Mitt Romney Makes 'Hang' Obama Gaffe During Unofficial 2012 Debut

Romney made a Jimmy Carter-Barack Obama comparison about how just as Reagan had hung the "misery index" around Carter's neck, now Republicans would have to "hang" Obama with current economic hardship. But then he realized mid-sentence the trouble with making a metaphor about hanging a black man. The Boston Globe reports: "Romney almost immediately caught himself, with the English major declaring "metaphorically" speaking, but the mix of nervous laughter with applause indicated at least some in the audience realized its potency." ... Steve Beren for Washington Monthly writes that, "the whole argument was a mess." "Romney mentions Reagan, hoping Republicans will forget he didn't like Reagan in the '80s and wasn't even a Republican at the time. Romney mentions "higher taxation," which is absurd given how much Obama has cut taxes for everyone." Beren's verdict: "The guy isn't ready for primetime."