Did Mitt Romney deserve to be booed at NAACP convention?

By Ruth Ferguson, NDG Editor

When Mitt Romney, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee this fall, spoke on Wednesday July 11, at the NAACP convention in Houston he was booed three times by attendees during his speech. Was it fair? Perhaps the first question is to whom was the message really intended? Pundits speculated that the audience Romney was trying to reach was not those in Houston, but the moderate white voters around the country.

Romney, as many other GOP candidates before him, made a speech at the annual convention in hopes of extending the possibility of working with the oldest civil rights organization in America. The event went well with a standing ovation at the beginning. But in the end many were surprised at his lack of proposals that would appear to open the door to possible common ground. Instead, he stressed his promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act – referring to it as Obamacare – and was booed three times as a result.

Speaking in Montana later at a fundraiser, his comments might give some to question whether he even genuinely meant anything he said during his NAACP speech. Romney reportedly said, “[I] want people to know what I stand for and if I don’t stand for what they want, go vote for someone else, that’s just fine. But I hope people understand this, your friends who like Obamacare, you remind them of this, if they want more stuff from government tell them to go vote for the other guy — more free stuff.”

So was his feelings hurt by the chilly reception and boos or does Romney believe that voters who support a federal healthcare program based on the healthcare program he created as the Governor of Massassechuets merely want “more free stuff.” And as if it was not clear enough that Romney operates under assumptions about African Americans versus really knowing the concerns and desires of African American voters, his said during a Fox news show appearance that he “expected” a negative reaction from the audience.

So again, I ask who was the appearance and message intended to appease?

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said, “He tried to go to the NAACP and then take a position that he knew would impact seven million African Americans adversely and then he got the response that was completely appropriate. It makes him look like he’s having character and integrity, when he wasn’t really speaking to the NAACP audience at all. He’s aware what’s going in Congress today, and those are the individuals he was speaking to. So he was trying to pull off a reverse Sister Soulja moment. He never displays that kind of character, integrity, or courage when Rush Limbaugh makes a comment. He didn’t display that kind of character, integrity, or courage when Ted Nugent made comments about the President that were wholly inappropriate. He didn’t display that kind of character, integrity, or courage when the young law student at Georgetown was disparaged. But he’ll come to the heart of the NAACP and say that Obamacare should be repealed. That’s why it was a political stunt.”

While he tried to tout his ability to work with members of the African American community, Massachusetts Black Caucus members Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry and Rep. Gloria Fox issued a statement indicating his comments were misleading:

“Governor Romney’s remarks at the NAACP conference that he worked well with African-American legislators while Governor are misleading at best.   Romney rarely met with members of the legislature, nevermind the Massachusetts Black Caucus, and he certainly did not have a plan addressing issues facing communities of color. As members of the black caucus during his tenure, we watched with our colleagues as Governor Romney slashed public education funding for our children, stifled growth at our community colleges and drastically increased fees, i.e license renewal, that directly impact the quality of life of our residents.  The one thing Governor Romney did do was sign universal healthcare in Massachusetts.  We know that access to healthcare and preventative care improves not only health indicators but economic conditions for individuals and families. Unfortunately, Governor Romney feels compelled to run away from his record and not make this available for all Americans.”

The Democratic National Committee officials released comments reacting to Romney’s suggestion that African Americans have fared poorly under President Barack Obama. They spotlighted:

• Romney opposed the auto industry rescue which experts claim “would have been ‘nothing less than catastrophic for African Americans.'”
• They claim 2.2 million African American families will face a tax hike under Romney’s plan while millionaires get a 25 percent tax cut.
• Romney’s proposed higher education cut in funding’s severe impact on African American students – nearly half receive Pell Grants.

The reality is that the numbers are not good when it comes to employment for African Americans during President Obama’s tenure and his position on same sex marriages has dampened some enthusiasm for his re-election. However, instead of taking advantage of a possible rift – especially in light of the fact President Obama was not attending the conference himself, sending Vice President Joe Biden instead – Romney appeared to squander the chance to have real dialogue with African Americans.

This gift was not lost on the Obama campaign. They issued a statement after Romney’s speech:

“At the NAACP today, leaders in the African American community recognized the devastating impact Mitt Romney’s policies would have on working families,” campaign spokesman Clo Ewing said in a statement. “He’d gut investments in education, energy, and infrastructure, and raise taxes on the middle class even as he gives $5 trillion in tax cuts weighted towards millionaires and billionaires. He’d put insurance companies back in charge, threatening the health of more than 30 million Americans who will gain coverage because of the Affordable Care Act. And he refused to use the opportunity today to finally lay out a plan for improving health care or education in this country.”

Do you think Romney has a real desire to reach out to the African American community? If so, are they willing to give him a fair hearing and consideration?