Since Florida Republicans gave him a massive victory on Tuesday night, Mitt Romney has not had a good few days. His absurd statement about not caring about the very poor, from which, as Seth wrote earlier, he has already backtracked, was a gaffe of the first order. He followed that by showing up at a press conference in Las Vegas to accept Donald Trump’s endorsement, a decision that was generally lambasted and even labeled his worst “biggest blunder” by Phillip Klein in the Washington Examiner.
But while Romney gave his detractors plenty of ammunition, those expecting another swing in momentum as we’ve seen several times during the course of the GOP race, are almost certainly going to be disappointed. For all his bad judgment and proven inability to speak the language of conservatives as Peter Wehner pointed out, I think those burying him are exaggerating his problems. Romney is still about to embark on the first substantial winning streak of the campaign that will secure him the GOP nomination.
Tomorrow, Romney will almost certainly win the Nevada Republican caucus. On Tuesday, he has a good chance of running the table in caucuses in Maine, Colorado and Minnesota as well as the non-binding primary in Missouri. After a three-week lull, Michigan and Arizona will then hold elections on February 28, and he will be favored to win in both states. Though Newt Gingrich is hoping to hang on until Super Tuesday the week after that when he may do better in some of the southern states, at that point the notion of Romney’s inevitability will have already become so strong that the former speaker’s plan to mobilize conservatives against the frontrunner will be severely handicapped. Indeed, Gingrich may be in greater danger of being passed by fellow insurgent Rick Santorum than of catching Romney.
All of which is to say the momentary bumps along the road for Romney such as his remarks about the poor or Trump are not likely to derail his path to the nomination or materially affect his chances of winning in November.
His association with Trump is a blip on the radar screen that won’t change many votes one way or the other, now or in the fall. If anything, those who worry about his playing ball with a blowhard celebrity would do better to focus on the danger to Romney from any compromises with Ron Paul and his crowd at the Republican convention this summer. Trump’s potential to embarrass Romney pales beside that of the libertarian extremist.
More seriously, the flaws in the candidate’s ability to express his thoughts or to connect with ordinary voters — especially conservatives — are a problem that must be addressed by his campaign. But Romney’s weaknesses are by now the givens in this election. If he is to win the presidency it will not be the result of some artificial fix by his handlers but because they will be offset by the public’s good opinion of his strengths–such as his skill in analyzing and solving problems as well as the obvious decency of the man. Democrats will spend the next nine months pounding Romney for his wealth and his supposed lack of care for the poor. But if independents and wavering Democrats are convinced that a smart technocrat who knows how the economy works and whose personal dedication to charity exceeds that of any other major political figure is what the country needs, then the attacks won’t work.
While the Republican nomination is not yet in Romney’s pocket, the February winning streak he is about to embark on is such that it will make it all but certain. That will give his opponents plenty of time to focus on his problems, and we should expect to be hearing about them non-stop until November. But the focus on these stories is merely the background noise of the presidential campaign. The main story remains Romney’s inexorable march to victory in Tampa.
Good, thoughtful write up and one sure to draw the ire of Romney-haters.
Not only did Romney blunder in saying he not concerned about the very poor, but he also let slip the very next day that he supports an automatic increase in the minimum wage, a leftist position that even Obama has not pushed. Add these to Romney's other recent gaffes–$374K per year in speaking fees is "not very much," "I like being able to fire people," "I'll bet you $10K," "I used to worry about getting a pink slip," "I'm unemployed too," etc., etc. Yet we're told by Team Romney that he's the "most electable" of the GOP field. n nMark Levin recently brought to light that at the 2006 signing ceremony for Romneycare, Romney said Ted Kennedy played a "critical role" in "crafting" Romneycare, and even called Kennedy his "collaborator" on the bill. The video of the signing ceremony is on YouTube. So is Romney's 2002 statement, which he made with the kind of conviction and sincerity that he rarely exhibits, that he was a "moderate" with "progressive" views. Didn't the GOP just try running a guy like this in 2008? It didn't turn out too well. n nI bet if Newt Gingrich had uttered the "I'm not concerned about the very poor" gaffe, Team Romney and their cheerleaders would be screaming that it was another example of Newt's supposed unelectability and undisciplined nature. n nOn the one hand we have Romney, who raised taxes by over $700 million, who saddled his state with Romneycare, who made his state less friendly to business development according to the Cost of Doing Business Index, and who by all accounts has proposed the most timid economic plan among the GOP candidates. On the other hand, we have Newt, who has proposed an economic plan that the Wall Street Journal acknowledges is far bolder than Romney, and who as Speaker of the House pushed through the first tax cut in 16 years, who pushed through the largest capital gains tax reduction in our history, who pushed through the Welfare Reform Act, and who played hardball with two government shutdowns and got Clinton to sign the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which led to four balanced budgets in a row for the first time in decades and enabled us to start paying down the national debt.
