Mitt of La Mancha
Posted in General on June 22nd, 2012 by Eugene Finerman – 1 CommentRomney Exhibits a Change in Tone on Immigration
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Mitt Romney struck a more conciliatory tone toward illegal immigrants on Thursday than he took during the Republican primary season, but he backed only limited steps to address the concerns of many Hispanic voters as he confronted one of the trickiest issues in his efforts to build a broad general election coalition. Speaking to a group of Hispanic officials in the heart of a swing state, Mr. Romney made his most extensive remarks on immigration since President Obama announced last week that he would use executive authority to allow many young people who are in the country illegally to avoid deportation.
Attempting to establish a rapport with the Hispanic community, Mitt Romney announced that he was moving the Velasquez painting from the guest bathroom to the living room. When asked in which of his homes, Romney conferred with his advisors before exclaiming, “All of them.”
The former governor added, “I really don’t think you are inferior. In fact, Ann tells me that your King Juan Carlos is much better at polo than Prince Charles.” Romney further gushed his enthusiasm for Man of La Mancha-“What great Spanish music”– and asked the audience to sing along with him “The Impossible Dream.” When the crowd proved unfamiliar with the Broadway music of an American Jew, the still chipper Mr. Romney proposed “How about Carmen?”
At least, the audience knew the word “toreador.”