According to the Democrats, “Romnesia” is “a failure to recall previous extreme stances.”
The word immediately took off on Twitter and jumped within the hour to a worldwide trend term. Team Obama, understandably excited at the quick popularity, jumped on the trend by promoting a tweet from Obama under the trending hashtag.
The campaign actually did not coin the word, but Obama's use of the term in a campaign speech certainly brought it to the attention of a wider audience.
"He's forgetting what his own positions are, and he's betting you would too," Obama said of Mitt Romney at a campaign stop in Virginia on Friday. "He's backtracking and sidestepping. We've got to name this condition he's going through. I think it's called 'Romnesia.' I think that's what he's going through."
Conservatives responded with their own hashtag: #Obamnesia. Twitter analytics said thousands used the alternative hashtag on Friday, but it did not show up in the trending terms although #Romnesia remained a hot topic well into the afternoon.
.@barackobama diagnoses Mitt Romney's pre-existing condition: #Romnesia, a failure to recall previous extreme stances. j.mp/T38QWs
— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) October 19, 2012
Good news: Obamacare covers pre-existing conditions—like "#Romnesia." OFA.BO/GuVkG4
— Barack ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaTrump on his 'chosen one' remark: 'It was sarcasm' Kentucky basketball coach praises Obama after golf round: 'He is a really serious golfer' Biden evokes 1968, asks voters to imagine if Obama had been assassinated MORE (@BarackObama) October 19, 2012
As governor of #MA, @mittromney supported action on #climatechange. Now he uses it as a punchline. #romnesia #globalwarming #p2
— Ed MarkeyEdward (Ed) John MarkeyMoulton drops out of presidential race after struggling to gain traction Joseph Kennedy mulling primary challenge to Markey in Massachusetts Overnight Energy: Trump sparks new fight over endangered species protections | States sue over repeal of Obama power plant rules | Interior changes rules for ethics watchdogs MORE (@MarkeyMemo) October 19, 2012
Updated at 3:04 p.m.
