Mitt Romney’s Garbage Man Blasts Him In New Ad

This week, the American Federation of State, County, and Muncipal Employees (AFSCME) released an anti-Mitt Romney ad that criticizes Romney’s 47 percent comments ^[1] with the plight of Richard Hayes, a garbage man who actually services Romney’s house and neighborhood. To Hayes, Romney’s disparaging comments prove that he — and other workers like him — are “invisible” to Romney and his ilk.

With spots that show Hayes jumping out of a garbage truck outside of Romney’s multi-million-dollar home, Hayes explains why his job as a sanitation worker is important:

“My name is Richard Hayes, and I pick up Mitt Romney’s trash. We’re kind of like the invisible people. He doesn’t realize that the service we provide — if it wasn’t for us, it would be a big health issue, us not picking up trash.”

Hayes then brings out the hammer on Romney when he says that while residents appreciate his efforts, Romney doesn’t:

“Residents do come out and shake our hands. Sometimes they give us hugs and thank us for the job we’re doing, hand us water and Gatorades. Tell us we’re doing a good job and keep up the good work.

“Picking up 15, 16 tons by hand, that takes a toll on your body. When I’m 55, 60 years old, I know my body’s gonna be break down [sic]. Mitt Romney doesn’t care about that.”

Watch the anti-Romney ad here:

Critics of the ad say that it is unfair that people “close” to Romney are being used as “attackers.” Media news site Mediaite asked, “Are you kidding me?^[3] and mocked the ad with their own spoof:

What’s next?

Hi, I’m Jane Doe, and I once waited on Mitt Romney at the local Ruby Tuesday’s. I’m on my feet all day, sometimes for 12 hours at a time without a break. I’ve developed some serious back problems and I have to wear special in-soles in my shoes. Most guests tip 18-20% for the hard work I do, but Mitt Romney only tipped 15%. When I’m retired, I know I’m going to have arthritic joints. Mitt Romney doesn’t care about that.

While it may be easy to poke fun of the ad, the severity of Romney’s comments — and what it would mean if he actually became President — cannot be downplayed.

Indeed, Romney clearly dismissed the issues and hardships of both middle- and- working-class Americans. And while many suspected that Romney’s elitism and sense of entitlement drove his policies and worldview, never could we have imagined that Romney would do us all a favor by confirming our suspicions.

And there’s nothing wrong with AFSCME underscoring that.

In the coming weeks, AFSCME will reportedly continue to release a number of video interviews with workers that will serve as “part campaign attack, part online testimonial, part survey tool, and part recruiting tool.”

I actually look forward to seeing their ads, because if Romney doesn’t care about half of the country, then he shouldn’t become president of the entire country.

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