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Waking up a sleepy campaign: The question is, where do they stand on coffee?
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Mitt Romney joins other observant Mormons in shunning alcohol and caffeine.
-- Associated Press, Aug. 18, 2012
In an effort to jolt President Barack Obama's re-election hopes, Democrats are making an issue of Mitt Romney's aversion to caffeine. In the kickoff of a strategy that has reportedly been brewing for months, Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod questioned Mr. Romney's stamina.
"I know of several instances when President Obama was awakened at 3 in the morning to deal with a crisis and immediately downed a cup of coffee," Mr. Axelrod said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "What would a President Romney do to stay sharp in a similar situation? Throw cold water on his face?"
Concern about Mr. Romney's energy level was also voiced by former President Bill Clinton.
"No president, not me or anyone else, could stay alert during a snore-a-thon budget meeting or one of Netanyahu's monologues about the West Bank unless they were fully caffeinated," Mr. Clinton told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I can't tell you how many times I found myself nodding off while meeting with Al Gore, even with the help of a double-espresso."
In an attempt to put the caffeine controversy to bed, Mr. Romney called a 5 a.m. press conference at a Bally Total Fitness club in Florida. "If President Obama needs artificial stimulants to do his job, that's his prerogative," Mr. Romney said, while leaping onto an elliptical machine. "I get my energy from my family, my country and my job Creator."
President Obama indirectly referenced the caffeine issue on the campaign trail. "I believe in an all-of-the-above strategy when it comes to energy production," the president said, while visiting Carl's Coffee Shop in Youngstown, Ohio. "We need to develop a combination of coffee, energy drinks and all-natural alternatives like Jamba Juice."
The president later had an embarrassing moment when he asked for a latte with sugar-free soy milk from a befuddled waitress. Campaign aides, blanching at the memory of Mr. Obama's 2008 arugula mishap, quickly jumped in to order the president a regular coffee with Splenda.
There was also bad news for the president from Donald Trump. Appearing on "Fox and Friends," the real estate mogul caused a stir with a sensational claim. "My investigators have revealed that the only coffee served at White House state dinners is Starbucks Kenya roast," Mr. Trump said.
White House spokesperson Jay Carney denied Mr. Trump's allegation. "White House coffee is made from beans grown in the first lady's garden," he told reporters as he held up two coffee cans, one labeled "Barack's Brew" and another labeled "Joe's Jo."
Caffeine was the subject of more mud-slinging when Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz accused GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan of sponsoring legislation that would make it illegal for pregnant women to drink caffeinated beverages. "Under the guise of protecting the fetus, Congressman Ryan would deny women access to caffeine and take away the health care they would need to treat withdrawal headaches," she said on "Meet the Press."
Mr. Ryan responded to a reporter's question about the legislation while campaigning in Pennsylvania. "Any prohibition on stimulants for pregnant women would carry an exception for the health of mothers suffering headaches from caffeine withdrawal," he said. But The Washington Post subsequently reported that Mr. Ryan's bill would restrict medical options for women experiencing withdrawal symptoms. They would be allowed to drink caffeinated tea, but not coffee -- apparently a concession to the Republican base.
Vice President Biden got into the flappuccino while campaigning in Virginia. "Under Romney and Ryan, coffee-shop tip jars would be taxed at a higher rate than capital gains and Barrrista College graduates would be saddled with punishing debt," Mr. Biden said to supporters gathered in front of the University of Virginia's Sleep Disorders Center. "And that's not all. They have a secret plan to eliminate coffee from food stamps. The 1-percent would have all the caffeine they needed, while the rest of us would be left walking around like zombies."
Romney campaign spokesperson Andrea Saul responded to the vice president's remarks. "Once again, Joe Biden is spreading lies about what Gov. Romney would do as president," she wrote in an email. "Based on his performance during this campaign, it is clear that the vice president has been enjoying way to much Irish coffee."
First Published September 16, 2012 12:00 am
