Earlier today, the Romney campaign sent out a new video highlighting Rick Perry’s poor performances in the debates. But when I clicked on the link to the video, I got this message from YouTube: “This video has been removed by the user. Sorry about that.” I’ve e-mailed the Romney campaign to find out if this is technical error or a deliberate choice to pull the video.
For now, though, here is the script (and the sources for the quotes in the script) for the video, as provided by the Romney campaign:
AD FACTS: Script For “Ready To Lead?”
CNN’s ANDERSON COOPER: “And welcome to the Sands Convention Center at the Venetian in Las Vegas.”
· CNN’s Anderson Cooper: “And welcome to the Sands Convention Center at the Venetian in Las Vegas.” (Republican Presidential Candidates Debate, Las Vegas, NV, 10/19/11)
CNN’s JOHN KING: “It is Rick Perry’s moment of truth.”
· CNN’s John King: “In presidential politics, it is Rick Perry’s moment of truth.” (CNN’s “John King, USA,” 10/11/11)
CNN’s GLORIA BORGER: “Republicans need to believe that if they are going to nominate somebody, this person can stand next to Barack Obama on the stage.”
· CNN’s Gloria Borger: “Republicans need to believe that if they are going to nominate somebody, this person can stand next to Barack Obama on the stage and go at him and do well at it.” (CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” 10/12/11)
RICK PERRY: “Was it — was before he was before the social programs, from the standpoint of he was for.”
· Rick Perry: “Was it — was before he was before the social programs, from the standpoint of he was for standing up for Roe v. Wade before he was against Roe v. Wade?” (Republican Presidential Candidates Debate, Orlando, FL, 9/22/11)
CNN’s RANDI KAYE: “Do or die for him.”
· CNN’s Randi Kaye: “Some, tonight, say it’s do or die for him.” (CNN’s “Newsroom,” 10/11/11)
RICK PERRY: “Not whether or not we are going to have this policy or that policy. …We don’t need any plan.”
· Rick Perry: “What we need to be focused on in this country today is not whether or not we are going to have this policy or that policy. … We don’t need any plan to pass Congress.” (Republican Presidential Candidates Debate, Hanover, NH, 10/11/11)
FOX NEWS’ BRIT HUME: “Perry did really throw up all over himself in the debate.”
· Fox News’ Brit Hume: “They’re all — I mean, Perry really did throw up all over himself in the debate at a time when he needed to raise his game.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 9/25/11)
RICK PERRY: “But the fact is, Americans understand faith.”
· Rick Perry: “But the fact is, Americans understand faith.” (Republican Presidential Candidates Debate, 10/18/11)
CNN’s CAROL COSTELLO: “Rick Perry plunging in the polls, rolling the dice.”
· CNN’s Carol Costello: “Rick Perry plunging in the polls, rolling the dice with a sharp attack against Mitt Romney and it got ugly and uncomfortable.” (CNN’s “American Morning,” 10/19/11)
NEVADA GOP CHAIRWOMAN AMY TARKANIAN: “He would just calm down. He seemed very agitated.”
· Nevada GOP Chairwoman Amy Tarkanian: “A lot of people that were sitting by me were hoping that he would just calm down. He seemed very agitated.” (CNN’s “American Morning,” 10/19/11)
REDSTATE’s ERICK ERICKSON: “Set the benchmark so low at the last debate.”
· RedState.com’s Erick Erickson: “He set such a benchmark so low at the last debate.” (CNN’s “John King, USA,” 10/12/11)
RICK PERRY: “I mean we’ll wait until tomorrow, and see…”
· Rick Perry: “I mean, we’ll wait until tomorrow and — and — and see which Mitt Romney we’re really talking to tonight.” (Republican Presidential Candidates Debate, Orlando, FL, 9/22/11)
FOX NEWS’ GRETCHEN CARLSON: “He doesn’t have his economic plan yet.”
· Fox News’ Gretchen Carlson: “He doesn’t have his economic plan yet.” (Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” 9/22/11)
REDSTATE’s ERICK ERICKSON: “All he had to do is show up and smile.”
· RedState.com’s Erick Erickson: “I mean, really, all he had to do is show up and smile at this debate, and the Perry folks would be a little bit feeling at ease this morning.” (CNN’s “John King, USA,” 10/12/11)
THE WASHINGTON POST’s DANA MILBANK: “He’s just a shadow of his former self.”
· The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank: “He’s just a shadow of his former self.” (MSNBC, 9/23/11)
CNN’s GLORIA BORGER: “You cannot do that debate with other Republicans he’s going to have a hard time against Barack Obama.”
· CNN’s Gloria Borger: “And if he cannot do that in a debate with his Republican contenders, with the other Republicans, he’s going to have a hard time against Barack Obama. That’s what people are looking for. And he hasn’t shown it yet.” (CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” 10/11/11)
VIDEO TEXT: “Rick Perry, Ready To Lead?”
VIDEO TEXT: “Coming Soon, www.careerpolitician.com”
UPDATE II: “While the use of the CNN clips was fully within our rights under the law, we respect and appreciate the role CNN has played as host in debates over the last several months. For this reason, we are honoring their request to remove the video,” said Romney spokesperson Andrea Saul in a statement.
Very smart move on Romney's part. A definite shot across the bow to the king of dirty politics. Romney isn't necessarily Mr. Nice Guy all the time, nor should be be.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMy, my, my. Somebody seems to be a little worried. Too bad Romney spent so much of his time stuttering and stammering in Vegas trying to defend the indefensible. Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed together an ad that among other things reminds people that he flip-flopped like a dying fish on a hot summer dock on Roe V. Wade. Maybe the guilty staffer could be relegated to lawn duty and tennis court maintenance, given that the Mittster is a little short of domestic help these days. These biannual runs for office make it a lot harder to hire the same workers he depends on between elections....
