Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to have lunch with a major figure in conservative talk radio. Over our meal, he lamented (and here I paraphrase) that the GOP is on its way to nominating one of the most scrupulously moral men to stand for the presidency in the modern era, but that his virtues have gone largely unsung because of his aversion to boastfulness. It may be the case, he worried, that his opposition will demonize him long before the public ever gets a chance to know the real Mitt Romney (a process which the Obama campaign seems to have begun with the video I posted yesterday).
Thankfully, a new piece in The Daily has unearthed some of the background material that Romney himself is too humble to tout. Even those who were among Romney's fiercest critics during the primary (as I was at times) will find it hard to come away from the story without a newfound respect for the man. Here's a sample from the lede:
One cold December day in the early 1980s, Mitt Romney loaded up his Gran Torino with firewood and brought it to the home of a single mother whose heat had been shut off just days before Christmas.
Years after a business partner died unexpectedly, Romney helped the man’s surviving daughter go to medical school with loans for tuition — loans he forgave when she graduated.
And in 1997, when a fellow church member’s teenage son fell seriously ill, Romney sprinted to the hospital in the dead of night, where he kept vigil with his terrified parents.
And this of course omits the one story that has received limited traction so far: the tale of how Romney led an all-hands-on-deck effort to recover the missing daughter of one of his partners at Bain.
I don't mean to pick on Barack Obama, who seems -- from what I know, anyway -- to be a thoroughly decent --and, yes, dare I say it, likable -- man in his private life. But it seems to me that there is a profound difference between the incumbent president -- who would have viewed each of the scenarios above as a policy crisis -- and the former Governor of Massachusetts, who reacted to them with displays of basic human compassion.
Does this add at all to the rationale for why we should be comfortable with Mitt Romney being president? Perhaps not. But it's a pretty convincing argument as to why you'd want him as a next door neighbor. And as traits that you'd like to see in a president go, that's not a bad one.
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Comments:
Dec '10
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
If only his voice could convey the message of his hands.
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
I was and am an unsparing critic of Romney's political record. I was always, however, an admirer of his record as a father, a citizen, a Mormon, and a businessman. Circumstances may conspire to bring his political conduct into line with everything else in his record.
Oct '11
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
As a Romney primary voter, I find Troy's newfound astonishment at Romney's character to be profoundly annoying.
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
Albert, I'd encourage you to do precisely the opposite and welcome those of us who are reconciling ourselves to your candidate of choice, which should be your preferred outcome.
Like Professor Rahe, I've never questioned Romney's personal integrity, which seems near unimpeachable. But, as I admit in the post, I was deeply skeptical of him politically during the primaries. If stories like these make the medicine go down smoother for folks like myself, I would hope that would be a source of joy for those who have been true believers in Romney all along.
Mar '11
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
I've never understood why Mr Obama polls more likable than Mr Romney (I speak as a non-Romney primary voter). I find Mr Romney a far more likable person - viewed from afar, and I'm pretty sure I would if I met him face-to-face.
I'm also pretty sure he wouldn't try to convince me to spread my wealth (or lack thereof) around, if he walked down my street.
Edited on May 15, 2012 at 8:04pmOct '11
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
Welcome, Troy.
Mar '11
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
Troy, I for one appreciate your reassessment of Mitt Romney. There is something unseemly about a person tooting their own horn regarding acts of personal charity so I hope we don't see Romney changing in that regard. However, having friends and acquaintances praise you is altogether appropriate and also more effective.
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
Well, that wasn't any fun. Thanks, Albert ;)
Jan '12
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
Hey Albert! Do you know how you can tell that you're talking with an extroverted mathematician? He's looking at your shoes.
Oct '11
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
Wasn't trying to start a fight;-)
Troy Senik, Ed.: Well, that wasn't any fun. Thanks, Albert ;) · 14 minutes ago
May '10
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
So who is going to do the boasting for him? Certainly not the MSM. Maybe this is where the SuperPACs can come in, telling these stories. These stories are needed and crucially important, as the MSM and the Obama campaign will be appealing to low-information voters' emotions.
As 'Bullygate' shows, WaPo/MSM is going to do all it can to skip over all of the impressive and heartwarming stories of Romney in the 2000's, 90's, 80's, and 70's. To the MSM, there's nothing to see there. Instead they reach back to 1965 because that's the only negative personal story they can find.
Since they won't tell his stories, it is up to our side to do it.
Dec '11
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
Mitt Romney shares the honorable personal traits with which George Herbert Walker Bush was (is) blessed. The moral of the story, Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy, there is no substitute for a good upbringing.
Edited on May 16, 2012 at 2:39amNov '11
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
I don't find any of this surprising. I do find Romney's person-to-person approach to "holes in the safety net" heartening and compelling. Perhaps some of those who were assisted should be asked to come forward.
May '12
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
While the MSM and left pundits firmly believe that humbleness and meekness are weak character traits instead of honorable strengths, talk show hosts and the "Fair and Balanced" network will need to search them out and bring them forth.
I do remember Mitt stating that the inheritance from his father was given to his alma mater, BYU. But only after he was "pressed" to talk about it.
May '10
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
I am a tad astounded by the internal dissonance in the phrase "profoundly annoying."
Dec '11
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
His resume conveys message enough.
Seriously, there was nothing to talk about. George Romney was a successful CEO, but there's a difference between a corporate employee and an entrepreneur.
Jul '11
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
David Williamson: I've never understood why Mr Obama polls more likable than Mr Romney (I speak as a non-Romney primary voter). I find Mr Romney a far more likable person - viewed from afar, and I'm pretty sure I would if I met him face-to-face.
I'm also pretty sure he wouldn't try to convince me to spread my wealth (or lack thereof) around, if he walked down my street. · 17 hours ago
Edited 17 hours ago
This has been true for me since Barry starting running for Godhood back in the day. Likeable? Really? Since when? Since when does someone who seems to relish the chance to point out how he's got all the right ideas for how you should live your life, when he's lived the life of an entitled child through much of his "adult" life, strike anyone as being "likeable"? He seems to treat every interaction as an opportunity to condescend and pander, not connect - even his downhome, folksy "events" are entirely staged. When your working years are spent in a college, you're certainly not the Average Joe - not at all.
May '10
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
A likable guy- see this.
May '10
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
And, guys, leave poor Troy alone. He may be late, but it is where we end up, not where we started....
(He can't help being a left coast elitist!)
Jul '11
Re: Unearthing Romney's (Personal) Character
Mark Wilson
I am a tad astounded by the internal dissonance in the phrase "profoundly annoying." · May 16 at 1:15am
I could say the same about "tad astounded" ;)
-E