.
Ellie
March 30, 2012 at 12:58 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Rumpelstiltskin didn’t try to turn straw into gold. He did turn straw into gold. I’m confused.
naturalcynic
March 30, 2012 at 12:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Uhh, mittens, Rumpelstiltskin was able to turn straw into gold. The only problem was the price.
jamessweet
March 30, 2012 at 1:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
See here’s the problem with Romney being the Godfather of anything: Mormons like to get married in Mormon temples, and only other Mormons in good standing are allowed in — so how are you supposed to ask him for a favor on the day of his daughter’s wedding?!?
dingojack
March 30, 2012 at 1:08 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
OK I’ve said it before but -
Mittens couldn’t organise a orgy in a cathouse.
And even if he could manage somehow to arrange the participants to be in the same joint at the same time, the only stiff thing in the place would be his dialogue.
Dingo
cptdoom
March 30, 2012 at 1:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Just to pick a nit – Mittens and the former Ann Davies have only sons, so it’s sort of a moot point.
OTOH, I think we have to be concerned about an alleged public servant who fails to understand the concept that legislation is voted on by a legislature and, once signed into law by a sitting President, cannot be undone without another piece of, you know, legislation. So, whether Mr. Romney takes credit or blame for his attempt to act like a progressive in Massachusetts, he has no “right” to do anything, even if elected, without Congress.
(aside: Sr. Catherine Kelley – RIP – would be so proud of me for remembering all that government stuff she taught us).
jimmiraybob
March 30, 2012 at 1:11 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Rom, interesting imagery. Old Testament?
Raging Bee
March 30, 2012 at 1:34 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
If I’m the godfather of this thing, then it gives me the right to kill it.
Um…does that mean he’s the only Republican who has any right to oppose or strike down his health-care plan?
Oh, and what about that whole democracy thing? If “the Godfather” wants to kill something the voters supported, do the voters get to vote on killing what they voted to create?
Seriously…WTF?! This comment could end up being as damning as his etch-a-sketch gaffe.
lofgren
March 30, 2012 at 1:42 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Here I thought that being a godfather just meant I had to cough up an extra fifty bucks on my godchild’s birthday. But now with the threat of death hanging over his head, he should at least be better behaved on sleepovers.
Ing: I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream So I Comment Instead
March 30, 2012 at 2:09 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I knew Rumpelstilskin, I worked with Rumpelstilskin and you sir are no Rumpelstiltskin.
Mr Ed
March 30, 2012 at 2:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Mitt, take the canole leave the election
The Lorax
March 30, 2012 at 2:12 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes Mitt, you created it. Now, you can by all means turn around and try to kill it. Why don’t you start with Massachusetts first, eh? No? Huh…
laurentweppe
March 30, 2012 at 3:28 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The thing is, I could easily see Romney saying “I gonna make the GOP an offer they can’t refuse”
Aratina Cage
March 30, 2012 at 3:38 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Makes sense. It’s how he thinks about his pets, too.
KG
March 30, 2012 at 4:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Robomormon and his minions are leaving no gaffe unspoken in their campaign to lose the Republican nomination, but are still failing: Real Clear Politics shows Romney’s percentage in national polls rising persistently if unevenly from a low point of below 20% in September to near 40% now. He’s ahead in most of the remaining states that have been polled recently. So barring some absolute disaster, he’s the candidate. But will any of his rivals, or anyone else, take up the Tea Party banner and split the Republican vote?
KG
March 30, 2012 at 4:51 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
OTOH, how about a Romney-Santorum ticket? They clearly dislike each other, but I don’t get the impression it’s as visceral as Gingrich and Romney, or for that matter Kennedy and Johnson. It would have the potential to enthuse the wingnuts, while reassuring some fools in the soggy centre.
Raging Bee
March 30, 2012 at 4:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
KG: How soggy to you have to be to find a Romney-Santorum ticket reassuring?
jamessweet
March 30, 2012 at 6:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think a Romney/Santorum ticket would be a big mistake. Santorum has way too many negatives. Yes, it energizes the wingnuts — just like Palin did — but you lose way too many women voters. Not to mention his Google problem (and on that note, please don’t use the words “santorum” and “soggy” in the same comment anymore, okay people?)
Ideally you want somebody who is a theocratic wingnut, but one that most of the frothy middle hasn’t heard of yet.
Reginald Selkirk
March 30, 2012 at 6:21 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
A == B
B == C
therefore A == C.
.
He’s apparently saying that David Plouffe is Rumpelstiltskin.
sunsangnim
March 30, 2012 at 10:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sounds like the policy equivalent of “I brought you into this world, I can take you out of it.” I suppose it’s a fair argument if you believe in the god of the Old Testament.
dingojack
March 30, 2012 at 11:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Maybe Mittens is channeling ‘Marko’, and he meant that since he had proposed the bill, he could buy crappy overpriced pizza for it too.
:) Dingo
Crudely Wrott
April 1, 2012 at 12:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Not really an April Fool (I could be wrong) but speaking of Romney, I just found this hilarious and scientifically correct editorial in the New York Times.
A Quantum Theory of Mitt Romney. It really is a hoot! There’s even a Feynman diagram.
Thanks for the post
April 27, 2012 at 11:16 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks for the post…
[...]Romney’s WTF Statement of the Day | Dispatches from the Culture Wars[...]…