Let Romney be Romney
Mitt Romney is not high on the list of Republican presidential candidates likely to get my vote come the 2012 primaries. But pity can be just as powerful a motivator for charity as love, and it’s difficult not to feel for someone who’s running a campaign like this (courtesy of the Daily Caller’s Matt Lewis):
At first blush, Republican Mitt Romney’s second bid at securing his party’s nomination is a far more casual effort than his previous attempt. He’s foresworn the same level of self-financing, traded in the Brooks Brothers’ two-piece for Gap jeans and a Red Sox-embroidered polo, and his hair even seems to have a little give these days.
But Romney’s everyman reinvention is anything but casual: Every detail — from dropping ubiquitous references of discount retail giants Wal-Mart and Target to sporting a pickup truck at fundraisers — has been meticulously choreographed for the ex-venture capitalist so eager to shed the perception he’s too slick, too stiff and too phony.
You have to admire a campaign that thinks inauthenticity is its cardinal problem and then responds by having a candidate whose net worth is in the hundreds of millions get behind the wheel of a Chevy and joke about being unemployed himself.
A gentle word of advice for the governor: you already have enough problems defending what can only (generously) be called ideological elasticity. Don’t compound them by making it seem as if even your personal identity is subject to the vagaries of the polls. We realize that your background is in business, but letting the market decide who you are is a step too far.
Rather than putting us through another campaign where you boast of hunting “varmits” and bizarrely quote novelty songs from a decade ago, consider being yourself. It may not be a bad fit. It would allow you to say things like this come election time:
Four years ago, I ran a presidential campaign where I made a crucial mistake: I allowed a group of consultants and insiders to convince me that the best way to become president was to be everything to everyone, to give little offense and even less information. That effort failed and maybe that was for the best – because as we all know, Barack Obama was better at that game than I was.
But four years later, we see the results. President Obama was a likable guy, no doubt about it. But being likable doesn’t replace an unemployment check with a paycheck. It doesn’t make up for insulting allies while coddling enemies. And it doesn’t secure American freedoms from slipping away, perhaps forever.
So I may not have the president’s gifts with a teleprompter. I’ll probably never rival his jump shot. And I may not even be the candidate that voters want to sit down and have a beer with. But that’s okay, because there won’t even be any beer in my White House – and we’ll know that a “beer summit” is something you only do once you’re off the clock anyway.
And ladies and gentleman, I don’t have any plans to be off the clock. As many of you know, I come from the business world. And in that environment, we know that you solve problems first and golf later. So I’m not asking you to deny that President Obama is likable. I’m asking you to realize that he’ll be just as likeable when he’s retired.
This, I imagine, is something closer to the real Mitt Romney than what we’ve seen so far. And I have a feeling it wouldn’t matter whether or not he was wearing a tie when he said it.
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Oct '10
Re: Let Romney be Romney
I kindof wish Huntsman was a more serious candidate. . .his advantage over Romney is his healthcare reform is both more advanced, more center-right, and far less interventionist (why Romney thought a simplistic requirement to buy health insurance would solve anything is beyond me).
Of course, what we really need is Mitch Daniels or Chris Cristie. Rick Perry sounds cool, but I kindof doubt the country will go for another Texan president this soon. Ugh, why must all the good candidates drop out?
Edited on Jul 7, 2011 at 7:48pmRe: Let Romney be Romney
I sing the same dirge, Joseph.
