DNC to air ad in Arizona against Romney

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The DNC will air its first campaign ad in Arizona called "underwater" against Willard "Mittens" Romney's 'Mr. Potter' plan to get rich on foreclosures.

The Caucus blog reports DNC Ad Goes After Romney in Arizona – NYTimes.com:

The Democratic National Committee will on Tuesday begin its biggest sustained advertising campaign against a Republican presidential candidate so far this year, with a spot attacking Mitt Romney in the state of Arizona, traditionally Republican territory that President Obama’s advisers hope to bring into their victory column next year.

Running for six days on local stations and cable news, the commercial seizes on comments made by Mr. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, last week to the editorial board of the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the rash of foreclosures that have been particularly acute in the West: “Don’t try to stop the foreclosure process, let it run its course and hit the bottom,” he said.

The spot features video of Mr. Romney making the comment before an announcer intones, “Mitt Romney’s message to Arizona? You’re on your own.”

Script:

Narrator: Almost half of Arizona homeowners underwater… foreclosures everywhere… and what’s Mitt Romney’s plan?

Romney: Don’t try and stop the foreclosure process. Let it run its course and hit the bottom.

Narrator: Let Arizonans hit the bottom?

Romney: Don’t try and stop the foreclosure process. Let it run its course and hit the bottom.

Narrator: Mitt Romney’s message to Arizona?  You’re on your own.

Romney: Let it hit the Bottom.

Narrator: The Democratic National Committee is responsible for the content of this ad.

DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse released the following statement about the ad:

“Mitt Romney has callously taken the position that homeowners who have been cheated, scammed or simply lost value in their homes as a result of Wall Street’s risky bets should be allowed to ‘hit rock bottom.’  Romney’s position is appalling, but not unexpected from a former financial executive who wants to let Wall Street – the same guys whose recklessness crashed the housing market and our economy – write its own rules, even if it means hanging the middle-class out to dry.  It is irresponsible, but not surprising coming from someone who made a fortune firing workers and sending their jobs overseas.  And what else can we expect from someone who said that ‘corporations are people’ or called tax relief of $1,500 for a typical middle class family ‘little Band Aids.’ 

“While President Obama is fighting to create jobs and adopt policies that give underwater homeowners a chance to refinance and stay in their homes, Mitt Romney believes families who work hard and play by the rules should be kicked out of their homes so bankers can get rich.  Mitt Romney’s vision of the American Dream would be a nightmare for America’s homeowners and it would have a devastating impact for the Arizona economy and families in a state which ranks third in the country in the rate of foreclosures.”

Background: 

Romney: “Don’t Try To Stop The Foreclosure Process. Let It Run Its Course And Hit The Bottom.” Romney: “As to what to do for the housing industry specifically and are their things that you can do to encourage housing. One is, don’t try to stop the foreclosure process. Let it run its course and hit the bottom. Allow investors to buy homes, put renters in them, fix the homes up and let it turn around and come back up. The Obama administration has slow walked the foreclosure process [inaudible] that has long existed and as a result we still have a foreclosure overhang.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/17/11]