Romney: Not everyone likes me, but "I am who I am"

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gives a thumbs up as he leaves Brewster Academy after finishing convention preparations for the day on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012 in Wolfeboro, N.H.

/ AP Photo/Evan Vucci

(CBS News) In an interview with Politico published Monday, Mitt Romney conceded that voters may think President Obama is more likable, but he reiterated that he's not going to put on a charade to win over voters.

"I know there are some people who do a very good job acting and pretend they're something they're not," Romney said. "You get what you see. I am who I am."

Romney put his touch on Popeye's famous "I yam what I yam" catchphrase three times in the 30-minute interview in defending his buttoned-up personality, according to Politico.

Romney will have the opportunity this week at the Republican National Convention to re-introduce himself to voters. In order to win voters' trust and support, CBS News political director John Dickerson said Monday on "CBS This Morning," Romney should use the convention to "maybe just tell the story of his life." In spite of pleas for him to open up, Romney so far has been more focused on touting his resume.

Polls have repeatedly shown that voters find Mr. Obama more likable. The latest Washington Post poll shows that 64 percent of American adults said Mr. Obama "seems like the more friendly and likable person," compared to just 25 percent who said Romney does.

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"I don't think everybody likes me," Romney told Politico. "I don't believe that, by any means. But I do believe that people of this country are looking for someone who can get the country growing again with more jobs and more take-home pay, and I think they realize this president had four years to do that. ... He got every piece of legislation he wanted passed, and it didn't work. I think they want someone who has a different record, and I do."

[Patrickdh10]

He is what he is, a businessman who acquired wealth regardless of the cost in human suffering. Vast wealth which is stored off shore. If elected you can expect another unfunded war in the middle east and expansions of the current occupations. The war machine will bloat to unprecedented levels. Gas will skyrocket even worse than now. Federal funding for state infra-structure will disappear. Seniors and hospitals will lose funding. Educational grants and food programs for the needy and deserved will go away.The dissolution of the constitution will continue as the corporate right solidifies their power with another puppet supreme court judge. The middle class will continue to pay 30 to 40 percent in taxes while the wealthy pay 3 to 5 percent. Corporations will just get tax refunds. So vote for Romney,how bad can it get?

[ardeinne]

It's not that people "like" or "don't like" Romney. It's that people don't TRUST him.

How do you trust a guy who has flip-flopped so many times? He once seemed to be a moderate Republican, in the [George] Romney-Rockefeller-William Weld tradtion. He had to, to be governor of Massachustts. Now he seems to have wedded himself to the extreme right of his party. He had to, to get the nomination. Who knows what he'll be, if he gets elected President? We'd be electing Mr. Etch-a-Sketch!

As to likahility -- who knows, he may well be the most personally "likable" man in the world -- I really do not care, I am not planning on going out for a beer with him anyway. (Oops, forgot, he does not drink beer. OK. I am not planning going out for a ROOT beer with him either.)

As for President Obama: not planning on going for a beer with him either. Obama has his faults. All politicians cut corners and he does it too. But must say, compared with Mr Romney, he's a model of transparency.

[bklyngurl47]

First comment Romney made that I agree with.

[Eisenhower_Dwight_D_USA]

QUOTE: "I am that I am?" Who does he think he is GOD INCARNATE? At least he's not a megalomaniac. LOL

[RollotheNorman]

Well, now that you mention it, check out the Mormon doctrine of God.

[netjunkie1]

well, I suppose he did also say he likes "firing people"...you don't suppose he meant.....

[redneckdemocrat]

Racist biggot, that's who he is.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Republicans are rigging the elections trying to steal it with these unnecessary VOTER I.D. LAWS and they have yet to pay the appropriate price for subverting our constitution and democracy. The media print, video and digital are complicit in allowing this. The media and our government would be shouting what republicans are doing at every chance if this were going on in country of one of our enemies. But it's accepted because it's happening here in America?

HELL NO! Republicans must be held to account for this attack to subvert our democracy. Republicans should be attacked by libertarians, liberals, conservatives, tea partiers and other groups in addition to the media for subverting our right to vote.

[TimeToEvolve]

Obama has done a really good job with his financial policies. He made it so women get closer to equal pay. He saved the auto industry which saved millions of jobs. His stimulus provided tax cuts to the middle class and also saved millions of jobs. There's lots more he did and he could even do more without the awful Republicon controlled House.

[netjunkie1]

Yeah he did, but GM dealt the workers a short hand and they know it.
China bought millions of cars from GM last year, now they are building more assembly plants, in China...none of the cars they bought has benefited the American worker.
GM was one of the perpetrators that conspired to bring down the government of FDR...Them and GE and DuPont, Morgan, US Steel, and others led by Prescott Bush....today multinationals endgame with George Bush..we can only survive this...and watch the fireworks.
The republicans are traitors to the constitution then accuse others of breaking it...it's the story of my life.

[Think3Times]

Where did this Popeye thing come from?

Popeye didn't say "I am who I am"

Popeye said "I am what I am and thats all what I am"

[anonymous010]

"I know there are some people who do a very good job acting and pretend they're something they're not," Romney said. "You get what you see. I am who I am."

That's probably Romney's biggest lie ever. Everybody knows he's a flip-flopper - all he does is pretend he's something he's not.

[TimeToEvolve]

Well, if he actually told people his plans for America, no one would vote for him.

[jky54]

I am a middle income wage earner that was in the housing industry. I do not agree that Romney is good only for the wealthy. I would expect those on the government dole would think Obama better. But the spend thrift President has tripled our debt so that fewer Americans can afford to by a home or renovate. It is not the poor that paid my wages it was rather the middle class and wealthy Americans. They are the people that drive this economy. Obama and his dems have tanked this economy. You can't blame the last three years on Bush. The economy since Obama is worst not better. America gambled on a smooth talking no body from Illinois and we are poorer for it. I will take a business leader any time over a liberal ideologue.
We are not better off as the result of President Obama's economic policies.

[netjunkie1]

What has failed here is Congress, not the President. He oiled the squeeky wheel. His actions prevented a depression. He was prevented from going further by repbulican campaign to ruin his tenure in office.
It is a conspiracy of the wealthy to ruin Americana, so they rule over all...fascism. Corporate fascism as real as Mussolini's and Hitlers...started by Prescott and endgame by George.