Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
02/06/2012
'Not concerned with very poor' quote could fuel anti-Romney ads
In an interview with CNN after winning the Republican Florida primary, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney made a slip that could fuel rival attack ads. "I’m not concerned with the very poor," Romney said. "We have a safety net there." He added that he'd fix the safety net "if it needs repair." If he is the Republican nominee, Romney's great wealth and perceived difficulty understanding Americans’ economic troubles likely will be a major focus of President Obama's campaign.
■Class discussion: Find newspaper articles, columns and editorials about Romney's statement. How well do the reports reflect what he said in the video? Are political foes using the quote to attack Romney? Negative political ads – including Romney's campaign - are often criticized for taking opponents' quotes out of context. Find reports on the impact of negative advertising in the Florida primary. Were the ads effective? Are voters easily swayed by whoever spends the most on advertising? Are all political ads suspect?