Of terror, Bush and the 47 percent

For the record, Candy Crowley, who is taking some flak from the right wing, was correct to jump in last night and confirm President Obama's Rose Garden "act of terror" quote.

Mitt left her no choice. Here is what he said, as he approached her:

MR. ROMNEY: I — I think it’s interesting the president just said something which is that on the day after the attack, he went in the Rose Garden and said that this was an act of terror. (To Obama:) You said in the Rose Garden the day after the attack it was an act of terror. It was not a spontaneous demonstration.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Please proceed.

MR. ROMNEY: Is that what you’re saying?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Please proceed, Governor.

MR. ROMNEY: I — I — I want to make sure we get that for the record, because it took the president 14 days before he called the attack in Benghazi an act of terror.

When Candy heard Mitt say he wanted to "get that for the record," she had no choice, if she wanted to continue to live with herself. She could remain silent, and walk away from a presidential debate record she knew would be incorrect. Or she could jump in, as she did, and walk away from a record she knew was correct.

I am happy that President Obama acknowledged the 47 percent in this public, nationally televised forum. He said:

"There’s a fundamentally different vision about how we move our country forward. I believe Governor Romney is a good man. He loves his family, cares about his faith.

But I also believe that when he said behind closed doors that 47 percent of the country considers themselves victims who refuse personal responsibility — think about who he was talking about: folks on Social Security who’ve worked all their lives, veterans who’ve sacrificed for this country, students who are out there trying to, hopefully, advance their own dreams, but also this country’s dreams, soldiers who are overseas fighting for us right now, people who are working hard every day, paying payroll tax, gas taxes, but don’t make enough income. And I want to fight for them. That’s what I’ve been doing for the last four years, because if they succeed, I believe the country succeeds."

Mitt, with his "completely wrong" statement, tried to shrug off his 47 percent comment. Being two of the 47 percent, my wife and I believe he should be held accountable. President Obama's statement was a step in that direction.

Finally, thanks for the question asked from the audience by Susan Katz:

"Governor Romney, I am an undecided voter because I’m disappointed with the lack of progress I’ve seen in the last four years. However, I do attribute much of America’s economic and international problems to the failings and missteps of the Bush administration. Since both you and President Bush are Republicans, I fear a return to the policies of those years should you win this election. What is the biggest difference between you and George W. Bush, and how do you differentiate yourself from George W. Bush?"

She was speaking of a man whose name Republicans have avoided like the plague in this campaign, a former president not even asked to appear at this year's national nominating convention. Susan Katz let the Republicans know that Americans are thinking about George W., though, and his role in the way things are now. It was a priceless addition to the dialogue.