REPLIES FROM READERS – AT 11:29 A.M. ET:  We tried a little experiment yesterday, posting a question from reader and military historian Will Stroock.  Will asked, ""Thinking back on the contest between Mitt Romney and Barrack Obama, what comes to mind?  Events, images, etc...."

Here are some quotes from reader responses, and a comment from Will at the end: 

This is in response to your 3/17/2014 post. I've referenced an anti-republicanculture.com link below…

http://www.anti-republicanculture.com/2012/12/cultural-staging.html

Here is another link on the "staging" issue…

http://www.anti-republicanculture.com/2013/02/adoring-americans.html

I think the greatest takeaway for me was the effective use of props in the Obama campaign. From Greek columns to adoring supporters, the imagery employed was striking.

Howard Towt
Parker, Colorado

 

What immediately came to my mind was the debate in which Candy Whatsername intervened with incorrect information, throwing Romney off balance, thereby making it look like he was having a Gerald Ford moment.

My next immediate reaction was anger that the Repubs keep allowing ''debates'' to be manipulated that way, in agreeing passively to ''moderators'' (''moderatrices"?) like that. Gwen Ifil comes to mind.

Gordon Daugherty

 

Regarding question by reader Will Stroock:

1. Romney has respect for those who have served our country in the military, Obama seems to have none
2. Romney has respect for those who own and operate businesses, employ people and pay taxes, Obama seems to have none
3. Romney has respect for Allies like the UK, Canada, Israel and others who have stood shoulder to shoulder to defend freedom, Obama seems to have none.
4. Romney has respect for American values and the heritage that made this country the greatest
on earth. Obama seems to want to apologize to our enemies for everything we have done the past hundred years.
5. Romney understands that no how noble the cause, spending money we do not have is not a great idea....especially for our children and grandchildren. Spending money we do not have
does not appear to bother Obma.

Claude Williams
Collierville, Tennessee

And Will Stroock replies:

All I can see, when I think back, is Mitt Romney being dragged down by one stupid meme after another, his dog, his taxes, his 47% comment, on and on.

Which is what I think we can do to Hillary Clinton.

COMMENT:  Interesting experiment.  Maybe we'll try it again.  What we want to encourage is more readers to write in.  Your comments are always welcome.

March 18,  2014