(updated)
Here's a gloss on Mitt Romney's NAACP speech by right-wing hack Mona Charen, as heard this afternoon on NPR. Yes, she used the word "beautiful" three times:
I thought it was a beautiful representation of exactly what a politician should do. He was incredibly respectful and polite toward an audience that he knew didn't agree with him, he presented his views in an open and non-pandering way, and I thought it was a beautiful example of being forthright and polite and reaching out to those you disagree with and saying, "Look, I actually believe differently from you, but that doesn't make me your enemy. We just need to have a discussion." And he talked about the importance of family, he talked about inner-city schools, education, all the things he thinks matter to the African-American community, and it was a beautiful thing.I think these people would beg to differ:
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UPDATE: Well, this is odd: as noted by Mollie in comments, the audio that's now at the NPR link is not what was originally posted at the link -- apparently Charen and E.J. Dionne did a second version of their conversation (for West Coast broadcasts?) and that was substituted. But I heard what I heard, and so did Mollie. I heard it on the radio, and I stand by my transcript.
