NPR : News

Filed Under:

Pro-Obama SuperPAC Takes Aim At Romney's 'Olympic Gold'

By: Brian Naylor // July 25, 2012
comments

Priorities USA, the superPAC backing President Obama's re-election, has unveiled a new ad — timed to coincide with the London Olympics — that pokes fun at Mitt Romney's overseas business ties.

Using footage of Romney waiving during the opening ceremony of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, for which he served as president and CEO, the commercial's faux announcers point out their take on Romney's connections with several of the countries taking part in the parade of nations, traditionally held during the games' opening ceremony:

ANNOUNCER:

Welcome to the Olympics. There's Mitt Romney, who ran the Salt Lake City Games, waving to ...

China, home to a billion people. Thousands owe their jobs to Mitt Romney's companies.

India, which also gained jobs thanks to Romney, an outsourcing pioneer.

And Burma, where Romney had the uniforms made for the 2002 games.

We know the Swiss have a special place in Mitt Romney's wallet — er — heart.

You get the point. The ad concludes by saying Romney "sure knows how to go for the gold ... for himself."

Commentators have already pointed out the ad may backfire on Priorities USA, by reminding voters that Romney was called on to rescue the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. The superPAC says the ad will run in four swing states: Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Romney will be attending the opening ceremonies of the London Games on Friday.

Copyright 2012 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Arts & Culture

NPR

China Builds Museums ... But Will The Visitors Come?

China is on a spree to build world-class museums and has opened about 100 of them annually in recent years. Two of the biggest opened on the same day last fall on opposite banks of Shanghai's Huangpu River. But filling these museums — with both art and visitors — is proving more challenging.

Food

NPR

Nutrition Group Says Chocolate Milk Is OK, No Need For Aspartame

The nation's largest group of nutritionists is urging the FDA to reject the dairy industry's petition to change the definition of milk. The petition aims to allow aspartame or other alternatives to be used to sweeten milk in an effort to boost consumption in schools.

Politics

NPR

IRS Official In Charge Of Nonprofits Declines To Testify

Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS division dealing with nonprofits seeking tax-exempt status, will not testify on Wednesday despite a congressional subpoena, her attorney says. She is accused of closely scrutinizing conservative groups that sought tax-exempt status.

Technology

NPR

Microsoft Reveals New Xbox One Game System

Microsoft unveiled its new Xbox One Tuesday, displaying a device that takes new steps in game consoles' journey into becoming all-purpose entertainment and communication devices. The new console replaces the Xbox 360, which has been on the market for more than seven years.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.