Although no apology was necessary for Mitt Romney’s “47%” comment, the Republican candidate did express some regret for remarks that were criticized by many voters. Keep in mind, however, that Romney is running a campaign right now, not a country.
Romney said that he didn’t have to “worry” about that 47% of the electorate that receives some form of public assistance. What he meant is that he shouldn’t spend his limited resources of time and money trying to persuade a group that will most likely not vote for him. Many recipients of government aid are more likely to vote for that candidate who they believe will continue to support them financially.
I am a college instructor who teaches students how to write persuasively, and I advocate this same technique. There’s no point in addressing those who most likely will not agree with you. Neither should you “preach to the choir.” It’s the group in the middle which you must focus on. This is precisely why both campaigns are spending so much time in the “purple” states. Does this mean that the winning candidate won’t worry about the “red” or “blue” states once elected? Of course not!
Classic persuasive techniques were exactly what Romney was talking about when he addressed supporters who were contributing to his campaign. Perhaps his remarks were not expressed in a manner that would appeal to other voters. Romney has nevertheless demonstrated during this campaign that he tackles the task at hand one-hundred percent, whether it be a presidential campaign, the governing of a state, the saving of the Winter Olympics, or the running of a business. If elected, he will be an effective president for one-hundred percent of the American people, including those who did not vote for him.
Arlene Quaratiello
Atkinson
