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Mitt Romney Wasted No Time Trying To Take Advantage Of Youk-Gate

So, yesterday, President Barack Obama made a joke to a crowd of Bostonians about Kevin Youkilis getting traded from their Red Sox to his White Sox. Upon hearing the joke, the crowd booed, or maybe some of them said “Yoooooouk!” or maybe they were saying “Boo-bama,” or maybe they were just paying tribute to Boo the Pomeranian.

Whatever the case, amusing story. But do you think it stopped there, friends? Well, if you think it stopped there, here’s a primer on presidential politics for you:

Romney camp: “Last night in Boston, Pres Obama..committed an error by taunting fans over the Kevin Youkilis trade to the Chicago White Sox.”

— Matt Viser (@mviser) June 26, 2012

Romney camp on Youkilis: Obama “chose to mock them for trading away one of its favorite players at a time when the team is struggling.”

— Matt Viser (@mviser) June 26, 2012

“Committed an error.” Guh. We can only assume the statement included other lines like, “Hit a home run for America’s future with Mitt Romney!” and “Romney 2012: now that’s what we call a ‘winning team’!” It goes to show, though, that candidates for office will leave no stone unturned in their attempts to gain an edge, no matter how silly that stone may be. Indeed, even if the other side acknowledges it’s silly, they keep on talking about it all the same… and try to use it to score a few points of their own:

Carney talks of “silly reporting” on Youkilis. But then attempts to make a broader point: Obama doesn’t pander. And won’t wear Red Sox caps.

— Matt Viser (@mviser) June 26, 2012

Of course, the idea any politician, especially one on this high a level, “doesn’t pander” is tough to take seriously, given how much big-time politics is about money and the favors one must curry to get that money. If anything, it’s about who you think is pandering less flagrantly, or pandering to more palatable groups. But no, President Obama won’t pretend to be a Red Sox fan. Hey, it’s better than nothing.

[Business Insider via Hardball Talk]

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