The trouble with surrogates

Posted: Monday, December 31, 2007 11:11 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ’s Erin McPike
Romney had great success with Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) and his son, Bryan, on Friday. The same was true of Saturday, when he was traveling with former Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO) and his son, Michael, and attorney Jay Sekulow and his son, Jordan. But today, he was traveling with former Colorado congressman and failed gubernatorial candidate, Bob Beauprez.

Parts of Beauprez's introductions:
"I'm very, very proud of our Republican field," Beauprez said. (When Republicans feel the need to say this, it sure sounds like they are feeling insecure.)

"I tell people, 'Mitt Romney was to business what Elvis Presley was to music,'” Beauprez said. “He was a rock star; he stood out; he set a whole new standard."

But give this one a look, as it caused several reporters' eyes to dart around the room and raise their eyebrows: "Then he went to the Salt Lake Olympics -- extremely difficult circumstances -- and if it wasn't tough enough already, they threw in a little event called 9/11 on top of it to complicate matters. He pulled that off in great style."

(What would the Giuliani campaign say to the notion that 9/11 was a "little event" that was thrown in to complicate matters for Romney...?)

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Comments

It is a good point that Mitt did have to re-tool the Olympic security plans in a hurry after Sept. 11th--actually moving to prevent another attack. As someone who attended the SLC Olympics, I agree that the security there was firm yet friendly and struck just the right balance in a troubled time. Go Mitt!

Bill, Gainesville, FL (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 11:24 AM)

Oh wow, Mitt had to up security and redo the opening ceremony? That's almost as difficult as attending funerals and making bogus air-safety claims!

ENOUGH about 9/11 already!

Steve, Hartford, CT (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 11:45 AM)

Next thing we're going to hear is that Mitt helped Joseph and Mary bring Jesus into the world, metaphorically speaking of course....oh yeah, of course.

R.Merrell (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 11:48 AM)

I think it's rewriting history to say that Mitt reworked anything for the Olympics. The work was getting done, but fundraising was in jeopardy due to the bribery scandal. This isn't a hard problem to fix at all. Fire those implicated and bring in new people. If the venues weren't getting completed or weren't up to standard that would be a different thing. Security was beefed up after 9/11 of course, but that was true every single place people gather en masse.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 11:49 AM)

I knew Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley was a friend of mine, sorry Mitt you are NO Elvis Presley.

RGO, California (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 12:07 PM)

This doesn't seem like a really excited support system for any of the repub candidates, this party is really worried, they should be, George and Karl have set them back for a few years. Imperialism harms every american and slowly destroys democracy. We are going to take back our country from Bushco.

John Alexander,Edinboro,PA (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 12:15 PM)

The "little event" comment was clearly meant to be ironic, expressing the enormity of 9/11.

Allen, Denver, Colo. (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 12:16 PM)

Hillary is the most electable. Please read this truthful & gut wrenching article:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/12/22/why_clinton_will_prevail/

roberta (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 12:33 PM)

The biggest surrogate gaffe of the weekend goes to the Clinton campaign. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland stumped with Hillary in Iowa over the weekend. On Sunday, he was quoted as saying the Iowa caucus "makes no sense" and are "hugely undemocratic". Fence sitters in Iowa will see their blood boil by these comments. Also Chelsea Clinton once again refused to speak to reporters. This time the reporter was a nine year old girl who reports for Scholastic News. So much for the warm and fuzzy, girl power Clinton campaign.

