People still don't like Mitt Romney

Getting people to like Mitt Romney is like getting people to like mealworm quiche. Kaili wrote earlier about the Romneys' supposed puff piece in Parade, where they come across, yes, as dicks.

Is it any wonder that people still don't like Romney? Let's look at some of those quotes, again:

AR: I love tithing. When Mitt and I give that check, I actually cry.

MR: So do I, but for a different reason.

Ann is being melodramatic here, but Mittens? What kind of person is a bishop in his church, yet cries when he tithes'particularly when you're worth hundreds of millions of dollars? If you believe in your church and your faith, you give freely and happily to further its mission. Heck, you give more than the minimum. What kind of greedy jerk professes deep passion for his faith, then whines about having to fund it?

That quote actually gives credence to one of the theories about Mitt's tax returns'that he fears the voters less than he does his own church, if they find out that he's been stiffing them on his 10 percent tithe. And of course, if you want motive for John Huntsman Sr. to leak information about Romney's taxes, there you have it'it would be infuriating to be a top member of the church hierarchy, giving your required 10 percent, and watching a fellow rich Mormon refusing to fulfill his duty.

But seriously, if you wanted to prove that money is the only thing that you care about, that it's the only thing that can generate enough emotion to move you to tears ... well then, mission accomplished.

Then they talk about how much they like music, and rather than talk about what music they like and why they love it, they forget that they're not trying to impress their friends at the country club:

AR: We have a friend in the Eagles.

No one gives a shit that you are friends with this musician or that sports owner or that other pizza mogul. My god, the Romneys really do think they're running for president of the board of the directors of their country club, where name-dropping wins you respect and votes!  

Fortunately for us, this isn't a problem that Romney is having with liberals, but with all Americans. That's why he remains the sole GOP nominee to have higher unfavorable ratings than favorable ones'not even Bob Dole was as unpopular. And it's why he's still'two months and change from the election'trying to convince people that he isn't a dick.

Much of the money that Romney raises falls into the hands of the Mad Men, who already have cut spots and laid plans to blanket the airwaves in battleground states throughout the final 10-week sprint. Romney can raise all the millions there are to raise, but if his ad wizards don't make compelling and persuasive ads, it won't do him much good [...]

The creative team is trying to create an emotional bond between a candidate who reveals little emotion and a still-unsure body politic.

Sure, Romney has the guy who came up with the slogan "Beef, it's what's for dinner" working for him. Thing is, most people like beef. It's one thing to make people consume more of what they already like. I'd be more worried if they found someone to convince people to eat more bugs.

Getting people to like Romney is similar to getting people to start eating bugs and liking it. In two months.

Good luck with that.