These “ordinary Americans speak out” videos are functioning as ways for the panelists and congressmen to say more conservative things by addressing them to the flat-panel screens. One ordinary American worries about entitlements. Americans “read correctly that these programs are not sustainable,” says Romney, who wants to include, in the stimulus, a long-term answer for Social Security and Medicare.
Kevin Brady (R-Texas) asks rhetorically whether the stimulus debate is a “second great American gold rush” and if Congress is handing out “free money.” Romney responds with a lengthy analogy about his experience running the 2002 Winter Olympics. “I was at the top of a mountain in Odgen, Utah… looking down the ski slope. We’re at the knife of a mountain.”
Whitman confirms that Congress is not handing out free money, but has no anagram.