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Bill Burton Slams ‘Phony’ Mitt Romney Over Southwest/Subway Slumming Tweets

» 75 comments

This weekend, former Obama Spokesman and current Senior Strategist for Priorities USA Action Bill Burton attacked Mitt Romney as a “phony” for tweeting about his love of flying commercial, and of eating Subway sandwiches, in what Burton sees as an attempt to change his image with regular folk. In an email to reporters, Burton said the tweets show that Romney “is willing to do or say anything to become President, even if it means changing his positions, his appearance and his sandwich.”

In a Wednesday tweet via Foursquare, Romney praised the crew aboard his Southwest Airlines flight, and the next morning, tweeted about his breakfast:

Thanks @subwayfreshbuzz for breakfast. Better than the usual campaign diet of morning donuts http://twitpic.com/6eg9h0

He even included the accompanying photograph, presumably taken after a staffer suggested he forego the silverware, and explained that “you eat it with your hands.”

Citing a report from The Daily Caller‘s Alex Pappas, Burton casts Romney’s tweets as an effort to remake his Thurston Howell image:

When Governor Romney decided that he would say or do anything to get elected, you have to imagine he didn’t think it would involve flying in non-private aircraft and eating at Subway.  In fairness, as someone who made a vast fortune laying off American workers his identity is indeed in need of a makeover.  (And quadrupling his beach home in an exclusive San Diego neighborhood isn’t exactly helping that effort.)

But in his attempted makeover, Governor Romney is simultaneously highlighting a key weakness: he is willing to do or say anything to become President, even if it means changing his positions, his appearance and his sandwich.

Massachusetts blog BlueMassGroup points out the real story here, though: Romney’s unforgivable donut dis. Dunkin’ Donuts is headquartered in Massachusetts, and Romney’s former company, Bain Capital, made a boatload of cash from its purchase of the donut giant. Plus, does Romney really think it’s a great idea to recommend healthy eating in a Republican primary?

Burton uses the “phony” Romney tweets as a hook to take swipes at rivals Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman, as well:

Governor Perry tried a different brand of phony this week, declaring himself AMERICA’S JOBS GOVERNOR in his literature.  As anyone who follows such things would know, Perry’s so-called ”Texas miracle” was achieved in large part as a result of federal government investments and minimum wage jobs.

And, falling to an asterisk in polls, Jon Huntsman this week tried a phony and unseemly page out of the Romney playbook. While he is claiming to fill the moderate void in the Republican primary, he rolled out an economic plan that was pure right-wing extremism: massive tax cuts for the wealthy, ending Medicare, eliminating regulation on Wall Street and actually raising taxes on the poor and middle class. That Jon Huntsman claims this plan is moderate shows both how desperate his campaign is and how radical the Republican Party has become.

The fact that Romney, despite his fall in the polls against Rick Perry, is still generating oppo memos from Burton is a possible sign that Team Obama still views Romney as the biggest threat to win the nomination, and perhaps expects Texas Governor Rick Perry to flame out after his wildfire entry into the race. A lot can change in a year. It wasn’t all that long ago that the White House was worried about asterisk Jon Huntsman, who now functions more as an artificial sanity horizon for the rest of the Republican field.

 

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  • Anonymous

    Bill Burton was the most irrelevant , least competent , most ridiculous employee of Obama’s , and that includes Joe Biden and Ken Salazar .

    And yet , Tommy thinks Burton is quote-worthy . Burton lost the pressferret job to a hack like Carney and he quit or was fired . He goes on Morning Joe and is laughed at by every lefty at the table . Burton should really try for a job at Subway or Dunkin Donuts and work hard and make something of himself .

  • Anonymous

    How these guys can run on jobs and expect to win is beyond me. Romney made money for his companies by firing American workers and shipped jobs overseas (I’d like to see him defend that in a debate). And Perry who benefited hugely from the Federal Govt. he hates so much that he is prepared to commit treason. 

    What a phony group, if this is all the GOP have then its a shame and a disaster, to lose an election against such a weak president would be a disaster. I bet that’s why they are trying so hard to get Christie in as he is the only reasonable and pragmatic amongst them. 

  • Anonymous

    Only in America, the land where sizzle trumps steak every single time.

  • Anonymous

    America doesn’t suck, Robert .

    A lot of tension has gone out of the RealRoyalEmperor here since he settled on his costume for today’s
    Hairdresser’s Pride float in the parade today . He will appear as Prissy from Gone With the Wind . That way , he can use his normal speaking voice .

  • Anonymous

    Yep… that’s how we wound up with the current President. All Sizzle… no steak. Thanks for making my point for me. Good point made by you, and in a better way than I could have come up with. ;)

  • Anonymous

    So Obama should run on jobs??? You do know about the jobs creation going on in Texas right? And have you seen WI job creation since Walker was elected?

    How are those blue states doing with jobs? How’s California for example?

  • http://twitter.com/darrenmcgeary Darren McGeary

    This is the best that Bill Burton has got?  That Mitt Romney didn’t take a picture of himself sipping Dom Periginon in a private jet?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1497076194 Travis Pierson

    If Burton got a job requiring a food-handler’s permit it would be the first real job he held. What a joke!

  • Glutton

    How about New York? Lower unemployment than Texas & higher wages. Ditto for Massachusetts. But hey, if you’re happy working for minimum wage & no benefits, enjoy the “Texas miracle”.

  • Anonymous

    How is the income rate to tax balance in New York? Scratch the surface of that analogy and it falls apart. I am a RN in Missouri. Tell me how I’d live in New York on a RN’s salary?

  • Anonymous

    Tell me about it. Like Obama (and every other prez for that matter) doesn’t “fake it” to get elected.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1497076194 Travis Pierson

    Yes, Romney would probably say almost anything to become president. It is a big flaw but it worked for Barack Obama who is now showing that he will SAY absolutely anything to remain president – but will continue to be the exact same statist he has always been. The nice thing is that Americans are not as dopey and inept as the Democrats think we are. We know to look at the results rather than the promises. This president, who is now (finally) focused “like a laser” on jobs will soon be rolling out the jobs program he first promised over a year ago and it will be exactly what everyone expects – more of the same, failed Keynsian tripe with a new, shiny brand name.

  • Glutton

    Problem is that none of the front runners are running on substance. Obama’s greatest (and only) appeal is that he’s black, Romney’s appeal is based on being a successful CEO during the 1990s (when it was so hard to be a successful CEO), Rick Perry’s appeal is doing a better Bush impersonation than Will Ferrell. Michele Bachmann’s appeal is that she’s as crazy as Sarah Palin. Only person running on substance is Ron Paul, yet somehow he’s considered a nut. This is why America has no future.

  • Anonymous

    Using a Tweeting pipsqueak like Burton to denigrate an accomplished man like Mitt Romney makes sense only to the extreme liberal mind .

  • Anonymous

    First, I don’t attribute much value to tweets of any sort. Secondly, I don’t attribute much value to anything that issues from Bill Burton. Burton is the consummate Obamaphile who treats anything which is not fawning praise for Obama as propaganda from the enemy camp. I think Burton could be replaced with a recording of all that is good and wonderful about Barrack Obama.
    I guess I’m saying that there doesn’t seem to be any point or value in writing something about Bill Burton’s opinions on Romney’s tweets. However, I will have to admit to being fooled into reading it and leaving this comment. I’ll have to work on that so as not to be tricked in the future.

  • Anonymous
  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=505750556 Jack Kelly

    “I am a RN in Missouri. Tell me how I’d live in New York on a RN’s salary?”

    You can NOT be serious asking such a ridiculously stupid — and loaded — question. 

    OMG.  You are! 

    Your reading comprehension skills are terrible, as is your ability to be relevant in a response.  Good grief.

  • Anonymous

    We can both do this all day.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrsBKGpwi58

  • Anonymous

    Nice none answer. Deflection is the WORST debate “out” in the world.

    weak…..

  • Anonymous

    Seems to me Burton is calling the kettle Obama here.

    I truly do not understand the power ( compromising naked photos maybe ) Obama holds over his ex-employees. 

