I get such pleasure out of watching pundit after pundit attempt to dissect every op-ed or statement that Mitt Romney releases. “Is he being sincere?” they ask. “Is this just a ploy to capture the attention of some obscure voting base?” they wonder.
When Mitt Romney came out recently against the tax compromise, all sorts of critics pointed the finger at him with accusations of triangulation and pandering. Call me crazy, but shouldn’t a guy that has been dubbed “the best business man in North America” be more than qualified to speak his mind on any impending tax deal (especially one with such a direct effect on future business growth) with out being labeled as a panderer? Is he not merely speaking for business as somebody who has been in business his whole life? Obama and congress should receive his advice with open ear.
Allow me to echo the tweet of this young man:
Tweet from Todd Gunter, Dec. 13th 2010
When Mitt Romney talks, listen. When Mitt Romney writes, read.
The guys at Frum Forum have been passing the hot potato around the circle of contributors there, taking turns at mocking Romney’s sincerity and his managerial approach to policy (using all sorts of weird fettuccine analogies), even going as far as elaborating on “Why Romney’s CEO Presidency Won’t Fly“. Here’s Frum on Romney:
“Sincerity is everything – once you can fake that, you’ve got it made.” There’s Mitt Romney’s problem in 1 sentence. He cannot fake sincerity. His insincerity is blatant, inescapable, clumsy and off-putting.
Now, I understand that the guys at FrumForum have worked for a million years under several former presidential administrations in the past and are respected in their sphere, but are they so far entrenched in their own over-analysis that they can no longer see it as the rest of do? The remnant of us saw Mitt Romney’s Op-ed as regular, every day Mitt Romney smartness — not pandering. Charles Krauthammer praised Romney’s opposition to the tax deal, saying “Smart… Romney is reflecting the spirit of November in opposing this.”
Ross Douthat, an opinion writer for the NY times, also felt the need to comment on Romney’s sincerity:
I believe that Mitt Romney is a more serious person, and would probably be a better president, than his campaign style suggests. But issue by issue, policy by policy, that same campaign style makes it awfully hard to figure out where he would actually stand when the pandering stops and the governing begins.
…
But because everything he does feels like a pander, I don’t know where he really stands on any of them. And freak show or no freak show, base or no base, that’s no way to run for president.
With all due respect to Mr. Douthat, he is utterly wrong on his assessment. Those of us who know Governor Romney, and follow him with much interest, are very conscious of where Mitt Romney stands — we stand there with him! To us, his words are a breath of fresh air amidst the smog of Washington politics; indeed, they are a clear indication that the man is knowledgeable and serious about his vision for America’s future. Because of his extensive, hands-on experience in the business world, we trust and value his opinion with regards to business. It makes sense doesn’t it? Former Speaker Newt Gingrich is on record saying, “Frankly, Governor Romney in his career has created more jobs than the entire Obama cabinet combined, so he could actually talk about [the economy]. I gotta agree with Newt, the guy (Romney) is entitled to speak his mind on this subject.
A friend at MRC, Crystal F., sums up my point by posing questions worth answering:
[Why are these guys] bending over backwards to come up with some ulterior motive for Mitt’s opinions? Did anyone seriously consider that his opinions might just be that …his honest opinions?
Mitt Romney: A Proven Leader
Say it with me, slowly: M-i-t-t R-o-m-n-e-y. Some may question his sincerity, but once you look at his background, you cannot refute that Romney knows what he is talking about and speaks honestly from past experience.
John Gardner at Frum Forum, asked this about Mitt Romney: “Is this really what America needs at a time of economic stagnation, political gridlock, and serious crises abroad?” To him, we answer “HELL YES!”
America needs jobs. Mitt means business!
Mitt has worked as a Governor, Businessman, and Volunteer to help multiple communities through his faith based organization LDS. If Americans don’t find these qualities necessary to turn this country back to being a global leader in all categories – then it really is the end of the USA Empire as we’ve known it. Americans need to get serious and elect a proven leader and serious leader. Besides, only Mitt has the ground game to make One Big Astounding Mistake America made 2008 right again.
These guys see insincerity because they spend so much time being fascinated by the image in the mirror that they see everyone else in the same way.
First you start with an intelligent person. Add to that one who is well-educated, has been in the trenches, has graduated to the command center, and is now in the right spot at the right time to nudge and guide our Great nation back to its former self economically and politically. As a faithful and honest family man he is in even a better position to devote his imposing character, profile, and experience to the serious and sacred business at hand. C’mon people, wake up…enable Mitt Romney in 2012!
Signs of desperation. When confronted with a formidable 2012 presidential contender of irreproachable character there is only one option remaining, attack his motives.
Bravo Aaron!
Romney looked at ‘BIG PICTURE’ in ALL of his Op-eds as he did with the tax bill. His critics who for the most part have tunnel vision only seemed to care about instant gratification rather than a long term permanent solution.
Fact: 90% of Romney’s opponents dislike him ENTIRELY based on their jealousy.
“He cannot fake sincerity. His insincerity is blatant, inescapable, clumsy and off-putting.”
Funny… I had these very thoughts about Obama two years ago. Why? Because he had the skill of making a single promise point in multiple directions. “A good politician,” I thought; “a good salesman; but I don’t trust him.” Since then, I’ve second-guessed myself; I trust now that Obama will consistently push for the new-fangled backwardness of liberalism.
I’ll concede that Romney seemed a little business-like and overly nice in his last campaign (and if you could choose one flaw for your candidate, it would probably be niceness), which can be frightening to the chronically unsuccessful and crotchety, and I’ve been gratified since then to see him in many other, looser settings showing his real personality, which — surprise — is pretty much as overly nice as before.
Romney’s a lot like Tom Cruise. He looks good and acts well, and people who know him professionally generally get along quite well with him despite wondering about his religious beliefs. He’s a good egg, and those most opposed to having him as their representative are rotten eggs.
Great editorial, Aaron!! And all great comments too! I agree that these pundits are so immersed in the “Washington Way” that every word a politician (or potential politician) speaks or writes must be pandering because .. isn’t that what politicians do?? So they try desperately to find “the angle” that the person must have for every word .. you’d think these guys have too much time on their hands .. or perhaps like Mark F. suggests that they recognize Romney as a formidable 2012 presidential contender, and they have to do their best to label Romney negatively and take every opportunity to find ways to reinforce such, until truth no longer matters, only perception.
Supurb post Aaron!
They need to rip Romney because it’s evident he has his act together for 2012 and will hit the ground , while the rest of the field is trying to figure out how to run.
Thanks for all the great comments, guys.
I’ve been thinking about the ‘pander’ label for some time now. I think its a funny coincidence that the people who so readily assign that label to Mitt are the same people that make a living by pandering to their readership. It is their job to create buzz, to conjure up weird analogies, to fabricate false hype — all with the end goal of bring more people to their site and adding value to their ad space. They are the ultimate panderers. If they only said the boring truth about Romney (that he is smart, consistent, tested, and reliable), they wouldn’t get paid, simple as that.
I don’t blame them, nor do I trust them.