Ruthless Romney?

Many people, including me, have said that Romney is too soft, lacks the guts and fire to win a national campaign against an unprincipled incumbent opponent who will use every smear in the books against him. Mark Halperin writing at Time.com argues that the opposite is the case. In the primary campaign, says Halperin, Romney has shown that he has the killer instinct. Look at the way he dispensed with Perry. Look at the way he dispensed with Gingrich. Watch out, Obama.

- end of initial entry -

James P. writes:

We must recall that McCain was equally ruthless in 2008 when he eliminated his Republican challengers, but then became soft as honey when confronted with Obama. It was almost as if the GOP goal was to ensure that Obama did not face genuine, principled conservative opposition. We shall have to see whether Romney will operate the same way, but I am not hopeful that he will suddenly develop the guts he needs or the principles that we want him to have.

LA replies:

It’s a telling point James makes, I would call it even a ruthlessly revealing point, and as I remember he and I have made the same point in previous discussions. McCain in 2008 was a back alley mugger against Romney, and turned into a pathetic softie against Obama, and it’s all too likely that Romney will be the same.

However, I’ve heard that Romney’s victory speech in New Hampshire was impressively strong against Obama, so it would be worthwhile to watch it online.

James N. writes:

Romney in his New Hampshire victory speech was very careful in his criticism of Obama.

He started by saying how thrilling it was, in 2008, for Obama to win and fill America with hope.

He then says, “But, Obama has failed.”

From there, he goes to, “I can succeed.”

The problem with this is that Obama’s defense to the accusation of “failure” is white racism, rascally Republicans, and “the rich.” And Romney is a rich white Republican.

Victory cannot be gained this way. The opponent who wants to win must change America’s mind about Obama, from “unfortunate failure (victim)” to “deliberate destroyer (attacker).”

This is the very thing that Romney, McCain, and all Republicans who are “people of good will” cannot and will not do.

Obama will crush Romney.

Ron K. writes:

James N.’s logic is impeccable. Look how well it translates:

Why Dinkins will win: New Yorkers, least of all whites, cannot reject their first non-white mayor

The problem with this is that Dinkins’s defense to the accusation of “failure” is white racism, rascally Republicans, and “the rich.” And Giuliani is a rich white Republican.

Victory cannot be gained this way. The opponent who wants to win must change New York’s mind about Dinkins, from “unfortunate failure (victim)” to “deliberate destroyer (attacker).”

This is the very thing that Giuliani, Pres. Bush, and all Republicans who are “people of good will” cannot and will not do … Dinkins will crush Giuliani.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at January 12, 2012 04:34 PM | Send