(Newser)
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Mitt Romney attempted to connect with the people of Wisconsin yesterday by telling them a little joke. In a conference call with thousands of voters, Romney told them about the time in the 1950s that his dad, then head of American Motors, shut down a Michigan factory and moved production to Wisconsin, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. And "one of the most humorous" stories gets downright funny when George Romney launched his campaign for Michigan governor. "At one parade where he was going down the streets, he was led by a high school band ... and his band did not know how to play the Michigan fight song," recounted Romney.
"They only knew how to play the Wisconsin fight song, so every time they would start playing 'On, Wisconsin,' 'On, Wisconsin,' my dad's political people would jump up and down and try to get them to stop because they didn't want people in Michigan to be reminded that my dad had moved production to Wisconsin." How hilarious, responded Democrats: The DNC called him "out of touch"; a Michigan state senator called it "no laughing matter when our jobs are exported to other states or other countries"; and an Obama campaign rep called him "callous." Romney's campaign swung back, saying, "It’s clear the Democrats will go to any lengths to avoid talking about Obama’s colossal failures, including ginning up fake outrage about a campaign story from 40 years ago involving Mitt Romney’s father."
