A Perspective From a Romney Supporter

posted at 7:56 am on January 27, 2012 by Rovin

Green Room Guest Post

In a effort to promote a “positive atmosphere” about the Republican Primary Candidates, (instead of shredding Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment), I thought it would be refreshing to publish a few “guest post” here in the Green Room who would offer a more positive perspective of their preferred candidate. Comments and constructive criticism are welcome.

The Mitt Riff, or why we will be okay if Mitt Romney survives the 2012 GOP primary gauntlet and becomes our nominee.

In two words: Moderate conservatism. One can argue that the totality of the heresies Mitt has committed against conservatism make him unfit to carry the conservative banner against Obama. As for the heresies, you would probably be dead on. They are there, so I won’t argue their existence, but rather will argue why they aren’t as bad as are perceived and in the end why they shouldn’t unduly concern conservatives.

I will not take the time to list them all but rather the positions I feel are the most problematic.

1) Romneycare. Even though Romneycare is an anathema to conservatism, Romney did not implement it as an experiment in social engineering as Obamacare was. It was an attempt to deal with a fiscal issue facing the state concerning the way it was spending federal dollars. They had to develop a plan to spend it differently in order to continue to receive it. The coalition that supported the law was varied and bipartisan. Romney could have opted for a true single payer plan had he been so inclined. Especially in the blue state of MA. But he presented a plan based on fiscal conservatism.

The constitution of the state of Massachusetts allows for the mandate, which is in complete harmony with the tenth amendment. The governor has promised to waive, defund, and then repeal Obamacare and return the responsibility to the states. His commitments to the tenth amendment restrictions on the federal government make his promise entirely believable.

2) Bain Capital. The criticisms by “conservatives” on his time with Bain are baffling. All data indicates that all his dealings were entirely legal and ethical. As a venture capital entity, Bain must make money for their investors. And Bain outperformed the market in that area. 70% of the businesses they invested in were saved from default. Many went on to be very successful entities that now employ collectively over 100,000 Americans. By contrast, the market achieved roughly a 50% rate of success.

The Obama machine is certainly gearing up to face Romney. The OWS protests were fueled by class warfare rhetoric that is parroted by prominent democrat politicians. Romney is the 1% and he will be portrayed as a walls street fat cat. I believe that except for his mishandling of the tax return issue, he is establishing a narrative that will counter the negative view the country in general has toward the wealthy. First, he is knowledgeable on the workings of the free market and has explained how these entities are improving the lives of everyone in this country. He promotes the idea that he wants all Americans to become wealthy and that opportunity comes through freedom and responsibility. He doesn’t talk down wealth creation for the masses.

3) Lack of passion. This is probably the only thing holding Romney back from running away from the field and winning the nomination with the rest of the states. It is clear he is a technocrat. A very useful trait for a president, but not a good trait for a politician. Even though he is by all personal accounts a kind, thoughtful, and compassionate man, he comes off as aloof and unable to relate to the common man while he is politicking. A person is either born with the ability to connect with strangers or must acquire the skills by practice. Romney is unmistakably in the latter category. I have no advice for him except to cease trying to manage his every word as technocrats are wont to do. He projects his attention to detail onto all people and feels and misspeak on his part will be a huge issue. This simply is not the case. I myself am somewhat of a technocrat and when Romney said in the Ingram interview that the “economy was getting better”, I nearly came unglued! I figured the media would hang that around his neck like a millstone for weeks. But it was over in just a few days. I think he should be more open with what he really feels and cease trying to be the “perfect” politician.

The last issue is his debate performances. It is widely agreed that he has been very steady and consistent. This is good until you become boring. And Romney has become predictable reliable and predictable banal. He has moments of brilliance as was evident in the debate Monday night. He showed that he can be forceful, pointed, and very effective. But he also has moments when he is inexplicable clumsy. But the good moments outweigh the bad and that has been a consistent trend. I believe that the drive that is part of his nature is what has helped him become a better candidate as this primary season has progressed and will be the drive that overcomes his weakness in relating to people and having more passion in the general sense.

In conclusion, the governor has a rare quality that is overlooked in people who are successful. He is in the same league with as the star athletes, musicians, and other who excel, in that they make it look so easy that we forget how difficult it really is. His drive to succeed has made him successful at nearly every endeavor in which he has begun. He survived a head-on automobile accident, graduated from Harvard, was recruited right out of school, started Bain Capital, saved the Olympics, and became the moderate conservative governor of a blue state in which he accomplished a lot for the citizens. He has spent his entire life outside of Washington and except for the associations all politicians need from Washington, he is the antithesis of the DC insider. His credentials as a fiscal hawk are impeccable and that is what we need in these troubling times. His character is beyond reproach, he is honest, and is a devoted husband and father. A deeply faithful man who I believe is guided by principles that are sorely lacking in our elected officials.

Short of Ronald Reagan rising from the grave, Mitt Romney is the only candidate we have who exhibits the ability to combine knowledge, experience, grace, honor, and the discipline that we need in our next president, whose job it will be to extricate us out of the abyss Barack Obama has propelled us into with his Marxist social engineering policies. For these reasons I say to my fellow conservatives….

Fear not…..for faith precedes the miracle.

(Note: The author has requested to remain anonymous at this time)

Update: I was still asleep this morning and must have been prospecting—Perspective is the correct term—thanks……Rov

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