What could a person of liberal political persuasion, a person like myself, possibly like about Mitt Romney?
This is a guy, after all, who is making the usual Republican trickle up economics pitch. This is a guy who is taking great pains to separate himself from past efforts while governor of Massachusetts to make sensible compromises with Democrats on issues like health care. This is a guy making pathetic efforts to show he is as retrograde on social matters as Rick Santorum.
So what could someone of my political persuasion find to like about Mitt Romney?
The answer is his out-front, clear-cut, manifestly obvious country clubism. Mitt Romney is not just Republican Establishment, he is Eastern Republican Wall Street Establishment. He is not just an expediter for Wall Street shenanigans, He is a boastful player about his own Wall Street gaming. He happily speaks about cavorting with folks who run Nascars as personal toys.
He isn’t like one of those former Republican candidates for high office who paraded wives wearing plain clothe coats because they didn’t want to stick voters in the eye with their personal wealth. Mitt lets us know his wife not only drives a Cadillac, she drives two (though presumably not at the same time).
While Mitt comes from much the same social and economic class as former Republican President George W. Bush, he lacks the locker room common touch of a Dubya, who was someone who actually looked real wearing a hardhat and holding a bullhorn, someone you might talk sports with over a beer. Mitt is more like the financial planner you might go to for advice while keeping in mind that he’s getting a commission on financial products he recommends that you buy.
All this explains what I like about Mitt.
With him, you really know what you’re going to get, at least with economic matters. No hint of latent populism here. No compassionate conservative here who might wince because he feels your pain.
No, sir. if you think an unfettered Wall Street and its ways are your friends, the guarantor of a better future for yourself and the country, this is your guy. Heck, he tells you as much in virtually every speech.
Liberal like me appreciate this charity. If this guy wins he hasn’t fooled anyone in the process. We know what we’re getting. And truly, we will deserve it.
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