Loss caused by both the Republican Party and Mitt Romney himself
With so many political gaffes littered in his run to the White House, Mitt Romney has shown himself as a person who, as President Obama said, tends to shoot first and aim later. Considering this aspect of his character, I would not expect him to reflect deeply upon his lost election bid.
Mitt Romney is a highly competent and successful man, but he was not consistent and was unfortunately caught in a hopeless dilemma from the beginning of his campaign.
Romney has run for public office many times but he was successful only when he ran as a moderate Republican for governor of Massachusetts in 2002, supporting abortion, not being too extreme on gay rights and being pro-green.
He should have looked back upon his past achievements and have remembered this when he ran for president ten years later.
Yet, if he remained moderate he would not have been able to win the primary, as in the case of his loss to Santorum in Iowa. In order to win support from the Republican base, he shifted to the extreme right on their socially conservative issues. You can say his party pushed him to the extreme right.
After winning his party’s nomination, he shifted to the middle a little bit. But the damage was already done. And his shifting back and forth didn’t give people a trustworthy impression.
It is no exaggeration to say that he was defeated by both his own party, which has become less and less relevant, and the unsteadiness in his character.
It is interesting to see Mitt Romney evolving, shifting and changing. I look forward to reading many books on the 2012 election.
Mark Hastert
6 months, 2 weeks agoMitt Romney at one time during the primaries said he wasn’t going to set his hair on fire to win. Then he set his hair on fire and his soul was lost.Blame Romney for his blind ambition. Blame the Tea Party for the price he had to pay..
Mark Robertson
6 months, 2 weeks agoThe main reason that the Romney lost is that he didn’t bring out the base. 3 million less voters voted for him than voted for McCain. Sarah Palin was a reason for enthusiasm from the base in 2008. Paul Ryan is a conservative, but he was seen more as inside Wasahington. If Republicans wan to win, they should focus on the base. In other words, they need to nominate a true unabashed conservative. The great Ronald Reagan was a true conservative. He soundly defeated Carter in 80, then won 49 states in 84. The Republicans and others who say that Republicans should “now” reach out to Hispanics are confused about how to do that. What does that mean, give them more freebies? Actually more Hispanics should be taught the value of conservatism and freedom. That is what would bring Hispanics to the Republican side. Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence
Phil Cardarella
6 months, 2 weeks agoThe rpoblem was not that Romney was a poor salesman. Oh, no. Mitt is a super salesman.
The problem is the product he had to sell. Once voters decided to take a look at the list of ingredients, no amount of tapdancing and smiling could make that sale.
When you tell any group that you are willing to accept their hard work and tax money — but that the children in their community who are industrious and patriotic and law-abiding — kids who grew up saluting no flag but the Stars and Stripes and are as American in every important way as any other kid born here? Pack ‘em up and ship ‘em out?
Now, Mitt no more believes that than I do — but he had to say it to get that nomination because “the base” has been driven bat-crap nutty by Rush and the Boys at FOX! Nor does Mitt actually think a fertilized egg should have rights greater than a grown woman — but he had to pretend to to get the nomination — even over a bunch of guys who were over their heads in Congress.
How about this for a “value of conservatism and freedom”? When a kid obeys the law and works hard in school, goes to college to make something of himself or serve this country in the military, he gets to have a chance to be a citizen of the country he loves andgrew up in! It’s called The Dream Act. When Mitt said he would veto it, he ceased to deserve to be President.
Mark Hastert
6 months, 2 weeks ago“If Republicans wan to win, they should focus on the base”
Focusing or dying old white men isn’t a winning strategy. The arithmetic is working against you. The “base” is subtracting and the opposition is adding.