Romney aide: Obama's student loan slow jam was "off key"

(L-R) Romney advisers Stuart Stevens, Eric Fehrnstrom, Brett O'Donnell

/ EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images

(CBS News) Will we ever see presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney follow in President Obama's footsteps and slow jam the news?

Maybe, Romney senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom said on Saturday, but not at the risk of making light of the struggles of youth voters - a bloc with which the Romney campaign is trying to make inroads.

Mr. Obama amused some and irked others when he appeared on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on Tuesday night and talked about keeping student loan rates low, over a beat laid down by The Roots.

The Romney campaign didn't seem to find it funny.

"I do think there was something a little bit off-key about the president slow jamming and appearing to make light of the fact that students are struggling," Fehrnstrom said Saturday at an event put on by The Washington Post. "I don't think it's something to slow jam about or to make light of it."

He added: "If that skit was brought to the governor, he would have declined."

As Romney and President Obama gear up for the general election, Romney faces something of a likability deficit. A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll showed 35 percent of Americans view the former Massachusetts governor favorably, compared to 47 percent who hold an unfavorable view. Romney advisers say that Americans will warm to the Romney family as they get to know him more - and say the war on late night TV is peripheral anyways.

"This election is not going to be about who's cooler," said Peter Flaherty, another senior Romney adviser. "The question is going to be whom do you trust more to run the economy."

[CObama2012]

"If that skit was brought to the governor, he would have declined."
youtube.com/watch?v=9q_fgYf0tlc
repubs are evil, racist, hypocritical liars!

check out etcha sketch december 2011 on david lettermen saying "what's up gangsters" THAT'S EMBARRASSING!

[greco99-2009]

Mitt Romney is like that guy in high school who was always running for class president - but who was clueless (and friendless) in a normal social setting.

Look for a minute at what this guy rally believes...this guy is a kook who is dangerously out of touch...

[Ben37221]

It does not matter if his slow Jam was off key. What matters to me is that he is out their fighting for the middle class, and the students. For those of us who have student loans to payback, we know whose side the president is on. Obama does not need to convince the students and those out their with student loan that he is on their side. We already know he is.
As for Romney, we know he does not understand and does not care. He will say anything and do anything to get elected.
Romney opposes Obama care. Do you know that within Obama care, money that would have been going to the banks as middle men was diverted to the students by the Obama administration. That got the bank and wall Street(Romney's friends) bend out of shape.
Mr. president, keep fighting for students, even if the GOP thinks you are off key. All the GOP is trying to do is distract the president from fighting on behalf of the students. Great job Mr. President.

[amondo79]

The set of discussions surrounding Obama, Jimmy Fallon and college students add up to the fact that you can add two more descriptors to Republicans: Uncool and humorless. Imagine being ticked off that the President comes off as funny and cool.

[USSAmerikan]

Obamanomics: Helping the 99%ers??? When was the last time you heard about a billionaire at the unemployment line? How about a billionaire who had to decide between buying two gallons of milk or only one, but filling up the family van? How about a billionaire who had to worry about maintaining his college-grad son who graduated at the top of his class but hasn't been able to get a job in over a year?
I truly wonder how the 23 million Americans who are unemployed or under-employed will vote... Will they vote for the man who gives them a beggar's handout or for the man who promises to give them back their self respect by way of a job? I'd like to see the results of that poll!!!

[tonynazar]

HarHarHar - I'll bet it took the entire Romney team an entire work day to come up with that.

[dng888]

Obama campaign new campaign slogan: Free is Good! or Why work when you can get Obama money

[RollotheNorman]

Most likely. That's one of Willard's major stumbling blocks: He and his campaign can't come up with any policy positions that aren't recooked and rehashed Bush positions pushed further to the right. Succinctly put, Willard is a dullard. That's why repugs love him, or at least profess to.

[mick7744]

by Ay2TheZee

Yes...I am an idiot because I payed by my own way through college. My college cost about $5000 a year, because that is what I could afford. I have no complaints about the education I received. By the way, the "your an idiot" makes you come across as ignorant

*********************************

Just as, "payed my own way" makes you come across as worse than ignorant...as a loudmouth who got taken for $5000 a year in tuition paid to an institution that failed to even teach you how to use Spell Check.

I'm no agent of the Spelling Police, Ay2TheZee...but in you're particular case, you smug, posturing, hypocrite...it just seemed like the proper thing to do

[mick7744]

DAMN...No one picked up on "you're particular case"? Thought I'd reel in a pseudo-intellectual like you who wouldn't be able to resist pointing out the acedemic limitations of another...

But you never even noticed the bait...or the trap...what a dissapointment you are!

[Ay2TheZee]

Spelling / grammar has never been my strong point, but I never claimed that it was. My point was that responding to a reasonable argument with, "you're an idiot," just makes you come across as ignorant. I came here to have real discussions with people about political issues. People like you are ruining it by instead launching personal attacks.

By the way, assuming someones spelling abilities determines their intellect makes you quite "smug" in your own right.

[LegalizeDrugs]

Republicans ARE nazis. Mark Montgomery NYC, NY [e-mail]

[morrigans_mama]

So glad we have somebody sensible and reliable with down to earth solutions like "Have rich parents willing to give you money."
Yay! Problems solved.

[Tahuaya]

For centuries,humor has been a powerful political tool for making a point. Often, it is easier to make a point, or to accept a view, if it is presented with humor. Why Eric Fehrnstrom and Mitt Romney cannot see that, I do not understand.

In a way, it also scares me some when I realize how much of a stiff shirt the two must be. Anyone that up tight, is out of touch with much of America.

[mick7744]

Because as the "Gloomm and Doom Boys" their job is to tell the American people that things are terrible and will remain terrible...

Until the last Democrat has been driven from office...the DNC is outlawed...Roe v.Wade has been overturned...

And ALL taxes for the very wealthy and corporate donators are abolished forever...The Republican Dream for America