So...Romney wants to equate economic success with superior culture and providence

Of all the things Mitt Romney has said, this one that he uttered in Israel yesterday has to rank up there as the most stupid and offensive.

I was thinking this morning as I prepared to come into this room of a discussion I had across the country in the United States about my perceptions about differences between countries. And as you come here and you see the GDP per capita for instance in Israel which is about 21,000 dollars and you compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority which is more like 10,000 dollars per capita you notice a dramatic, stark difference in economic vitality. 

And that is also between other countries that are near or next to each other. Chile and Ecuador, Mexico and the United States. I noted that part of my interest when I used to be in the world of business is I would travel to different countries was to understand why there were such enormous disparities in the economic success of various countries... 

And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things. One, I recognize the hand of providence in selecting this place.

With one swipe, he managed to offend not only the Palestinians, but the people of Ecuador and Mexico. My gawd, even Netanyahu acknowledges that the Israeli occupation has devastated the Palestinian economy.

But just for giggles, lets bring Romney's analysis home to the U.S. Here are the top 10 states according to their per capita GDP in 2010: Delaware, Alaska, Connecticut, Wyoming, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington and Colorado.

See that? 6 blue states, 2 red states and 2 swing states...all exhibiting a superior culture and the hand of providence.

Just to finish the picture, lets look at the bottom 10: Mississippi, Idaho, West Virginia, South Carolina, New Mexico, Alabama, Arkansas, Montana, Kentucky and Michigan.

Ruh-roh, we have 8 red states exhibiting inferior culture and no hand of providence.

I'd suggest that perhaps Romney is on to something here. But the truth is, he's just a bigoted snob.