The Detroit News Covers Good Jobs Now Rally Featuring Mitt Romney Impersonator and Comedian Jim Gossett
Crowd at Detroit rally blasts Romney's economic plans
Detroit — The real Mitt Romney couldn't make it this week. He was 1,000 miles away in Florida preparing Thursday afternoon to accept the GOP presidential nomination.
It's probably for the best, since a rally hosted by Good Jobs Now — a coalition of community groups and labor supporters — featured plenty of anger toward economic proposals in Romney's platform. About 200 people turned up Thursday afternoon at Greening of Detroit Park for a rally that featured impressionist Jim Gossett in the role of an unwelcome Romney.
He entered to the song "Mr. Roboto" and pounced on everything from Romney's appearance to his failure to release all of his tax returns to claims he has shipped jobs overseas.
But to those at the rally, most pulling for President Barack Obama, the issues Romney has targeted for change are extremely worrisome.
At 50, Detroit's Traci Gibson is facing a host of health-related issues — many of which her Medicaid plan doesn't fully cover. She's hoping to get coverage to help with her diabetes, but fears Romney's promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act will mean she can't get it.
Gibson, who described herself as middle class, said: "His political agenda is not necessarily for families in my situation."
For Theresa Smith, 74, of Eastpointe, concerns include Medicare cuts, and cuts to the federal Pell Grant program, which provides college funding to low-income students.
Walter Starghill Jr., a bishop with the Face to Face International Outreach Ministry in Inkster, was one of the speakers and he targeted Romney's stance on keeping the minimum wage in place at $7.25 an hour.
After the rally, a Romney campaign official said there is much for the middle class to like about the candidate's plan.
"There's only one candidate in this race who has promised to raise taxes — Barack Obama," spokeswoman Kelsey Knight said in a written response to questions. "Mitt Romney supports revenue-neutral tax reform that lowers rates across the board — for all taxpayers."
It's probably for the best, since a rally hosted by Good Jobs Now — a coalition of community groups and labor supporters — featured plenty of anger toward economic proposals in Romney's platform. About 200 people turned up Thursday afternoon at Greening of Detroit Park for a rally that featured impressionist Jim Gossett in the role of an unwelcome Romney.
He entered to the song "Mr. Roboto" and pounced on everything from Romney's appearance to his failure to release all of his tax returns to claims he has shipped jobs overseas.
But to those at the rally, most pulling for President Barack Obama, the issues Romney has targeted for change are extremely worrisome.
At 50, Detroit's Traci Gibson is facing a host of health-related issues — many of which her Medicaid plan doesn't fully cover. She's hoping to get coverage to help with her diabetes, but fears Romney's promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act will mean she can't get it.
Gibson, who described herself as middle class, said: "His political agenda is not necessarily for families in my situation."
For Theresa Smith, 74, of Eastpointe, concerns include Medicare cuts, and cuts to the federal Pell Grant program, which provides college funding to low-income students.
Walter Starghill Jr., a bishop with the Face to Face International Outreach Ministry in Inkster, was one of the speakers and he targeted Romney's stance on keeping the minimum wage in place at $7.25 an hour.
After the rally, a Romney campaign official said there is much for the middle class to like about the candidate's plan.
"There's only one candidate in this race who has promised to raise taxes — Barack Obama," spokeswoman Kelsey Knight said in a written response to questions. "Mitt Romney supports revenue-neutral tax reform that lowers rates across the board — for all taxpayers."
- Item Tag: comedian, comedy, good jobs now, impersonation, impersonator, impression, jim gossett, look alike, mitt romney, political comedy, politicos