    Their unwavering devotion to this loser is eerily cult like in nature, as they all go out and engage in a sort of ji had on ” real ” America and the Conservative/Republican party.

    It’s as if Obama has recruited these misguided/hateful individuals ( like Burton ) and is running a sleeper cell of anti-American terrorists directly out of our White House.

  • ceeza

    It’s funny..You hobbits are ONLY slamming the messenger but NOT the message.. hmmmm..

  • Anonymous

    can’t you just smell the desperation?  Perhaps Bill has run out of anything else but fluff.  

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, and I’m confident that it will only get worse and more absurd.

  • Anonymous

    Romney makes weird tweets.

    The guy is really weird.

  • Anonymous

    Romney makes Al Gore seem like a really normal guy.

  • Anonymous

    What’s next? A photo op of Romney at Walmart?  A NASCAR race?

  • http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

    This has to be the dumbest *controversy* I have read in a while. 

    “This weekend, former Obama Spokesman and current Senior Strategist for Priorities USA ActionBill Burton attacked Mitt Romney as a “phony” for tweeting about his love of flying commercial, and of eating Subway sandwiches,”

    First of all, he didn’t tweet that he loved to fly commercial. He thanked a hard working crew for an easy flight. What the hell is wrong with that?

    Secondly, he didn’t express love for Subway sandwiches either. He thanked them for breakfast. Most likely they provided him with it. What the hell is wrong with that?

    And he didn’t dis Dunkin Donuts. Good lord, people put a whole lotta weight on stupid tweets…. 

    “Plus, does Romney really think it’s a great idea to recommend healthy eating in a Republican primary?” – Where did Romney recommend healthy eating? 

    He’s no more phony than the bowling, baby kissing, charity servicing, baseball loving Obama….

  • Wake up America

    Phony like his boss that tells Americans how he feels their pain and then not only does he and his wife take separate planes, which comes out of the peoples pockets which they feel their pain for, but goes to Marthas vineyard! How phony is right?! Yeah these people have to come out and take theses candidates on personnaly because Obama sure can’t run on this record. Destroying our nation would not make for a good platform to run on. Yeah, it doesn’t get any phonier then what we currently have in the White House!

  • Anonymous

    Al Gore is in an abnormal class all by himself.

  • Anonymous

    How many voters does Burton really believe will actually vote based on a Subway sandwich?

    Liberals just have no creativity.

  • Anonymous

    It sounds like Burton has changed his position on people who “do or say anything to become President”.
    When he was Obama’s butt-boy, he was for unscrupulous frauds.

  • Anonymous

    Tommy:
    What is it about you & your fellow lefty journalists that turn you into school children.  Your writing style is a more advanced version of “I know you are but what am I”.   

  • Glutton

    I don’t think Obama should run period, but neither should Perry.

  • Glutton

    Tax rate is irrelevant to the discussion. We’re talking about jobs & the type of jobs. Not to mention people who actually have health care. Lastly, I wouldn’t pay to watch baseball. I would rather mow my lawn.

  • Glutton

    That all depends on your definition of “suck”. Fact is that the 21st century has not been kind to us.

  • Anonymous

    Image caption:

    “Why are all of these Regular people near me?  (looks down) What is this?  I don’t have to actually eat it, do I?  Take the picture.  No, seriously.  Take the picture.  Then I need to wash this “Regular Folk” stench off of me.”  (Walks to private tarmac to board RomneyAir)

    Willard 2012.  I’ll Show Palin what Craven Really Means.

  • DietCokeHead

    How did I know you’d be a Ron Paul freakshow?

  • Anonymous

    OK… so if you were a new college grad where are you most likely to find a job. Texas, Arizona? Or New York, Massachusetts? Which states have a climbing job rate… not stagnant… but climbing. Which states are growing in population. Which states have a growing economy? Which states are “booming” (as much as a state can boom in this economy).

    New York has weathered the housing market better due to it’s populations vast wealth (the haves). But overall the job market in New York and Mass is stagnant and both states are loosing population due to peoples inability to find a job that can pay their bills. Check the last census report that backs up my point. So both states benefit in their unemployment rate due to the mass exodus of their population. I think New York lost 1 or 2 house seats if I remember correctly… right?

