Panel: Romney’s remarks

>>> pretty safe to say the last 36 hours have not gone well for mitt romney , a bruising story about campaign infighting and secretly recorded videos from a campaign fund riser. let bring in the panel, maryland state campaign chair, former governor bob ehrlich is here, nia-malika henderson and jamal simmons. governor, i'm going to start with you, i guess you're being forced to speak for the romney campaign here.

>> if you're not paying taxes, why would you be interested in tax cuts ?

>> let me start with.

>> can rhetorical question .

>> bill crystal writing this morning under the headline, a note on romney 's arrogant and stupid remarks, he adds this, romney seems to have contempt not just for the democrats that oppose him but the tens of millions who intend to vote for him that seems to be, governor, where the criticism is coming in for. the 47% figure, while technically accurate on the income tax , mischaracterizes who those people are.

>> to a bunch of business people about tax cuts because these people care about tax cuts .

>> pandering to the crowd?

>> same way with the president last year, get into this whole thing.

>> i understand that you have spoken at fund-raisers.

>> many fund-raisers.

>> how often do you speak to them in what they want to hear --

>> last time i was here, we had this discussion, when you're human, you make comments. when you're off the record, at a private event. you are less careful than when you are at a public event. he said last night in the press conference, inarticulate. that's what happens. again, it is part of this whole side show we had this discussion last time, i was asked to beat up on vice president biden for comments about the change or whatever. it is not important the context of what really matters people.

>> when these things are damaging is when they feed a narrative already put into place, i was before it i was against it johner can right flip-flopper the bush campaign was feeding. boom, fresh evidence.

>> they can build that.

>> a caricature the democrats have been trying to build about mitt romney , he doesn't care about the poor, a rich guy who ships johns overseas, he fed into that very much so when he said he is not very concerned about the poor and you see it in the polls that people do give a barack obama an edge in terms of who cares about the middle class and people like them. he talks about the wait, people bringing their food, he says i'm here to help waiters who are helping us today.

>> where was this in that?

>> i don't know. which mitt? was he pandering, saying what he believes in. i don't think people know. that is a problem. there is a likability gap.

>> anticipate that theswer that. david brooks said he doesn't think this is mitt romney but taking on the --

>> i hate the sideshow. a daily deal . i think tomorrow will be the next story. certainly plays into the narrative democrats want to play. no doubt about it. you didn't build that played into the public, regard to the president -- job creation, correct. it is --

>> jamal, timing though, timing matters.

>> absolutely. the thing about spin is it has to be base old something true or it won't last. the --

>> interesting way to defend spin.

>> short shelf life . so the problem for romney , just another point, the problem for romney , he didn't tell the truth, be open about his personal taxes. he was asked the question on the sunday shows about what tax loopholes woe close, he didn't tell us about that but he goes in front of private donors and tells them all sorts of things he doesn't tell the general public . that's what hurts him.

>> i will let this discussion continue. hang on the trivia