Joseph Eagar: Of course, what we really need is Mitch Daniels or Chris Cristie. Jul 7 at 7:44pm
Edited on Jul 07 at 07:48 pm
Jul '10
Re: Let Romney be Romney
Of course the MSM would like more access to Romney or any other Republican candidate dumb enough to allow it. We all know who they're pulling for behind that phony veneer of objectivity. But why Romney should agree to be nibbled to death by ducks eludes me. I like this year's model better than the one before. The slightly mussed hair and open collar play better now that millions don't have to dress up to go to work anymore thanks to Obamanomics. He might be a phony, but he's our phony if he gets the nod. Now that Dubya's receding from memory, my objection to Texas governors is ebbing too. If you don't like Romney and think Bachmann doesn't have enough administrative experience, seems to me Rick Perry deserves a look. Pawlenty for whatever reason doesn't look like he's ever going to get off the ground. Huntsman is running so he can tell his grandkids twenty years from now. Let's see, I think that about covers the field of candidates. Serious ones, that is.
Re: Let Romney be Romney
Jerry, that may be the best sentence ever written about the Huntsman campaign.
Mar '11
Re: Let Romney be Romney
Good advice. Each of these candidates has a flaw. Romney is a known entity at this stage and once the others have been vetted, he may simply benefit from having laid low and not outright alienated those who don't come immediately into his coalition.
That or he's slaughtered in Iowa and loses his grip on NH in a serious flameout.
Edited on Jul 7, 2011 at 8:41pmJan '11
Re: Let Romney be Romney
If I didn't have enough reasons not to vote for him, he drives a Chevy (pre-bailout, but still, it's a Chevy).
Sep '10
Re: Let Romney be Romney
Troy, that's a brilliant speech. If Romney wins the nomination, he should hire you.
Mar '11
Re: Let Romney be Romney
Agreed.
In fact, we have several candidates who could use a dose of this medicine.
Say, oh, just at random, "Let Pawlenty be Pawlenty"
Oct '10
Re: Let Romney be Romney
If I heard those words come out of Romney's mouth, I would give him a second look as a serious candidate. It would show a level of sound judgement that I don't think he possesses.
Feb '11
Re: Let Romney be Romney
No campaign strategy can ever quite replace being yourself. Great post!
May '10
Re: Let Romney be Romney
People inside the Blogosphere (or is it the Blogway?) are almost as out-of-touch with the real electorate as people inside the Beltway. Inside the Blogosphere, Palin, Pawlenty and Bachmann, and even Paul have a chance to defeat Obama and become President. Outside the Blogosphere, Romney does, and maybe, maybe, Rick Perry.
Romney is a flip flopping RINO squish to the same extent Bachmann and Palin are dopey, hick extremist wack jobs.
Whatever. Smart people, even wise people can say and think some pretty stupid things, see Exhibit "4323", supra. The truth is that Romney will pretty much sign the same legislation, and veto the same legislation as Pawlenty, Bachmann, or Palin would, and name the same SCOTUS Judges. The big differences are that (1) Romney is several levels above the aforementioned fantasy Presidents in managerial experience, talent, and smarts; and (2) he can peel off enough Democrat and independent voters and get elected.
Have a nice day.
May '10
Re: Let Romney be Romney
Don't you get paid to write Troy? That's some valuable stuff you are promoting for free on the Interwebs. Rob may have to report you to the union.
Aug '10
Re: Let Romney be Romney
Troy, what you're asking is for the candidate to be his/her authentic self. Oh that every candidate would do so. No pretending. Just tell us what you think, and let us decide.
Jun '10
Re: Let Romney be Romney
This is a great post, Troy. Romney's silly attempts to be a regular guy just emphasize his flip-flop inauthenticity. He's after the top spot, it seems, for the glory rather than because he sees his core principles as the way to get the country back on track. (Does he even have core principles?) His comments about his son's role in his election campaign being the equivalent of serving in the military showcase how far above the hoi polloi he sees himself. G W Bush was born with the silver spoon in his mouth, but never came across as elite or entitled.
"The big differences are that (1) Romney is several levels above the aforementioned fantasy Presidents in managerial experience, talent, and smarts; and (2) he can peel off enough Democrat and independent voters and get elected."
He may have more managerial experience, but he is definitely not smarter or more talented. As for #2 -- Could you explain why you believe this? I don't see Dems looking to Romney. What would entice independents to support him?