Now  that Mitt Romney appears to be back in the US election race, he is attempting to set the record straight. Those oh so offensive comments regarding 47% of American citizens needed addressing. In an arrogant manner he virtually declared that 47&% of Americans are happy to sit back and live a life of luxury on welfare.

What a shameful accusation, made all the worse as Romney is such a wealthy man. He and his wife are no newcomers to wealth and privilege, meaning that they have no idea how most Americans live.

His accusations were aimed at a swathe of Americans who do not pay taxes. That is they have no suitable income to be taxed. His remarks were disparaging especially considering that he manages to pay a low rate of tax in spite of his vast wealth.

Romney's remarks regarding 47% of Americans was muttered behind closed doors. It was secretly taped at a Romney fund raiser. This will leave many wondering how honest his words are in TV debates. Are they just empty words aimed at winning? Perhaps behind the closed doors of fund raisers Romney speaks what he believes to be the truth?

Mitt Romney yesterday said that his words regarding 47% of Americans were "completely wrong" Well we knew that all along. Shame it took Mitt so long to realise his words were wrong. His apology may be from the heart or just because he was caught out.

Speaking with Fox Romney said, "Well, clearly in a campaign, with hundreds if not thousands of speeches and question-and-answer sessions, now and then you're going to say something that doesn't come out right. " In this case, I said something that's just completely wrong."  "And I absolutely believe, however, that my life has shown that I care about 100% and that's been demonstrated throughout my life. And this whole campaign is about the 100%."

Do we believe him? Do we Hell. Today President Obama has bounced back on the strength of better than expected unemployment figures. Mitt Romney is trying to tie up lose ends. His 47% gaffe is just one of many such gaffes.

Voters will have to decide if they trust him enough to make him the next President of the USA.

The cynic in us would not be surprised if all of this was engineered. You know, upset some of the electorate and then back pedal. In doing so he can appease the masses but his true followers will know it was all a sham. Romney may not be clever enough for all of this but his campaign managers could be.

In truth Romney did not say his sentiment was wrong simply his wording. US voters are fickle but are they easily swayed. If they believe Romney's words they must be very naive.

The 2012 Presidential Campaign seems to have dragged on forever. What it must be like for US citizens heaven only knows. Of course if you are a 100% Democrat voter you may have bypassed the apparently everlasting election for the GOP presidential hopeful. At least now Americans know that it is a straight forward election between Republicans with Mitt Romney at the helm or incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama.

Each Party's campaign has been costly and full of propaganda. As always election hopefuls negatively portray the opposition, more than they explain what they will do should they be elected.

As The Romney Election Machine continues to secure huge funding President Obama is going to be outspent. Should that matter in an election? No. Will it matter in the US election? Yes. 

Money allows the candidates to run advertising campaigns which latch onto any flaws in the other side. Clever editing will be utilised meaning that in reality the ad campaigns are useless to would be voters. They will however play a part in deciding the winner. Voters will choose to believe slick ads rather than seeing them for what they are.

Today July 16, 2012, Mitt Romney has asked that the Obama camp back off. He claims they are making false allegations regarding his time at Bain Capital. As you sow so shall you reap though. The GOP candidates slated each other with unreliable truths. It was a sorry sight. Each in an attempt to secure the nomination verbally attacked the others. It is hardly surprising then that the proper opposition follows suit.

The Romney camp has attacked President Obama and intends to continue doing so until the November election. Politics is a dirty business. It is far from honourable.

This weekend Romney has called Obama's attacks "dishonest". He went on to say "What does it say about a president whose record is so poor that all he can do in this campaign is attack me?"  "I think when people have accused you of a crime, you have every reason to go after them pretty hard."

But they are both playing the blame game. Remember those words Mitt when Obama hits even harder.

President Obama's response today July 16, 2012, was that "No" he would not apologise. As Obama said if you want to run an election on your record in business expect that to be scrutinised.

In truth America deserves better than what is on offer in the 2012 Election. We in the UK deserved better than what was available for us in the 2010 election. Western democracy is floundering under a swathe of fat cats attempting to buy leadership for their own ends. Fact.

As the 2012 election predictably plunges into child like tit for tat nastiness huge amounts of money will be wasted. It must surely be time to re-think how western elections are played out.

In the meantime expect some ridiculous, far-fetched name calling to follow, in a anything goes attitude as Romney and Obama race for the White House.

Tags: Romney claims Obama dishonest, US 2012 election, US politics, Bain Capital

Yesterday the big news was that GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney had raised yet even more money in June 2012. In fact his campaign had raised a staggering $100m in June alone. Back in May Romney's camp raised $76m.  If big bucks will win the 2012 US election then Mitt must be home and dry. His supporters may say yippee to that statement but do the American people really want the White House to go to the highest bidder?

In effect that is what seems to be happening. In recent weeks President Obama's campaign managers have been concerned about Romney's "out spending potential"  The GOP faithful always react in tit for tat mode especially if money is brought into the debate. They claim that Hollywood is funding Obama with huge sums of money. The fact is though that such is the US election campaign, period, that money is an essential ingredient of success.

At TEK we have written on this matter in the past. Our American blogger Julia wrote that in the US there is a movement that would support taking the money out of presidential elections. Julia believes that it is time for a Constitutional Amendment to achieve this.

The UK has similar problems and it always leads to a government which is not truly independent. Instead there will so often be a government with allegiances to Trade Unions or Big Business. Both will have their own agenda and so their own reasons for supporting election campaigns.

In the current economic climate spending such huge sums of money on elections is obscene. When the elected government then instigates austerity measures,which cut people's incomes, it is a disgrace.

President Obama's top campaign advisor, David Axelrod, commented on the June fund raising figures for Romney not long after they were announced. He said that the Obama campaign already realised they would be out spent by Romney's team. With Romney's personal wealth and the type of backer he attracts that is not rocket science. Axelrod tried to appear nonchalant ultimately dismissing Romney's funds as no big deal.

The Obama campaign though to date has stressed to supporters that it needs money to win the campaign. Central has been the assertion that they must outspend Romney if they are to win. 

Romney supporters will dismiss this as damage limitations in case President Obama loses. The problem for President Obama is that of many such leaders who are liberal minded. So often the people who they fight hard to help do not have money. They are not the fat cats of society. The fat cats after all are putting their money were their best opportunity will be. In the Us that is supporting Mitt Romney.

In the end though it will be the ballot box that decides. If people choose to ignore the political propaganda manipulation and vote with their heart the money will mean nothing. it is up to the people to refuse to play the campaign game.

Tags: Mitt Romney wealth, GOP, US 2012 election, US campaign fund raising, Romney's massive funds