Don't care…anybody but Obama.
VIVE ROMNEY/RUBIO 2012.
Not only did Romney blunder in saying he's not concerned about the very poor, but he also let slip the very next day that he supports an automatic increase in the minimum wage, a leftist position that even Obama has not pushed. Add these to Romney's other recent gaffes–$374K per year in speaking fees is "not very much," "I like being able to fire people," "I'll bet you $10K," "I used to worry about getting a pink slip," "I'm unemployed too," etc., etc. Yet we're told by Team Romney that he's the "most electable" of the GOP field. n nAnd then there's recent video evidence that casts doubt on Romney's reported conversion to conservatism. A few days ago Mark Levin stumbled across the fact that at the 2006 signing ceremony for Romneycare, Romney said Ted Kennedy played a "critical" role in "crafting" Romneycare, and he even referred to Kennedy as his "collaborator" on the bill. This video is on YouTube, for those who care to see Romney say this with their own eyes. Another video comes from 2002. At a 2002 GOP gathering in Worcester, MA, Romney said, on camera, that he was a "moderate" with "progressive" views. n nOn the one hand, we have Mitt Romney, who opposed the Bush tax cuts in 2003, who raised taxes in MA by over $700 million, who saddled his state with Romneycare, who attacked the Contract With America in 1994 while Republicans were out there advocating it, who by all accounts has proposed the most timid economic plan of all the GOP candidates, and who wants an automatic increase in the minimum wage. n nOn the other hand, we have Newt Gingrich, who has proposed a far bolder economic plan, and who, as Speaker of the House, pushed through the first tax cut in 16 years, who pushed through the largest capital gains tax cut in our history, who pushed through the Welfare Reform Act, who forced two government shutdowns to show Clinton he was serious about restraining spending, and who pushed through the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which led to our first balanced budget in decades and which enabled us to start paying down the national debt.
I don't think I would characterize Romney's appearance with Trump as "a blunder". He pretty much had to be there. n nEven though most of the public regards him as little better than a circus clown, it can't be denied that Trump has a certain core following within the Republican Party and not showing up to accept his endorsement would have needlessly angered those people. It would be like Barack Obama refusing to share the stage with Al Sharpton. n nRomney did the right thing by showing up, smiling, graciously accepting the endorsement, and then getting out of there as soon as he could.
Nothing to add, so you bring together all of the fabricated media storylines…yawn…maybe do some new research next time…like read a book of his–or speak with someone who actually worked with him?
Have been thinking same thing. Personally, don't view appearance w/ Trump as a mistake at all though. Just another endorsement I'm sure Gingrich would be ecstatic to have received instead. And besides, when things seem to be failing all over, it's smart politics to be seen w/ successful people around you, as opposed to just grievance-mongers. True, a skilled politician isn't supposed to preface statements on macroeconomic objectives w/ phrases like "I'm not concerned about the very poor because they already have a safety net…" But Romney's not 100% skilled as a politician as we've noticed. No matter. Since this election goes to whichever candidate presents as best able to bring the country back from the dead economically, tears or no. Which will NOT be Obama, since at this point not even his own supporters believe he can or should be growing the economy. They've resigned themselves to "decline" just so long as it's "fair". Romney in a landslide…
Hey Champ; since you're obviously such a knowledgeable conservative guy, can you reconcile Romney’s support for minimum wage indexation with his claim to be a conservative? I await your response with baited breath.
I'm amazed at the press this supposed "gaffe" has gotten. mention Shirley Sherrod and the lefties go crazy, yelling about "sound bites taken out of context." but when three or four words from a very reasonable Mitt Romney sentence are clipped and played a thousand times, suddenly nobody's concerned about context anymore. n nwhat he said was that the very poor and the very rich are, for various reasons, "ok" for the moment, but that it's the middle class getting squeezed. I don't know anyone, on the left or the right, who disagrees with this! n nI know it's popular to think Americans are dumb, but I can't bring myself to believe that this kind of thing is how people are going to decide who to vote for. n n
You are exactly correct, but Obama is desperate; evidenced by the cooked books on unemployment today. The left will try anything…lie, cheat, steal, misrepresent…you name it. They also have a divide and conquer strategy with the groups within the republican party. The DNC trolls are out on every internet blog trying to dissuade republicans from voting for Romney. Romney is kryptonite to the unions and now that they have a partial takeover of the government underway, they won't let go easily. n nThe far right conservatives are rapid about their dislike of Romney and so is the conservative media. It appears they are putting conservative ideology above the good of the nation. I'm not sure if Christ himself could run against the Obama Chicago machine and win (without a miracle of course). It is going to get mean and dirty with a high chance of violence from SEIU and vote fraud through Acorn. What a mess.
voter fraud? with that bastion of virtue Eric Holder in charge at the Department of (In)justice? surely you jest!
