Jul 19 - Romney Campagin Says They're Going To Reintroduce Obamas Past Drug Use

IRWIN, Penn. — Standing before hundreds of roaring partisans in this sweltering Pittsburgh suburb Tuesday, Mitt Romney delivered a 30-minute speech that sounded, at times, like a greatest hits compilation of his favorite Obama-knocking stump speech lines. The president was, Romney said, "out of ideas," and "looking for someone to blame," and a "crony capitalist."

One thing he was not: "A nice guy."

In speeches from Des Moines to Dallas, Romney has always been careful to hedge his tough digs at Obama with a civil nod toward the president's moral character: "He's a nice guy," the Republican has often said. "He just has no idea how the private economy works." But Tuesday's speech included no such hedge — and one campaign adviser said there's a reason for that.

"[Romney] has said Obama's a nice fellow, he's just in over his head," the adviser said. "But I think the governor himself believes this latest round of attacks that have impugned his integrity and accused him of being a felon go so far beyond that pale that he's really disappointed. He believes it's time to vet the president. He really hasn't been vetted; McCain didn't do it."

Indeed, facing what the candidate and his aides believe to be a series of surprisingly ruthless, unfounded, and unfair attacks from the Obama campaign on Romney's finances and business record, the Republican's campaign is now prepared to go eye for an eye in an intense, no-holds-barred act of political reprisal, said two Romney advisers who spoke on condition of anonymity. In the next chapter of Boston's pushback — which began last week when they began labeling Obama a "liar" — very little will be off-limits, from the president's youthful drug habit, to his ties to disgraced Chicago politicians.

"I mean, this is a guy who admitted to cocaine use, had a sweetheart deal with his house in Chicago, and was[..]ociated and worked with Rod Blagojevich to get Valerie Jarrett appointed to the Senate," the adviser said. "The bottom line is there'll be counterattacks."

The reference to Obama's past drug use seems to suggest that former New Hampshire Governor John Sununu wasn't going off-script after all when he dinged the president for spending "his early years in Hawaii smoking something" during a Tuesday morning Fox News appearance.

Returning fire with personal attacks on Obama offers both emotional satisfaction to Romney and many Republicans, and an answer of sorts to relentless Democratic attacks on Romney's time as an executive. It has so far failed, however, to quiet the growing, bipartisan chorus of voices demanding Romney release more of his personal tax returns. Obama campaign officials privately admit that the Republican has, at times, been effective in beating down attacks on his business record — but they've yet to see a way out on the tax issue.

Perhaps as a solution to that problem, Romney surrogates will place increased emphasis in coming days on the "Fast and Furious" gun-running scandal at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, hoping to drag the story back into the headlines, and highlight questions about the the Obama campaign's transparency, the Romney adviser said.

Meanwhile, Romney's aides remain particularly livid about Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter's suggestion last week that Romney committed a crime by filing apparently conflicting documents to the FEC and SEC.

"[Obama's] policies have been such utter failures, the only thing he can do is to try to destroy a decent man and his wife," the adviser said. "So he gets some hack political adviser from Chicago who has nothing to point to in her own life, and tells her to call him a felon... When did our politics get to that point? I mean, it's Nixonian."

A second Romney adviser said the campaign may well benefit from Obama's invitation to remove the gloves and engage in hand-to-hand combat.

"Obama has always benefited from being able to shape the argument such that he avoided harsh negative attacks," the adviser said. "That served him well. He made other pay a price for going negative. These past couple weeks have completely squandered that positioning. They are now taunting how tough they are. OK, but once you cross that line, there is no going back."

it's 2012 everyone smokes weed. but good luck [pic]

Where them tax reports at Mitt???

It's funny how people are more concerned with what Romney does with his own money compared to what Obama does with everyones money.


You're a dumba#s robot who's contributing to the decline of America. Thanks for being a dumba#s.

Im sorry to say but its clear your the idiot, of course people are concerned with what he does with his money....cause just like obama he would eventually be the one handling our money if he were to win. Its not about now its about going forward.

Nobody gave a !! about the Kennedy's money, John Kerry's money or even the Bush's.


It's a bull!! argument to distract from the failure of Obama aka Bush's 3rd term.

Nobody gave a !! about the Kennedy's money, John Kerry's money or even the Bush's.


It's a bull!! argument to distract from the failure of Obama aka Bush's 3rd term.

Nobody gave a !! about the Kennedy's money, John Kerry's money or even the Bush's.


It's a bull!! argument to distract from the failure of Obama aka Bush's 3rd term.

you're a retard if u think its a bs argument. Willard is running on his business expertise, thats his whole campaign, and tax returns are a good way to see how you manage your finances. His own father even said to release more than two years of taxes for president. Hes prob hiding one of a few things either hes paid a very low tax rate that he doesn't want the american people to know. That or he made a k#lling off the housing collapse, something he'd also wanna keep under wraps. Even his Republican buddies are calling for him to release them.

And did try again, Kerry released over 20 years of tax returns.

Great argument i'm not debating wether or not Kerry released his tax records i'm simply pointing out he made millions of dollars and nobody gave a !!. John Kerry hides his boats in a nearby state to avoid paying taxes in Ma#sachusetts nothing was said.

You weren't this concerned about Obama's college transcripts or his shady dealings with Tony Rezko when you casted your vote for him were you?

You and the other idiots acting like this is a big deal are drones.

I'm not acting like its a big deal, I never once said its a big deal. I do however think its a relevant criticism, in the grand scheme of things I don't think its a big deal, its an effective political attack. And [pic] @ you bringing up College Transcripts, you're a moron. All Presidents college transcripts are sealed dip!!. So Obama should do something no president has ever done because Mitt Romney doesn't wanna live up to the own standard every single presidential candidate prior (his father included) has set by releasing more than 2 !!ing years of tax returns? And no one is mad hes rich, people are mad at him for dodging taxes while already paying a much lesser rate than the people hes trying to get to elect him. And him trying to claim hes such a job creator cause his time @ Bain, but then at the same time its unfair to criticize his time at bain? Releasing his tax returns would clear all of this up. But like I said, I think its not a big deal, but I know why its on the news etc so much, its cause its an election year. and imo its a fair criticism, just blown up.

And before calling anyone a drone Id gain a stronger relationship with the facts and reality.

Great argument i'm not debating wether or not Kerry released his tax records i'm simply pointing out he made millions of dollars and nobody gave a !!. John Kerry hides his boats in a nearby state to avoid paying taxes in Ma#sachusetts nothing was said.

You weren't this concerned about Obama's college transcripts or his shady dealings with Tony Rezko when you casted your vote for him were you?

You and the other idiots acting like this is a big deal are drones.

mitt is right if you obama is going to come at him with low blows you have to fire back... either way both of these guys are complete clowns