Romney pulls web ad of stumbling Perry

Mitt Romney, left, shakes hands with Rick Perry before the start of a Republican presidential debate on Oct. 18, 2011 in Las Vegas.

/ AP Photo/Isaac Brekken

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney pulled an unflattering video about rival Rick Perry from the Web after cable giant CNN complained about the use of comments from its correspondents in the ad.

The ad featured some of the Texas governor's worst moments from recent candidate debates, including a stumbling attempt by Perry to portray Romney as a flip-flopper on abortion rights.

In the opening footage, CNN political analyst Gloria Borger is shown commenting, "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." Then, in video from the September candidates' forum in Orlando, Florida, Perry is shown standing at the debate podium saying, "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?"

The ad titled "Ready to Lead?" was taken down late Wednesday, apparently after a complaint from CNN. Andrea Saul, a spokesman for the former Massachusetts governor, said, "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."

In a statement, CNN said that the network, "did not consent to the use of its copyrighted material for this ad, and CNN objects to the use of its talent in any campaign ad. We respectfully requested that the Romney campaign not use CNN material in their campaign ads and they complied."

A portion of the ad appears on the video aggregation website YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/embed/JT76BIvGsTc"

Below is a transcript of the ad, which the campaign introduced to reporters as providing highlights of "Rick Perry's inability to discuss the issues."

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)

40 Photos

On the trail in Iowa

[IndependentCuss]

Theocratus R. Perry is a homespun, arrogant, pugnacious buffoon. Good to see Mitt The Shape Shifter Romney expose the clown using Perry's own words. Neither of those "leaders" is very impressive, unless and until we compare them with Ricky Borum Santorum, Wild-eyed Zombie Bachmann, Gingrouch the Arcane, and Ron Paul the Libertarian who wants Government in a woman's body. What a cast of misbegotten losers. Only Huntsman appears to be a thinking adult, and he too has issues.

[Sheila_Drake1]

Dumping trash on the white trash candidate just doesn't make sense this early in the race. Why? Let me count the ways.

Three Tea Party Presidential candidates. One is black. The John Birch Society and Tea Party founders and sponsors are the Koch Brothers. They are kissy kissy with these candidates and expect them to be puppets for buying the election for them. The Koch Brothers not only run these racist, bigoted, white supremacy groups they also sponsor international terrorist states including Iran. The Koch Brothers used the oldest play in the book. They use a subsidiary to supply Iran. Two Koch Brothers that run this are worth 22 billion dollars today. Could be more since they probably work several organized crime groups since they are full of cash and are not packing any brains. They want to buy all elections so they just want winners. They will support any Tea Bager if they deliver and will be a good puppet.

They will buy this Presidency if it takes all the money that they have. So Mitt don't be trashing them yet. The Tea Party attach ads on TV could make anybody look like a fool as you have learned by some YouTube.com videos.

[antoniof123]

What is their position on anything other than they hate Obama?

That is all they ever say at their debates.

[DaveShoe]

Besides the Republican's heavily orchestrated "hate Obama" campaign, this article suggests Republicans are very concerned with who can stand next to Obama during a debate without looking foolish.

Truth be told, I now see Geoge W. stepping back into the ring for the next eight years. I've not yet heard a Republican with a single gripe about the former President, and if Republicans can solidify their base around a single candidate, they can win by sheer numbers, since are now more Republicans out there that qualify to vote than there are Democrats that qualify.

I think I'm starting to understand the new US political structure.

[mountainstates1]

Just shows how repugnant Conservatives have become. Not one of these illiterate GOP quacks are qualified to be local water commissioner let alone president!

[retiredgustav]

Ironically rick perry NEVER ran a positive campaign in his life.

[xymox_or_bust]

Who cares about these high school girls.
Vote Ron Paul in 2012. the only one with a real budget.

[Decken]

Romney just does not know when to quit. He is the type to beat a dead horse back to life and then continue to beat it.

Nope, the guy just does not realize that good looks and money do not win you many elections, you need people to trust you first.

[mountainstates1]

"Corporations are people,too, my friend".... Mitt Romney

[slightlyoffthewall]

this kerfluffle is only going to spread the ad even more around the web. withdrawing it looks generous and high-minded but it's made the details headline news when before the ad was ignorable.