How dare those members of Congress to be disrespectful of him this week. Forget about reading AG e-mails and letters…he's far too busy trying to get those Taliban prisoners he represented at one time out of Gitmo.
How to destroy Romney in 6 minutes. nby Ron Paul nGo Newt! nGet 'R' done.
The problem with Romney is that he hasn't spent a lifetime in politics, steeping himself in the philosophy and talking points. Unlike Obama, I don't really think he's a complete ideologue. n nI think he's a 'fix it' guy — someone who knows how to take failing entities, trim the fat, and make them run efficiently. He seems to understand the trade issues with China; and he seems intent that a strong national security/defense is essential to try to ensure we are not at risk. n nI don't CARE if he doesn't always speak in the proper talking points or in the politically correct jargon of the day. I think it's more important that he get the country turned away from the 'entitlement' direction in which Obama and the Dems have been leading us.
When is someone going to ask the MSM why they didn't ask Obama a few questions before they rushed him into office. Romney is in for he-l from the media. All the major media outlets have employees on the boards of Soros-connected media fairness and other nonprofits. No conflict of interest there… n nAs an FYI, some of Romney's agenda items are interesting…like a balance sheet for the government. n nSome of his Agenda for a Free and Strong America n1. Promote small business and entrepreneurship through lower taxes n2. Stop the trillion dollar deficits and spend only what we have. n3. Publish an annual balance sheet for the country n5. Reduce and simplify taxes n6. Adopt a strong dollar strategy including spending restraint and entitlement sustainability n7. Reform entitlements n8. Adopt an annual budget for entitlements n9. Reform tort liability n10.Stop any new government growing stimulus programs n nThis is only 10 of 64. At least he has a solid plan. The book is "No Apology – Believe in America."
Pathetic. Gingrich's plan: n n1st day in office repeal Dodd Frank, Sarbanes Oxley and Obamacare. Eliminate all Czars and approve Keystone Pipeline. That's just the first day. Romney gives no specifics.
What are you TALKING about: "no specifics"? He's said he would issue state waivers for ObamaCare his 1st day in office; and has also said he would repeal any and all Exec Orders and/or regulations that are stifling the economy. n nAnd, by the way: ALL the items you mentioned that you say Gingrich has said he would 'repeal' his first day in office??? ALL THOSE ARE LEGISLATION which has been PASSED BY CONGRESS — NO PRESIDENT CAN now REPEAL those — It has to be done in CONGRESS. n nSo, unless you just made that statement up — Gingrich is lying (again).
Gingrich, like obama, are career politicians or mind manipulators, people movers. They know that the average voters attention span is short. This election may prove differently as it isn't just any old run of the mill election.
I think you are right and have great insight. n nHe is also a nerd to some of those who make their living talking at us, over us, around us and our main issues. The nerd says "Oh, my goodness" instead of taking the Lord's name in vain in blasphemy like the OMG generation. Why would we want a president and role model for the kids like that? Or for those older then those who learned that "oral is moral" from Clinton years? n nWhy should we run a less than right wing fundamentalist radical that can appeal to the middle and independent voters? One that will not drive the women vote away because he will not take a rabid stance on abortion, recognizing it is the law now, but would recognize states rights to make their own? n nWhy would we want a president who respects all religions worldwide? Religions teach morals and principles of behavior, why should we respect religious practitioners worldwide for what properly directed and God-seeking hearts? What liberal thinking, feeling man is that? n nWhy would we want a man who has kept his original wife and family and whose life revolves around them and his Mormon Christianity faith in this day of threatened family values and tradition marriage threats. (IMO civil unions is the way to go on this issue. . If you can't legislate morality, how can you legislate respect? And would take away the contention and anger when power is the goal) n nThe right wing fundamentalists and the hard right talking heads have good points but get a bit heavy handed with their ideology pushing. They have points but the country is center right and that would be the hurting middle class, the silent majority in my limited opinion guess. Why on earth would we want a closet conservative leaning person that is already positioned for the general without the need to flip-flop back to the center? n n His team ran him as a conservative last time and this time just running him as himself I have read. Why would we want a candidate like that to run against the Master of Soaring Rhetoric, The King of Promising s Campaign Promises,Delivering Little but who resurrected Hillarycare with subterfuge, obama? n nEct, etc.
This entire nominating contest has not been about winning in November. It's been about who controls the Republican Party — the entrenched establishment or the Tea Party. Conservatives didn't realize war had been declared against them until it was too late. The elite will likely win and nominate Romney, who will likely lose to Obama in November. Somehow the Republicans thought it would be a good idea to destroy the enthusiasm of 2010 and force the party back to where it was in 2008. Oh well. Some people can only learn the hard way. n nConservative turnout will be low, as it has been in each contest Romney has won, and independents will despise Romney by the time Obama and the media are through with him. Game over.
Romney is a liberal. The Republican party just keeps repeating their mistakes. The definition of insanity.
Romney is a liberal.
And you're obviously such a far right-winger, you wouldn't recognize ANYONE other than people like yourself, as conservative. Your thinking is TWISTED by your rigid ideology — JUST LIKE OBAMA.
Actually you make an excellent point. The far right wingers are EXACTLY like the far left wing…blinded by ideology, narrow minded, unable to accept that they are wrong about anything, willing to push their agenda on everyone else in the country, and they have a false sense of utopia that will magically occur IF people are willing to adopt their ideology. That is why democrats are getting such a stronghold…on social issues they are the champions of personal freedom. n nMorality cannot be legislated. Right wingers don't make much of a case for conservatism…people will continue to run from it if they constantly see the major hypocrisy of clowns like Newt Gingrich who claims to champion conservative ideas but then calls himself a progressive conservative, promotes big government ideas like the federal healthcare mandate, and calls the Constitution obsolete. The new crop of conservative young politicians do offer hope.
That's what they like to claim about Jesus. Sure Jesus was mentally liberal and open but lived his life conservatively. n nThe stiff necked Pharisees didn't like a thing Jesus said or did. His stance on things offended and threatened their hard liner stance and power. n nRomney isn't Jesus and neither is he a liberal. He is a progressive conservative just as is Gingrich, onnly lacking his moonbat ideas but smart enough to begin mormings with think tanks and orange juice unspiked.
What I am most amazed with is the ability for the media, whether it be NBC or Rush, to sway thinking to ridiculous heights of nonsense. Rush -" a true conservative does not support the minimum wage and Romney is a terrible liberal"- Rush is an embarassment and needs to spend a little time at a food bank to see the minimum wage folks come in apoligetically looking for help. The left – "Romney is extreme because of he is rich and successful, his hair, "he is a boy scout", etc. It would be a good day when Americans could just think for themselves and reach their own conclusions instead of some radio talking head or Greg Sargent. Mr. Sargent thinks Obama should have another term and he needs to say "why" in lieu of silly comments about a possible opponent. I hear "I hate Romney" and "I hate Obama", no real reasons just silly commentary. I just wish people could think for a change instead of being lead around by the nose by whatever they hear or read. It makes me sad that people are so ill informed or cannot come to logical thought by themselves. n
Because of the unacceptibility of his Republican opponents and his large fundraising advantage, Mitt Romney's gaffes should not prevent him from winning the nomination. But, the general election is a whole different story. The Obama campaign is very well-funded, and will portray Romney as an elitist who doesn't understand the concerns of average Americans. History has shown that candidates who are perceived as out of touch (e.g., GHW Bush in 1992, John Kerry in 2004) do not win elections. n nAlthough the media has distorted and exaggerated some of Romney comments, Romney's biggest problem is Romney. There was no reason that Romney should have ever offered a $10,000 wager during a debate. Romney could have avoided being villified over his work at Bain Capital if he never made the erroneous claim that he created 100,000 jobs. I doubt that Romney's income tax rate would have ever become an issue if he had released his taxes last year rather than trying to hide them from the public.
It isn't that most folks are not accurate about Romney's flaws – it is that the rest were so much worse. This doesn't say that Romney is fit for the task at hand. It doesn't mean he is worse than Obama. n nBut it sure doesn't say he can change or undo the damage of Obama and previous Democrat Marxist programs – or that he is even willing to do so. n nBut we know the rest are not capable, and several of them flat unwilling – and in fact are avid conspirators of the Democrats – i.e. Gingrich and Paul. n nWe know, all we have on our side are Prayers, and such scriptures as 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 91; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 109:709; Numbers 16; Numbers 10:35 "Let God arise and His enemies be scattered!"
That he is named flip-flopper (As defined such by the conservative coalition against him in the 2008 election primaries, they reposition, repent of their stances, change their minds but hypocritically call his flip-flops as will obama which will and provide more laughs than fear I am thinking after the melee gets really started.) shows that he can listen and learn. His modus operandi in business or in Mass (maybe both?) was a morning think tank or idea picking. n nA modest and humble man in comparison to his opponents, more self effacing and credit spreading, but can play the political game to get to where he needs to be. The Man For This Season IMO and God willing. n nNow where have I left my Bible!!! Don't know the place by heart but the verse "Be wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove" comes to mind. Hope many voters are.
LOL! n nNewt better at behind the back attacking than face to face confrontation as in the Romney-unleashed Florida debates.
Of course I don't think Romney doesn't care about the poor. The point is that no candidate can afford to make very many of these kinds of blunders, blunders that can be used in a general election on shallow voters, and Romney has already made 6 of them.