Why Do They Hate Mitt?It
can only be because he's good and noble and heroic and handsome. Amy Goldstein checks in at the American Thinker with a sloppy buss to the Mittster that deserves a good fisking:
Have you noticed how all of the Republican candidates can barely conceal their contempt for Governor Mitt Romney? It goes way beyond the typical good-natured competition that usually is the hallmark of Republican contests.
I think it has something to do with Mitt running negative ads at all the other candidates with the possible exception of Ron Paul. But not Amy!
1. He can win. Governor Romney appeals to economic conservatives and could appeal to foreign policy conservatives based upon his understanding of the issues. Most non-partisan foreign policy wonks who have briefed the major candidates tell me that Romney "gets it" better than any other candidate -- even better than those who have held high profile office for decades. Moreover, he is the candidate that the Democrats most fear.
Come on! Mitt's understanding of foreign policy consists of asking the folks at the State Department what to do. Can he win?
CNN's recent poll showed a real stinkbomb for Mitt:
REGISTERED VOTERS
Would Definitely Vote Against That Candidate in November
Romney 62%
Giuliani 55%
Huckabee 52%
Clinton 43%
McCain 43%
Obama 38%
That's just a staggering number of people that Mitt has already pissed off.
2. Jealousy -- from his hair to his appearance to his family to his money - these are all reasons for deep seeded, if unseemly, jealousy. This green-eyed monster makes its appearance in almost every speech or presentation, in the form of a joke, a jab or a veiled reference.
It must be the hair! Now to be fair, here, Mitt does have nice hair. So does John Edwards.
3. He isn't beholden to interest groups. Governor Romney's wealth frees him from any influence that interest groups could apply to others - especially those who lack funds or who are Washington insiders. He doesn't need them, and that scares the interest groups and their allies. He is not of the game and wants to change it - and his personal wealth allows him to do so. He really can change Washington.
That was Ross Perot's argument, too. I expect it to go over just as well.
4. His brains - not only is he one of the smartest people ever to seek the presidency (having earned a Harvard MBA and JD simultaneously), but he understands the complexities of the issues that America faces and is able to devise workable solutions. Just look at his proposal for an economic stimulus and compare it to what the other candidates are proposing. Romney clearly can lead this country through economic challenges.
He's a smart guy, no doubt about that. Jimmy Carter was a physics major.
5. His wealth -- again. While he has raised more than any other candidate, Governor Romney doesn't need to raise the money in order to continue. Nevertheless, he understands that successful candidates must have people invested in their candidacy in order to succeed. He has learned the lessons of past wealthy businessmen who make vanity runs for the White House. The other candidates have to constantly raise money in order to continue their campaigns.
Yes, he has money, again. But note how she ties herself up into knots trying to have it both ways. He raises money to get people "invested" in his campaign, but he doesn't need to. He can just "lend" his campaign money. I'd hate to be a late "investor" in a campaign that failed; you know that late money is going to pay back the loan.
No mention of the negative campaigning. No attempt to balance Mitts undeniable strengths with his equally undeniable weaknesses.
Labels: 2008 Candidates, Mitt Romney
