Mitt "Oops" Romney

Mitt told Fox News last night that his comments about "the 47 percent" were "just completely wrong."

Here's the transcript of what he said about "the 47 percent" at the private Florida fundraiser:

"Well, there are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that’s an entitlement and government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. I mean, the president starts off with 48, 49 ... I mean, he starts off with a huge number. These are people who pay no income tax; 47 percent of Americans pay no income tax. So our message of low taxes doesn’t connect. He’ll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. I mean, that’s what they sell every four years. And so my job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives. What I have to do is convince the 5 to 10 percent in the center, that are independents, that are thoughtful, that look at voting one way or the other depending upon, in some cases, emotion, whether they like the guy or not, what he looks like."

That's a lot to be wrong about, particularly when he could speak at a length, and with depth of details, that suggest it was an argument he had gone to some trouble to prepare. It suggests that no matter how deep or well-prepared any if his arguments, he could be just completely wrong.

Mitt is reminding me of Rick "Oops" Perry. Most of his arguments during the primaries were wrong, and now he has now deserted them for some centrist arguments, which he will desert when the Limbaugh Right starts to yell "What's wrong with him?"

Mercurial Mitt. Remember in school, playing with a bit of mercury, balled-up on a lab table? You couldn't pin it down. It would split into smaller balls.

So many metaphors are required, to write properly about Mitt. Metaphorical Mitt. You're in a house with him. He says, "I'll be in the living room." You find him in the garage. He says, "I'll be in the kitchen." You find him in the bedroom. He says, "I'll be in the den." You find him way out in the bushes at the back of the yard.

Where is he today? Stretched way, way out now, one foot on the centrist boat and the other foot on the dock of the base. (Sorry, Otis.) The Limbaugh Choir will begin to howl soon.