    So where am I wrong in my analogy?

  • Anonymous

    We agree on that one. I don’t think much of Perry (or Obama).

  • Anonymous

    Yes… we should stick with Obama. It’s worked out so well so far.

    http://topappcharts.com/445326700/app-details-obama-clock.php

  • Anonymous

    If Team Obama has Bill Burton out there publishing “CHILDISH” articles based on Tweets, I’d say the conservatives are in great shape.  These petty attacks make Obama look small.  

  • Ralph-NY

    What message that he liked Subway My god this stuff is wacko material.

  • Anonymous

    I see that all the comments are on the controversy, but I noticed this one line from Burton and it really burned me and then confused me. here is the line:

    “In fairness, as someone who made a vast fortune laying off American workers his identity is indeed in need of a makeover.”

    Now first why this burned me. Businesses and business owners do not make money solely by laying workers off. Laying workers off is a sign the business is struggling. Typically it is done in order to cut costs so the business does not lose money. I am pretty sure Romey made his money when his businesses were fully staffed since this means demand for his product was at its highest.

    This statement also confused me a bit coming from a leftie. We have heard from numerous left wingers recently that unemployment benefits are a great stimulant to the economy. In fact, Pelosi herself described it has the single biggest stimulant to our economy. If the left truly believed this, then wouldn’t Romney be hailed as a hero by laying off workers so they can collect money from the single best stimulative program we have?

  • Anonymous

    Yup.I think Al Gore is a real case study in abnormal who should be sequestered and researched for a very long time. He needs to be kept out of harms way (harm to us). You know, get him off the news and out of our hair for a while.

  • Anonymous

    That is a very good point. It comes off as immature whining.

  • Anonymous

    Wait, I thought you “teas” didn’t like Romney because he wasn’t crazy right, hate, zealot enough! He’s the only guy” in ” that we’re worried about. Go back to hating him. I heard he believes in science, warming, some facts and healthcare. You’d better get your hate on!

  • Anonymous

    “Butt-boy” is this what you “teas” think about? For the fraud,…. any examples,… thought not! No “tea blogs” please.

  • Anonymous

    I can’t believe you live in Mo.. I fell so dirty!

  • http://twitter.com/ConsRepublicans ConsRepublicans

    If only Obama could “change” his jobs record?

    Unemployment under Barack Obama is 9.2%.

    Unemployment under Rick Perry is 8.2%.

    Unemployment under Mitt Romney? 4.7%.

    Nationalize those numbers and you have 10 million more jobs under Romney than either Perry or Obama.

  • Anonymous

    A teasonous racist! That’s all we need. “Misguided hateful individuals”,… yes, the “tea part” are.

  • Anonymous

    That would be based on,… what?

  • Anonymous

    “Teas” defending their spawns,… no creativity!

  • Anonymous

    Burton is still an insufferable little tweeb. Perfect example of a whiny liberal.

  • Anonymous

    “I’m Lebron, baby.  I can PLAY on this level. I got GAME.” – humble Obama who thinks politics is all about playing games

    “You know, I actually believe my own bullshit,” Obama told Wolffe with a smile (now that’s a sincere man for you!)

  • Anonymous

    Calling Chris Christie “fat” worked out so well for Corzine, didn’t it?

  • Anonymous

    Anyone who looks at Burton and doesn’t think “butt-boy” in regards to his relationship with Obama isn’t playing with a full deck. It’s written across his forehead.

  • fanofgrendel

    Bottom line is the first black Presidnt is a total flop. Romney will beat him no mater what the toadies say about him.

  • ROTFLMAO

    At least ONE smart move by the “Community Organizer”
    He showed this asshole the door rather than give him Gibb’s job!
    Told him not to let it hit him in the ass on the way out!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FSPIVAFYI672OH5NOKVRTEZA4U MadCharles

    It’s doesn’t matter what’s said about any of the the candidates, They’re not Obama… get it ?

  • Sharpo

    Big Eddie Guy is a coward

    Why are you a coward big eddie guy? is it because you lost your balls in vietnam?  I’m just asking a simple question

    That’s how I know you’re a coward. you have no balls

    :)

    Big Eddie, why are you a coward?

