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'We Germans Have a Hard Time Understanding Why Americans would Vote for Romney' (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)

"That a politician would voluntarily brand himself a cold-hearted capitalist is astonishing. ... We Germans have a hard time understanding why so many Americans still want to cast their ballots for Romney. Seeing him stumble along this way is more or less what we had hoped for: welfare, health insurance, reconciliation with the rest of the world - that is politics as we understand it. And because that is also politics as Obama understands it, he is Europe's preferred candidate."

EDITORIAL

Translated By Stephanie Martin

September 22, 2012

Germany - Financial Times Deutschland - Original Article (German)

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney: Has he finally done himself in by alienating a huge portion of the country? Not quite, the FTD writes. MOTHER JONES VIDEO, U.S.: Mitt Romney's remarks to Republican doners last May, in which he appears to dismiss half the electorate, Sept. 18, 00:36:39

Rarely has an American politician compromised himself as severely as Mitt Romney when he unceremoniously wrote off half the American people. But whether his blunder will lead to an Obama victory is still just a matter of speculation.

The U.S. Presidential Election: Of all the blunders Mitt Romney has made during the current election campaign, this is the most serious. If the Republican presidential candidate criticizes Olympic Games host Great Britain for being incompetent or attacks presidential incumbent Obama, it's no big deal. But for him write off half the U.S. population, that's something special: The candidate said that it isn't his job to concern himself with 47 percent of the electorate - the 47 percent who allegedly rely on government assistance and are therefore allegedly betting on Obama. That a politician would voluntarily brand himself a cold-hearted capitalist is astonishing.

Posted by Worldmeets.US

We Germans have a hard time understanding why so many Americans still want to cast their ballots for Romney. Seeing him stumble along this way is more or less what we had hoped for: welfare, health insurance, reconciliation with the rest of the world - that is politics as we understand it. And because that is also politics as Obama understands it, he is Europe's preferred candidate. But the political culture in parts of America is different: more conservative, more religious, more suspicious of the state and more focused on the rights of the individual. So some statements that would be a scandal in Germany, in the U.S. barely result in a short-term dip in popularity: None of his by now many - very many - verbal gaffes have had any noticeable impact on Romney's poll numbers.

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And he's right: In the remaining 50 days until the election, he won't be able to win over close to half the population - the died-in-the wool Democrats. At the same time, many conservatives are relatively unconcerned about the antics of the media nor even the fundamental weakness of Romney's platform, believing that it is enough that Romney is not Obama. This election will be decided by mobilizing the few remaining undecided voters.

The question is, who will this small percentage ultimately vote for: the rich, cold-hearted capitalist, or Obama, the president of high unemployment and rising national debt? At the moment, things are looking good for the incumbent. According to the polls, he's ahead, albeit barely. But a lot can still happen before Election Day. Disappointing employment figures could play into Romney's hands, as could further unrest in the Middle East. He hasn't lost yet - although winning isn't getting any easier.

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

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Global Times, China: America is 'Disrespectful' of Other Cultures

MacLeans, Canada: Behind Mitt Romney's Response to Killings at Consulate in Libya

Die Zeit, Germany: Romney's 'Nostalgia' is Ill-Suited to a Fast-Changing World

Die Tageszeitung, Germany: Muslim Unrest Raises Stakes of U.S. Election Even Higher

Le Figaro, France: U.S. Democrats in Combat Mode; Face Unemployment Headwind

La Repubblica, Italy: The Right to Vote Being Imperilled in America!

Al Mesryoon, Egypt: Romney: Can Such a 'Vacuous Figure' Lead the Strongest Nation?

Rzeczpospolita, Poland: Election in America: Romney Gives Poland an Opening

Neviditelny Pes, Czech Republic: If Romney Wins, He Can Keep His Radar!

China Daily, China: America's Unsettling Political 'Hate Speech'

Guardian, U.K.: Paul Ryan Sets Up Romney Stall but No One is Buying

Guardian, U.K.: Democratic National Convention 2012 - Live Coverage

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Globe & Mail, Canada: History Does Not Bode Well for GOP's New Pick

Die Zeit, Germany: Ex-Mormon Missionary Romney's Europe Gaffes Were Calculated

The Observer, U.K.: In Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney Makes Risky and Divisive Choice

Economist, U.K.: Romney Makes his Choice

Le Figaro, France: Why the U.S. Presidential Campaign Has Gone to the Dogs

Amal al-Oumma, Egypt: Egyptians Can Learn from American Presidential Race

Le Figaro, France: Ann Romney and Michelle Obama: The Battle for FLOTUS Begins

Economist, U.K.: Romney's 'Fake' Woman Problem

Gazeta, Russia: Hysteria over Romneys Flattery of Russian Influence

Le Monde, France: The Misery of the 'Electoral Circus'

Le Figaro, France: Lunatic Fringe Runs Romneys Nomination Campaign

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Le Figaro, France: Americas Right Makes the French Right Seem Left

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Jeune Afrique, Senegal: 'Oddball Extremist' Santorum Could Make Obama's Day

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Jornal De Negotios, Portugal: Taxes: Warren Buffett, His Secretary, and the Grocer

Gazeta, Russia: America's Young People Turn Against 'Patriotic Bravado'

Le Figaro, France: Gingrich Success Reflects Republican 'Personality Disorder'

Tokushima Shimbun, Japan: State of Union Sends 'Wrong Message' to Pyongyang

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany: America: 'Land of Inequality'

Liberation, France: It is 'Yes We Can' in America Once More

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Diario de Cuyo, Argentina: Chavez and Obama: A Common Electoral Challenge

China Daily, China: Republican Race 'Hijacks' China-U.S. Relations

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