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou'd think there'd be more videos of monkeys fighting at the zoo.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRomney certainly has a take-no-prisoners attitude when it comes to running against his fellow Republicans. Perhaps it's because he could just as easily run as a Democrat.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAfter electing a smooth-talker whose dynamic delivery, inspirational rhetoric and magestic presence scammed a nation - and placed an incompetent far left liberal in the White House - we're about to go there again. It's true what they say. We get the government we ask for.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMy wife made the same point last night. I guess we really are turning into the American Idol nation when it comes to our political choices. Is it because people are so busy they don't have time to actually look at someone's record?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRomney got caught in another lie on national television when he said, "I don't think I've ever hired illegals in my life". This ad is the only way he can fight back.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFunny, I don't recall CNN objecting to the use of their footage for political ads that weren't churlish smears. Interesting.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"While the use of the CNN clips was fully within our rights under the law, we respect and appreciate the role CNN has played as host in debates over the last several months. For this reason, we are honoring their request to remove the video."
Don't much care about campaign ads from anybody. But CNN is getting pretty picky if they wanted the ad taken down. How much use will CNN get from the debate footage now? They already got a 5.5 million audience. Isn't that enough?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseQuestion, is Romney really a Republican? Do you really have faith in him? Or do you think he'll do the Republicans bidding merely because he has no principles? And if Republicans don't control congress, what then?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAwesome! How helpful of Ms. Trinko to assist the Romney campaign. Way to go above and beyond, Katrina! If a link to a video doesn't work, we'll gladly provide the transcript.
Look, if NRO places links to web videos on their site, fine. In the public interest, and all that. As part of a campaign press release? Hmmmmm...Kinda sketchy, but I guess I can let it go. But, if the link to the video doesn't work, for whatever reason, it is not the responsibility of NRO, or any other journalistic entity, to actively assist a political campaign in getting their message out. They can buy ad time and do it themselves.
Hey Jack (Fowler), do you ever wonder why so many of your readers believe your entire organization is in the tank for Romney?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseKatrina just posted a video from the Perry campaign attacking Romney. External Link
But I guess that doesn't count. I really don't understand the complaints around here about Katrina's supposed biases.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSigh...did you even read what I wrote? I disagree with the posting of the transcript, not the video. To me, this was an unnecessary effort to assist the Romney campaign.
I acknowledge the posting of the Perry video. If, later, that too becomes unreachable (or whatever), I expect an update acknowledging that, NOT a transcript of the video.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt’s soooo obvious that this article is all about pushing Romney into our throat as the establkishment is doing. Are really that stupid to dismiss a very successful three term governer from a biggest state and replace him with a RINO like Romney ?? Romney has spent his entire career losing elections - that's why he brags about not being a career politician. It isn't as thought he hasn't TRIED to be.. it's that he keeps LOSING.. which he WILL if we nominate him for 2012.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is awesome. Mitt pulled the ad not because it was a stupid line of attack - Perry is an idiot - but that CNN complained about the footage.
For such an inevitable and qualified candidate as we've all been assured Mitt Romney is, this is at best a rookie mistake. At worse, sheer arrogance.
But if you think you're the inevitable one as Romney does, arrogance comes with the territory.
Too bad Romney hasn't noticed what the entire world has -- that arrogance hasn't worked too well for Obama...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think you are exactly on to something here, Dorthy. The liberal media in charge of the GOP debates has really been chapping my hide, but this smacks of CNN saying to Romney, "Jump!" and Romney answering, "How high?"
Romney is NOT inevitable - the pundits are just selling that narrative. REJECT!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe more is see of Romney, the less I trust him.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt’s so obvious that this article is all about pushing Romney into our throat as the establkishment is doing. Are really that stupid to dismiss a very successful three term governer from a biggest state and replace him with a RINO like Romney ?? Romney has spent his entire career losing elections - that's why he brags about not being a career politician. It isn't as thought he hasn't TRIED to be.. it's that he keeps LOSING.. which he WILL if we nominate him for 2012.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWow....
Perry = typical southern democrat, which can be confused with a RINO.
Romney = typical northeastern republican, which can be confused with a DINO.
Romney = Perry
Perry = Romney
That being said, Perry is your typical democrat. He came out of the gates attacking with issues that were resolved in 2008 campagin. Old stuff explained reasonably and not worth mentioning giving the Demoncrats all the fodder they needed. Instead of keeping his eye on the current Loser in Chief.
Romney being attacked by so called fellow Republican, which showed he was truly a RINO, took his eye off the Current Loser in Chief and defended himself. Again, on the stuff from 2008.
Here is to hoping somone realizes the way to Win is to Keep your eye on the O, Keep your attack on the O and never fall into the trap of Republican bashing.
Perry lost me with the Texas Dream Act. I will stay home if he is the Candidate, I cannot vote for someone that has handled his campaign this way. EVER. I would rather watch the country go down then elect a Southern Democrat.
A northeaster republican is far better than a phony RINO Southern Democrat.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI love it! Romney's ready to kick some teeth in. Not one of these Republicans has a political record they should be proud of, so when the tired old 2008 flip-flopper broken record gets played Romney should fight fire with fire especially when little guys with little man syndrome like Perry declare war on him. Let's ROLL!
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