  • Anonymous

    The great trend of the mid-’80s onward was “downsizing” and “rightsizing.” The biggest and most profitable companies had become over-staffed, in part because they were mergers of several smaller companies. They didn’t need two sets of accountants and sales people, and two of each executive. Also computers started replacing “secretaries” and other support staff. The most famous CEOs of the time had nicknames like “Chainsaw.”

    The common phrase was “leaner and meaner means more profitable.” That still holds true today.

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, I remember when Obama said “bullshit” and it was your sole opinion, that it wasn’t fact!

  • Anonymous

    Hey, if it has to be about butts and boys, that’s your roll. Just watch the age.

  • http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

    I’m having to reply to another of your comments, so it’s going to be out of order, but this in response to your thing about Texas’ growth.

    To be honest, I haven’t really looked at all the articles people have offered in defense or in opposition to Perry, but I’m pretty sure Texas has been experiencing growth since the 70s. As I’ve said in other comments, I’m originally from North Carolina and as far back as I can remember, Texas has been NC’s main competition when vying for plants and on all the fastest-growing and best-for lists.

    Now, it is true that there aren’t as many new plants opening, but the consumer support infrastructure often lags behind influxes and as the economy shrinks in other locations, people will often continue to move to the places they mentally associate with growth, which requires additional services.

    IOW: The image of Texas deserves as much, if not more credit than any one politician.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YKG4CJOANYGCSE56OD4ILT2RBU rainierman

    Sorry to say, liberals (and Burton), but Romney is the only friend you’ve got in 2012. He’s the only smart ’normal’ rockafeller Repub who actually has some liberal views, a legacy of liberal Republican George Romney.  Don’t pee on your one lone olive branch of 2012.

  • ceeza

    thats exactly it.. anybody but Obama huh?   you bagger hobbits are phonies and I’m glad you are willing to actually admit it… He stands for nothing you baggers PRETEND to stand for… well this week he does because he’s a phony and he’ll tell you anything you want to hear.. and you baggers are willing to jump behind him 100 % ..fucking phonies the lot of you..

  • ceeza

    thats exactly it.. anybody but Obama huh?   you bagger hobbits are phonies and I’m glad you are willing to actually admit it… He stands for nothing you baggers PRETEND to stand for… well this week he does because he’s a phony and he’ll tell you anything you want to hear.. and you baggers are willing to jump behind him 100 % ..fucking phonies the lot of you..

  • http://www.facebook.com/jimhunt James Hunt

    You’ve got to be kidding me, President Obama is the biggest snob we’ve ever had as President. He doesn’t know what its like to work hard labor either.

  • Hagen619dj

    Are you kidding me?  Perry is changing his positions, appearance and his SANDWICH!  What the heck is that…is that important to today’s standards.  Oh, my, goodness….did you see Perry eating a different sandwich.  You people are funny?  Does he really threaten you demoos that much? What a joke.

  • Hagen619dj

    Well, maybe we could reference Obama’s hopey and changy thing?

  • Hagen619dj

    Have you ever served in any kind of service?

  • Hagen619dj

    Have you ever served in any kind of service?

  • Hagen619dj

    Very well said………..thanks.

  • Hagen619dj

    You people are such sore-heads.  The whole world should be against everything you believe in.  So sorry…and sad that others do have minds that they use.  They have eyes to see and can hear whats been happening.  You might decide to pay more attention to your Obam-bam and SEE his phoney ways your self.  You just can’t blog something without out adding swear words either.  Is that suppose to prove your a “big guy”….if so, your puffy up your own ego. We aren’t impressed.

  • Anonymous

    This truly shows how pathetic and delusioned Bill Burton and the Demon Party truly are.  How sad!  Why doesn’t he talk about how Obama uses his fake southern accent to try and rub elbows with the poor blacks?  That in itself is pretty pathetic, especially for a Leader.  Opps, forgot, Obama hasn’t led anything except his fight to bring Racism back to America, which he is doing pretty well.  Vote ABO in 2012!  Anyone but Obama!

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