Romney in seeming swipe at Obama says voters want someone who 'is proud of the flag'

David Edwards and Muriel Kane Published: Wednesday April 2, 2008 |
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In an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe, former presidential candidate Mitt Romney implied that Barack Obama might have trouble in a matchup against Sen. John McCain because "individuals want to see somebody who loves the country, is proud of the flag, and I think Senator McCain at a time like this ... you recognize this is an individual who's served our country throughout his lifetime."

Obama has recently been the subject of a campaign, largely carried on among right-wing bloggers, questioning his patriotism on the grounds of his reluctance to wear a flag lapel pin and his not following the optional custom of placing his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem.

The controversy over remarks by Obama's former paster has also played a role in this campaign, although Romney was quick to assert on Morning Joe that "I take [Obama] at his word on this when he repudiates what Reverend Wright said."

Romney's remarks came in response to a question about Obama's overwhelming lead in fundraising over McCain. "I think the days that spending alone was the determining factor ... are over," Romney asserted. He cited "the advent of the Internet ... cable shows, TV, as well as radio broadcasts," and suggested that "individuals are looking at the candidates, watching debates, making their decision on that basis. Thirty-second ads have less and less impact."

McCain himself recently ran his first ad of the general election, a 60-second spot that begins with McCain intoning, "Keep that faith, keep your courage, stick together, stay strong, do not yield, stand up, we're Americans and we'll never surrender," and ends with the slogan, "John McCain: The American president Americans have been waiting for."

McCain's initial campaign appearances have been similarly strong on patriotism while avoiding any mention of such issues as the Iraq War and the economy. He has touted the values of his "family of rough-hewn American military heroes" who taught him "honour, courage, duty, perseverance and leadership" as well as "how to love my country."

This video is from MSNBC's Morning Joe, broadcast April 2, 2008.

Transcript via closed captions

:: and i don't think there's anyone in washington who doubt whose is the strongest advocate of reigninging in excessive spending and that's mccain.

:: but in order to do this he is going to have to win the presidency and can he at the fundraising level that he's at now compared to the democrats. what can he do to raise more money? what can he do to compete?

:: yeah, because i think barack obama raised as much or more february in february than john mccain raised in the entire race.

:: you know, i think the days that spending alone was the determining factor as to whether or not you are going to win. those days are over. i think the advent of internet. the extensive cable shows, tv as well as radio broadcasts, you see earned media, i think reasserting itself as very powerful voice in politics. and i think individuals are looking at the candidates, watching debates. making their decision on that basis. and 30-second ads have less and less impact. so i don't worry about money. of course he's going to be able to raise the money. republicans will line up behind the republican, democrats behind the democrat. he will have the money he needs to mount a very successful campaign. but i don't think he has to match dollar for dollar barack obama. i think frankly watching hillary clinton and barack obama spend millions and millions of dollars attacking each other, i sort of think it's fun as a republican to watch. and the great thing about it is is that senator clinton is trying to convince us that senator obama is unelectable and senator obama is trying to convince us that senator clinton is unelectable and frankly, i agree with both of them.

:: isn't that convenient.

:: does the reverend wright story that broke a couple weeks ago make barack obama less electable among reagan democrats?

:: you know, i take him at his word on this. he said that he repute e-yates what reverend wright said. i don't have any reason to take exception to that. i think of course individuals want to see somebody who loves their country, proud of the flag and i think senator mccain at a time like this as he goes across the country and lays out aspects of his life, you get a much broader picture than just the years he spent in hand yoi in a prison camp. you recognize him as a individual who served our country throughout his lifetime and that's really one of the reasons people will be drawn to his campaign.