Romney: Obama Won by Giving Minorities 'Gifts'

Election 2012 might be over, but Mitt Romney isn't done generating headlines. The Los Angeles Times listened in on a call he had with donors yesterday (a fact Romney didn't seem aware of, it notes), and a comment the former candidate made is getting much attention:

• The Obama campaign was "very generous in what they gave to ... the African American community, the Hispanic community, and young people. The president's campaign focused on giving targeted groups a big gift—so he made a big effort on small things. Those small things, by the way, add up to trillions of dollars."

Those "gifts," according to Romney, were college-loan-interest forgiveness, free contraception, extended insurance coverage for 20somethings, ObamaCare, and amnesty for the children of illegal immigrants. Unsurprisingly, there's been some reaction:

• The increasingly outspoken Bobby Jindal took issue with the comments, reports Politico. "No, I think that’s absolutely wrong," he said at a press conference yesterday. "We have got to stop dividing the American voters. We need to go after 100% of the votes, not 53%."
• Jindal isn't the only one alluding to the now-legendary 47%, though some are doing so a little more explicitly. Writes Andrew Rosenthal, the New York Times' Editorial Page editor, "Now we know that Mitt Romney did not 'misspeak' when he whined to a big-money crowd that 47% of Americans mooch off government and 'believe they are victims.' He meant precisely what he said."
• The Atlantic Wire notes that #obamagifts has already become a Twitter meme. Sample tweet: "Was hoping for an iPad Mini from Obama, but will have to settle for universal health insurance coverage. #obamagifts"

(More Mitt Romney stories.)