Romney: I'm friends with Jets, Dolphins owners

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has once again made a comment that serves to remind voters that he is a very wealthy man.

In a Monday interview with sports radio host Paul Finebaum, which you can listen to here (the relevent section is near the end), Romney spent some time discussing the prospects for former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. After the former Massachusetts governor and New England Patriots fan said he doesn't want Manning "in our neck of the woods" -- since he doesn't want the Patriots to have to play against him too often -- Romney made specific reference to the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, telling Finebaum, "both owners are friends of mine." 

Last month, Romney said he doesn't follow NASCAR as closely as some, but he has "some great friends who are NASCAR team owners." Shortly before that comment, Romney referenced the fact that his wife drives "a couple of Cadillacs" in a speech. Further back in the campaign cycle, Romney was criticized for offering Rick Perry a $10,000 bet in a debate.

In the wake of the February comments, Slate writer David Weigel introduced the term "Romneying," which he defined as "[a]ccidentally bragging about your place high up in the economic stratosphere."

As of his August 12 financial disclosures for the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), Romney had an estimated net worth of between $190 and $250 million.

[John782011]

Some interesting lnks. Love the one about the world Boehner grew up in. In my youth, just a few years after his, I understood conservative to be limited government regulations, while providing a safety net, individual responsibility and self sufficiency. The highway system (the Eisenhower Interstate System) was still being built (to provide a means for the military to relocoate in the event of a nuclear war with the side benefit of national transportation. Democrats and republicans could be either conservative or moderate while most liberals identified with the democrats. But religion was not the dividing line it is today, the vitriol may have existed in the towns where desegregation was taking place, but it was not on the daily airwaves and even rarer in congress. Senators debated fearcelon the Senate Floor, but you would see them out drin king together that evening in a Georgetown or Alexandria bar, not cloistered with their lobbiests raking in who knows how much (that is both side of the aisle)

[calebsally]

I remember how some conservatives *claimed* to dislike Obama because he was elitist.

Now they're rabidly defending Mitt's "Romneying" with wide-eyed "what's-wrong-with-being-rich??!" smarminess.

Make up your mind, people.

[nancy_naive]

Do you want to really know how Mitt made his money?

1) Buy a small company (<$5m).
2) Take it private (This keeps the SEC from watching you).
3) Cut it to the bone (close less profitable offices/plants).
4) Borrow acquistion money to buy similar companies.
.... a) sell off profitable parts
.... b) close less profitable parts
5) **This is the Big Part** PAY HUGE DIVIDENDS TO YOURSELF.
6) <Bankrupt yet?> No, go to 4;
7) Yes. Write initial investment off as a tax loss.

In the case of AmPad, a small stationary manufacturer, Romney managed to take $60 million in dividends on a $5 million initial investment before sending the company into bankruptcy. By 1999, Ampad's debt reached nearly $400 million, up from $11 million in 1993, according to government filings.


This guy BK'ed companies for a living. This is the training you would put in the Oval Office?

[John782011]

What is wrong with that? just because pension plans put the money into Bain and suffer the loss, its all paper money, OH my retirement was invested there, darn the rich get richer, and I depend more on social security because my company was sold and the acquisition agents took the cash that was in the retirement accounts and bought more companies like AmPad and skimmed the profits again so the retirement account is now over with the fedderal Pension Guarantee for 10 to 30 cents on the dollar.

[stupa5]

Next He'll say some of my "Best Friends are the Poor & Blue Collar Types" ...."I'll kick back at the bowling alley & have few brews"
And some times I'll head down to the sould food restaurant and chow down with my "Bros & Sistas" freinds!


Romney get real!

[way_out_there]

Why does the media keep telling me that, being the "common man," can not relate to Romney because he has money and runs in different circles than I do? Last time I checked, I also couldn't relate to Santorum and Gingrich because of their far-right policies. I also can not relate to Obama's wealth and lifestyle as well. I can not relate to the Clinton's wealth either. Please remind me how the millions the Obama's and Clinton's make each year allows them to relate to all those Americans out there chumping away working for The Man.

[stupa5]

Yeah he's friends with the rich!
But what about being friends with the average working stiff like Joe "Six Pack" and Mary cheap "Chardoney twist off Cap" ?

Not in a million years!

[Lindag10]

Although he's been wearing blue jeans lately, he still can't relate to working class Americans. Once again he shows how out of touch he is with the vast majority of the people. He gives classes on insensitivity.

[fredrickh]

Mitt will do a far better job than the current occupier of the white house. Who cares if he born into wealth. He actually took his inheritance gave half to his children and donated the rest to charity.
When the Kennedy's settle the estate after Rose died, even though she had not been to Florida for many years the family was somehow able to settle the estate in Florida thus saving millions in taxes and depriving Massachusetts from tax revenues. You see taxes are for little people. Joe Kennedy runs a non profit where he and his wife work ten hours a week and they take home a combined 950,000.00 plus yearly salary. Mitt makes money and donates it while the Kennedy's make money from their charity. Mitt does not live the typical life of a very rich person, he is frugal and is not extravagant. His wife has two cars one at one home and the other at another home. Hardly unusual for people of much lesser means than him that own two homes.
I don't care if the next president is someone I would want to have a beer with - i want them to be someone that I trust with my future - someone who has a record of success not this bumbling, pretend intellectual fraud that we have now. Whose advice would you take if were making an investment or had a tax issue? The man with experience or the unconstitutional scholar. Compare Mitts grades at Harvard with Obama's - oh yeah those are top secret. We have no real record of achievement for this guy except that he has run for office been elected and increase the debt faster and by more than any other president in history with no end in sight.

[sweetcakesmaria]

Mitt gained a lot of his wealth by destroying many businesses which caused thousands of lost jobs for average Americans when he headed the Bain Corp. People who are struggling daily to support their families probably don't want to be reminded of Mitt's wealth or his many friendships with other people of great wealth.

[geezerdude]

And who is Obama friends with? George Soros, one of the richest men in the world and a dangerous Socialist/liberal. He believes in world dominance by the rich. He believes in having "Rulers" and the rest are peasants.

[jimbom121]

Not sure if they are friends or not...haven't seen him flaunting it if they are.