Even David Brooks Thinks Mitt Romney Is Out of Touch

Getting a little cartoonish, and not in a good way.

I rarely agree with David Brooks, but the hidden-camera fundraising video has raised eyebrows of even the conservatives.

Here's one quote with which I heartily agree:

But these are not the sensible arguments that Mitt Romney made at a fund-raiser earlier this year. Romney, who criticizes President Obama for dividing the nation, divided the nation into two groups: the makers and the moochers. Forty-seven percent of the country, he said, are people “who are dependent upon government, who believe they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to take care of them, who believe they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it.”

This comment suggests a few things. First, it suggests that he really doesn’t know much about the country he inhabits. Who are these freeloaders? Is it the Iraq war veteran who goes to the V.A.? Is it the student getting a loan to go to college? Is it the retiree on Social Security or Medicare?

 ...and one where Brooks betrays himself (I doubt he actually believes this part):

Personally, I think he’s a kind, decent man who says stupid things because he is pretending to be something he is not — some sort of cartoonish government-hater. But it scarcely matters. He’s running a depressingly inept presidential campaign. Mr. Romney, your entitlement reform ideas are essential, but when will the incompetence stop?

 Sorry, Brooks, but there's nothing kind and decent -- as far as the electorate is concerned -- about a man who would dismiss half the citizens of a country, outright. Also, his entitlement ideas aren't essential. We'll never reduce benefits for the elderly, and we shouldn't. To suggest that we will assumes that we are going to let some of them die. Romney's ideas lead to that. Obama's ideas suggest streamlined care with better outcomes. Obama's going to win this debate, even if he loses this election.

Heaven forbid.