Obama says Romney suffers from "Romnesia" in rally at Mason

Obama speaks to a crowd at the Mason Fairfax campus for the second time in two weeks. (Photo by Dakota Cunningham.)

President Obama visited the Fairfax campus of George Mason University on Friday, Oct. 19 where he came out swinging at Governor Mitt Romney, and, using a new attack line, called Romney a flip flopper on the issues and referred to his change of views as a case of “Romnesia.”

This is Obama’s sixth visit since being a presidential candidate in 2008 and his second visit within two weeks at Mason. Obama has frequently visited the swing state of Virginia and is heavily focusing on the Commonwealth voters because of new polls that put Romney and Obama neck and neck.

Friday’s speech was advertised by the Obama campaign to be a rally focusing on women’s rights. While this issue was very prevalent, Obama spent a large portion of his speech criticizing some of the comments made by Romney in Tuesday’s presidential debate.

“Virginia, you have heard of the New Deal, you have heard of the Square Deal, the Fair Deal; Mitt Romney’s trying to give you a sketchy deal,” said Obama as he referred to Romney’s economic plan. Obama called the plan a “one-point plan” instead of a five-point plan, because people in the upper class would be allowed to play by a “different set of rules.”

Obama also introduced a new attack line on his opponent, calling Romney’s change of stances a case of “Romnesia.”

“He’s changing up so much...we gotta name this condition that he’s going through. I think it’s called ‘Romnesia,’” Obama said. “Now, I’m not a medical doctor, but I do want to go over some of the symptoms with you, because I want to make sure nobody else catches it.”

Some of the areas of concern that Obama saw as symptoms of “Romnesia” included Romney’s change of stance on equal pay for equal work, contraceptive availability, employer ability to deny care and tax cuts for the top one percent.

“If you come down with a case of 'Romnesia' and you can’t seem to remember the policies that are still on your website or the promises that you have made over the six years you’ve been running for president, here’s the good news: Obamacare covers pre-existing conditions! We can fix you up! We’ve got a cure! We can make you well, Virginia!” Obama said.

The rally, which was attended by an estimated 9,000 people, transformed the RAC Field. People stood on the field as they watched Obama speak from a podium flanked by signs that read “women’s health security.”

Prior to Obama’s speech, Democrat Congressman Gerry Connolly spoke about why he was supporting Obama. “Remember, when you talk to your neighbors about why you’re campaigning for Obama...we’re doing it for our daughters,” Connolly said.

Others to take the stage before the president’s speech include Terri Riley, a member of Obama For America; Nan Johnson, a retired school counselor; and Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Obama spent some of his time speaking about women’s rights, as a crowd of women stood in the risers behind him and served as the backdrop to his speech.

Obama greets members of the 9,000-person crowd at the RAC Field. (Photo by Dakota Cunningham.)

In his discussion of women’s rights, Obama emphasized a woman’s right to decide how to take care of her body, specifically mentioning how Obamacare allows for this freedom.

“This law [the Affordable Care Act] has secured new access to preventive care like mammograms and other cancer screenings for more than 20 million women with no co-pay, no deductible, no out-of-pocket cost,” said Obama, “because I do not believe a working mother should have to put off a mammogram because money’s tight.”

Obama mentioned the point in Tuesday’s primary debate when Romney spoke about hiring women to his cabinet as governor of Massachusetts.

“When the next president and Congress could tip the balance of the highest court in the land in a way that turns back the clock for women and families for decades to come, you don’t want someone who needs to ask for ‘binders of women,’” Obama said.

The president concluded his speech at Mason by rallying the crowd and emphasizing the importance of equality and hard work, attempting to drive his message home with 18 days remaining before Election Day.

“We are a country in which everybody has a place,” Obama said. “A country where no matter where you are, no matter what you look like, no matter where you come from, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, young, old, gay, straight, abled, disabled, we have a place for everybody. Everybody’s got a chance to make it if you try!”

This Monday in Florida, Obama and Romney will face off for the last time before Nov. 6 in the third presidential debate, which will air at 9 p.m. 

Sophomores Jackson Carter and Cliff Liautaud react to President Obama's rally: