Mitt Romney: To Thine Ownself, Be True
Howard Fineman has an excellent piece on the folly that was Mitt Romney’s campaign.
The thing is, if he had run as the fiscal conservative, social moderate that he did in the past, he might have been a contender. I certainly would have considered him.
But his willingness to throw gays under the bus in order to get the GOP nomination made him untouchable for me and probably for many other moderates who might have liked his managerial experience.
But he gave up trying to woo moderates and independents and instead decided to run for President of the Republican Party instead of the United States.
Last December, I visited the Sloan Museum in my hometown of Flint, Michigan. There was an exhibit on the struggle to get a fair housing ordinance passed, a law that would outlaw racist practices that kept blacks from living in predominantly white areas. Demonstrations took place on the lawn of City Hall. In one photo, then Michigan Governor George Romney, Mitt’s dad, was chatting with the Mayor of Flint. He was in favor of the fair housing ordinance and spoke in support.
George Romney had courage. He was a popular governor and reminds us of a time when Republicans stood for fairness.
I have to think that, somewhere out there, George Romney has to be disappointed at his son’s lack of courage.
Crossposted at NeoMugwump.
The photo is of George and Mitt in the 1960s.
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8 Responses to “Mitt Romney: To Thine Ownself, Be True”
The liberal Bill Milliken called out Mittens for his pandering, but all the candidates on the Republican side were doing the same. Maybe it will take multiple elections before the “50% + 1″ stradegy is put to rest. Milliken, like Nixon, reached out to the green and outdoorsmen in establishing the EPA and MDNR.
I think as the GOP has become more conservative over the last 30 years, candidates for president have come to realize that they have to run to the right of everyone else to win. If you listened to the debates they were mostly pissing contests to see who was the most macho of the contenders. McCain at least had his Vietnam legacy to hold him up, all Mitt had was his money and great hair!
BTW, while I think more of father than of son ( as with the Bush's!) it was a lot easier to be a moderate or even a liberal Republican in the 60's and 70's. George would be reviled as a RINO if he were in politics today. He'd have to contend with the Victory Caucus and Club for Growth and Grover Norquist's “No New Taxes” pledge. There's no way of knowing if he'd have pandered to the right as Mitt has.
BTW, while I think more of father than of son ( as with the Bush's!) it was a lot easier to be a moderate or even a liberal Republican in the 60's and 70's. George would be reviled as a RINO if he were in politics today. He'd have to contend with the Victory Caucus and Club for Growth and Grover Norquist's “No New Taxes” pledge. There's no way of knowing if he'd have pandered to the right as Mitt has.
KR – That was my point, the moderate Republicans of 1960's and 1970's were pro-environmental(EPA and MDNR) along the lines of Teddy Roosevelt. Todays politicians(Republican and some Demonocrats) are in the pockets of corporate interests.
KR – That was my point, the moderate Republicans of 1960's and 1970's were pro-environmental(EPA and MDNR) along the lines of Teddy Roosevelt. Todays politicians(Republican and some Demonocrats) are in the pockets of corporate interests.
Rudi- I couldn't agree more- especially with your last sentence. The Democrats who aren't in someone's pocket come off like Dennis Kucinich and are portrayed as socialists by the opposition. IMO, the Democrats are only slightly less corrupt than the GOP—Greedy Old Politicians. That's why I can't vote Republican in national elections anymore.
Rudi- I couldn't agree more- especially with your last sentence. The Democrats who aren't in someone's pocket come off like Dennis Kucinich and are portrayed as socialists by the opposition. IMO, the Democrats are only slightly less corrupt than the GOP—Greedy Old Politicians. That's why I can't vote Republican in national elections anymore.