Mark G. Atl., Ga. (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 12:46 PM)

The Olympics would have succeeded without Mitt?
Idiot, I was here, were you, Mr. Des Moines?
The Olympics could get no sponsors, period. Mitt's extensive connections and respect throughout the business world took a 400 million dollar shortfall,
cleared 100 million in profit and paid back a state of Utah 50 million dollar loan for facilities.
He took a 3 billion dollar deficit in Mass. and left them in the in the black with a surplus.
He has taken broken business' and fixed them for 25 years. He has more education and life experiences than any of these candidates. Especially Goober Hucabee.
He was here for 3 years, was to be paid 1 million per year and took 1 dollar per year for his services.
This is the most qualified man this nation has seen since Reagan.
Huckster, Hillary, McCain have never met a payroll, or led a state as a CEO, sorry Arkansas, does not count, we saw another goober from Arkansas not too long ago.
Vote Mitt for the good ol USA

aj arizona (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 1:24 PM)

Bob Beauprez likens Mitt Romney to Elvis because of Mitt’s business prowess and leadership ability. Bob holds leadership ability in high regard and apparently admires those who lead by example. It is time for Bob Beauprez to demonstrate his own leadership ability by leading the charge to defend an unselfish patriot who during the 2006 Colorado gubernatorial race stood tall and exposed a dangerous threat to America’s public safety. The unselfish patriot is ICE special agent Cory Voorhis. For more than one year, Bob has been missing in action and silent to defend Cory who with nothing to personally gain contacted the sitting U.S. Congressman and exposed a dangerous public policy that threatened all Americans. Bob, please have the intestinal fortitude to the right thing and make an unselfish donation to Cory’s legal defense fund at ww.corylegaldefense.com.

Mike Riebau, Centennial, Colorado (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 1:26 PM)

Mitt is the Al Gore of the Republican Party. Like Al, he had a part in every important invention and historical event in history.

Laurie, Pittsfield, MA (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 1:45 PM)

Well, Roberta's right on one thing. Any editorial headlined "Why Clinton will prevail" certainly wrenches my gut. But it's authored by the guy who managed Geraldine Ferraro's and Michael Dukasis's campaigns, so I'm not going to worry too much about his opinions.

Dale, Denver (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 1:52 PM)

Mitt Romney is a SEXIST bigot who will never belong in the White House. NOW, LDS, call me ugly names for speaking the truth some are too blind or arrogant to see!

sincerly,
guess who?

guess who? (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 2:52 PM)

I worked at the 2002 SLC Olympics in Human Resources and saw first hand (daily) the huge event security was. It wasn't a small matter and from someone who participated in putting on the 2002 Olympic Games, I give a HUGE hats off to Mitt Romney. He was an excellent person and did one of the best jobs imaginable.

Max, Seattle, Wash (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 8:40 PM)

Beauprez touts Romney - Iowa Caucus?

Since illegal immigration is a significant issue in Iowa, hopefully, former Congressman Beauprez will do the right thing and support ICE Agent Cory Voorhis from his home state of Colorado. Cory Voorhis is an outstanding ICE Agent and has been thrown to the wolves and forced to drink Denver's political outhouse soup. If both Governor Romney and former Congressman Beauprez are serious about the illegal alien crisis, they can start by supporting a true American law enforcement officer. Cory Voorhis needs your help and theirs. www.corylegaldefense.com

Jan Herron (Sent Tuesday, January 01, 2008 8:47 AM)

Mitt Romney is a good man, and would make a great president. He is well advised to keep his distance from former congressman "both ways" Bob Beauprez (R) of Colorado.

Beauprez demonstrated a basic character flaw as he refused to stand up for DHS-ICE agent Cory Voorhis when the Ritter (D) - Morissey (D) D.A. team in Denver used selective prosecution to skewer an innocent man and his young family.

When it comes to ethics and integrity, Beauprez is a loser.

Sally Flack, Arvada, Colorado (Sent Tuesday, January 01, 2008 9:29 AM)

Mitt Romney seems like a person who has presidential characteristics worthy of the position. But, a person is judged by the people who surround him, and Bob Beauprez does nothing to help Mitt. He is great at hiding in the shadows when it comes to the Cory Voorhis situation in Colorado. Perhaps Mitt would be mindful to do background checks on people who speak on his behalf. As a Colorado republican of many years, using Beauprez as a spokesperson diminishes my regard for Mitt and his campaign. Check it out, Mitt!

Nancy Riebau, Centennial, Colorado (Sent Tuesday, January 01, 2008 12:33 PM)

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