It’s been that kind of week for Mitt Romney. He put his foot firmly in his mouth by offering to bet Rick Perry $10,000 with a flippancy that a less wealthy man might wager $10; the New York Times published a lengthy feature detailing the former Massachusetts governor’s somewhat schizophrenic approach to money. The piece, titled “Two Romneys: Wealthy Man, Thrifty Habits,” painted a portrait of a man of means who disdains the trappings of wealth and disliked spending money except when it came to acquiring expensive real estate. In one sense, it was a highly sympathetic profile of someone who was raised to believe in hard work and the value of a dollar but who was also oddly tone deaf to how his stingy ways can come across to others.
While this aspect of his character doesn’t tell us any more about what kind of a president he will be (though his dislike of spending certainly bodes well), this story may give us some insight into his difficulties as a candidate. For some reason, this well -spoken, handsome and highly accomplished individual just can’t get enough people to like him. The distrust a great many voters seem to have for Romney goes deeper than just health care and abortion–though those issues certainly have harmed his image among conservatives. His inability to connect with people or to understand why they view him with distrust is making it hard for this consummate businessman to close the deal with Republicans, even though his chief rival — Newt Gingrich – is as guilty of flip-flopping as he is. As Romney launches ads this week focusing on Gingrich’s personal flaws, it could be that his own less easily perceptible imperfections are having a greater impact on the GOP battle than the former Speaker’s dubious personal history.
Those writing off Romney this week after his first poor debate performance may be jumping the gun. Romney has the financial resources to weather a rocky patch and keep contesting primaries — especially in larger more moderate states — while accumulating enough delegates to stay in the fight. Gingrich’s weaknesses may yet sink him while Romney stays afloat. But the dislike of Romney, which as much as anything else has fueled the rise of Gingrich, can’t be dismissed as merely the result of Tea Party or religious conservative rigidity. The reason why the bet gaffe resonated was that it spoke to something in his character that strikes many in the public as insincere or indicative of his inability to understand the sensibilities of others.
That someone with as sterling a resume and a squeaky-clean personal life would be said to have a character problem doesn’t seem to make sense. Romney appears to be a man of unimpeachable character and great personal virtue. But there is also something in his manner that strikes all too many as false. Like one of his employees at Bain Capital who, according to the Times, said Romney told him he wished could have a Porsche too, when in fact, he could have had as many sports cars as he wanted, there is a disconnect there that troubles others and of which the candidate is strangely unaware. It may not be fair or completely explicable but it exists, and it’s far from clear there is much he can do about it.
Perhaps as the campaign goes on, Romney will loosen up more and allow the public to see more of his admirable qualities. But for now, political observers searching for an answer as to why the resistance to Romney is so intense must concede that this complex and talented figure may just have the type of personality that provokes an antipathy that cannot be overcome.
sigh. nToo late for Mr. Romney to relive the past five years actually doing something to improve the American economy besides running for President, although I suppose that did create a few jobs for pollsters and strategists. n nAmerica has had two terms of a Harvard MBA and three years of a Harvard lawyer. nWhy should America want four years of a Harvard MBA+lawyer? n nAdd to the reading list: n nStephen Skowronek: “The Politics Presidents Make: Leadership from John Adams to Bill Clinton.” Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1993 n nSkowrenek’s typology forces each president into a political identity that is either opposed or affiliated with his predecessor, whose ‘previously established commitments’ are either vulnerable or resilient. n n
Romney's problem is that he advocates for his positions, but never for his convictions. He comes across as a smooth, competent salesman giving a polished presentation, who next week might just as easily make as smooth a presentation for a competitor's product if the situation changed. He reveals next to nothing of himself. n nThe never-ending questions about his Massachussets health care plan give him a perfect opportunity to reveal his thinking back then, what lessons he's learned, and how he would do things differently today. Perhaps his past experiences have now made him more skeptical of comprehensive, all-encompassing plans? Maybe he's realized that the leaders that succeed someone like him can alter or distort his original vision, and that must be taken into account when creating a large new entitlement? We'll never know because he refuses to engage in such frank dialogue, defending his decisions in a sterile, mechanical manner. n nIf he offerred the public any sense of introspection or self-reflection, he would go a long way to allaying the qualms many Republicans have about him. Perhaps it's too late, perhaps not.
Forgive me for stating the obvious, but Mitt Romney is not now and never has been in a position to "close the deal." The media annointed his forehead with the oil of front-runnerdom, transforming a dubious proposition into the Conventional Wisdom. But the last few months have demonstrated the limitations of his appeal to GOP primary voters. The principal argument for his candidacy—electability—isn't really that compelling in the current, highly polarized political climate. Most Republicans want someone who is plausibly conservative; fairly or unfairly, they don't think that Romney makes the grade in that regard. He may still manage to secure the nomination by default, but I wouldn't bet on it at this point.
I agree Romney is acting like a debutante but I don't think the 10k wager was such a faux pas, I'm barely middle-class and not much of a gambler, but I'd put up 10K on a sure thing (no emails please).
People constantly say "Romney is a good man, but…" n nI've yet to see any evidence of this stirling character. n nRomney will clearly say anything whatsoever to get elected – anything except that he believes in the American system as designed by the Founding Fathers. (That would be too 'extreme'.) n nHe is the utterly conventional businessman who has a lifelong fear of saying anything strong that will cause anyone to disapprove of what he says. n nWhen we face an election that will decide whether or not the past few years of Progressive policies will be cemented or overturned, it's hard to believe a man like Romney would have the stomach for what will be a horrendous battle, even with a Republican Senate. n nIt's simply not his nature, and perhaps more importantly not his philosophy; he believes in his heart in the Welfare State.
The antipathy is not because of his "personality", or perhaps it is, Mitt Obamney is simply not credible when he proclaims he has "flip-flopped". He is saying what he thinks he needs to say to get the primaries; after which he will revert to his, ever do loved by Washington and LameStreamMedia, liberal self. The glitch on the works is that conservatives; and moderates; have seen this gig play out before.
The GOP establishment want to attract the so-called "middle" with Romney that they are willing to throw all conservatives under the bus in the process. How/ By splitting the conservative vote and allowing Romney to take it all via his 25% ceiling. And the conservatives aren't buying it. The establishment wing are coming out in droves (in fact joining in with the liberals, see POLITICO's interview with Romney) wringing their hands, making the never-proven claim that victory lies in capturing the "middle.", that Newt's temperament will never win in the general, etc. I hope conservatives don't fall for this false narrative.